August Furla
August “Gus” Furla was born 1-JUN 1915 in St. Louis Missouri. His parents were Bess and John Furla. Gus was a 27-year-old, first year medical student at St. Louis University when he entered the U.S. Army as a reserve officer on 17-NOV 1942. He served in World War II with the Army Medical Corps and the 57th Field Artillery Battalion, 7th Infantry Division as the battalion medical officer. After World War II ended, Gus earned his undergraduate and medical degree from St. Louis University in St. Louis MO. After his internship at St. Mary’s Hospital in St. Louis, he was assigned to the U.S. Army in occupied Japan from 1947-1949 as Director of Public Health and Sanitation.
Returning to the United States, he was appointed with a regular commission in the U.S. Medical Corps on 2-NOV 1949. August Furla married Mary Stravolakis on 18-JUN 1950. The newly appointed Captain was then deployed to Korea in August 1950 after being married just two months ago.
During his deployment in the Korean war, Captain Furla would serve in the Battle of Changjin (Chosen) Reservoir in November 1950.
For more of Gus’ story, click on the pdf below.
