This collection is as much a history of the 62nd General Hospital as it is the story of Thomas Bond and Jessie Smith. Bond and Smith met while students at the University of Tennessee Junior College in Martin, Tennessee. After World War II was declared, Smith and Bond enrolled at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where both joined the Enlisted Reserve Corps. They were called to active duty in April of 1943 and sent to train at Camp Grant, Illinois. It was here that they received their assignment with the 62nd General Hospital.

The 62nd General Hospital began its tour in Europe stationed in England. Their time in-country began at a training program in Abergele, North Wales. They were later stationed at the hospital at Ullenwood, Gloucestershire, England. Following the invasion of Normandy on 1944 June 6, the 62nd General Hospital was moved into former German hospitals surrounding Paris, France. From September 1944 to June 1945 the hospital treated an estimated 36,000 casualties.