James E. Hodges
111th Medical Detachment

This is a story about Col. Louis J. Stahl and how the 111th Medical Detachment came about. As a young man Louis J. Stahl wanted to be a Doctor. He made up his mind to do just that and in 1916 he graduated from medical school. World War I demanded service from the young medical school graduate and he joined the U.S. Army Medical Services as a 1st Lt. in the Med. Corps. Lt. Stahl saw duty at Marfa, Texas; Leon Springs, Texas and at Camp Stanley, Texas. He was discharged from the service and set up a practice in Gonzales, Texas. Some time during the year of 1922, Louis J. Stahl and another, Dr. William T. Dunning, pushed for the organization of a medical unit in Gonzales, Texas. On November 15, 1922 it was authorized by the Federal Government.

The 111th Med. Det. consisted of four officers at the time. They were Major William T. Dunning, who was the commanding officer and regimental surgeon, and Capt. Louis J. Stahl, Assistant Regimental Surgeon, Lt. Loy J. Lauraine, the Veterinary officer, and Lt. Major P. Rochelle as the Dental Officer. Both Lt. Lauraine and Lt. Rochelle were promoted to Captain in their respective branches of service. Noncommissioned officers were: S/Sgt. Joseph H. Grant, Sgt. Bennie B. Hindman, and Bennie B. Botts.

The 111th Medical Det. was quartered in the Burchard Building, and a short time later they moved to the Randle Rather Building where they remained until 1924. A new building was built and with the other units stationed in Gonzales, they moved into the Remchel Building which was designed to house all of the Texas National Guard Units in Gonzales. Each of the units had their own separate offices and supply rooms.

The 111th Med. Det. attended it’s first camp at Camp Mabry, Austin, Texas in July of 1923. Camp Hulen, Palacious, Texas became the camp area for the 36th Infantry Division and the 111th Med. Det. They attended camp there each summer until the Federal mobilization of the Texas National Guard in November 1940, where it was mustered into service and stationed at Camp Bowie, Texas.

The 111th Med. Det. Commanding Officer remained the same until September 1938 and at that time Major W. T. Dunning passed away. Capt. Louis J. Stahl was promoted to Major and placed in command on October 30, 1938. Shortly after the 1940 induction date, there was a flu epidemic in the Gonzales area and the 111th Med. Det. was pressed into service caring for the ill. Due to the efforts of the 111th Med. Det. there were no deaths to the other troops in the area. A temporary infirmary was set up to care for the many patients. The Det. was commended for their service to the troops. After moving to Camp Bowie and serving the 111th Engrs. Regt. as their Med. Det., Major Louis J. Stahl was promoted to the rank of Lt. Col, March 10, 1941. Col. Stahl served as Regimental surgeon until Feb. 1942 when he was transferred to the 64th Med. Det. and later was transferred to Ft. Sam Houston, Texas. Col. Stahl was retired from the service Sept. 10, 1942 and returned to Gonzales, Texas where he practiced medicine.

Information on Col. Stahl was taken from old newspapers of the Gonzales Inquirer. His son, Dr. Marion L. Stahl, M.D., and from Anna Boysen who was a former patient of Dr. Louis J. Stahl in Gonzales, Texas.