Immediately following the declaration of war, Rhodes Harold Gustafson, a freshman in Liberal Arts, withdrew from classes along with dozens of other students in order to enlist in the University of Washington’s newly formed ambulance unit. The unit was made up entirely of UW students who began drilling and training for hospital service without delay. Their equipment was purchased through donations made by Seattle and Tacoma merchants.
Headed by Professor of Hygiene and University Health Officer David C. Hall, the newly formed Ambulance Corps No. 12, was sent to Allentown, Pennsylvania, for training where Rhodes died of pneumonia on 27 March 1918. (bit.ly/uw_gustafson) The unit trained there until shortly after Rhodes’ death, when the UW’s ambulance corps – now organized as Ambulance Service Sections 570, 571 and 572 – received their long-awaited transfer to active duty in Italy.
Born in St. Louis, Rhodes was the son of Charles Gustafson and Danish-born Hansina Hansen. A talented debater, Rhodes was a graduate of Broadway High School and was active in the Episcopal Church and the Brotherhood of St. Andrew. His older brother Raymond Carl Gustafson also served in WWI, with Evacuation Hospital No. 26.