Skip to main content
Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

General Order, Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels

Copy

<March 28, 1918>

General Order 392.

Subject: Disposition of sick, wounded and dead of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps.

     The following Articles set forth an agreement entered into by the Secretaries of War and Navy, which shall govern the Army and Navy in the transportation of the sick and wounded between the United States and France or England and the disposal of the remains of officers, enlisted men and civilian employees of the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps who die between the United States and France or England, or in France.

 ARTICLE 1.    Sick and Wounded.

 (a) Sick and wounded being brought from France or England to the United States will be brought in Navy hospital ships or transports, whichever may be most suitable and available, except in special cases where transportation by commercial liners may be authorized.

 (b) The Army will be in charge of the embarkation and debarkation of all Army patients.

 (c) The Navy will be in charge of th charged with the care of these patients while on board ships of the Navy acting as transports or otherwise. At the request of the Navy, the Army will render such assistance in personnel and material as may be necessary.

 (d) No patients will be returned to the United States, if, in the opinion of the Surgeons concerned, they will probably recover within six (6) months.

 ARTICLE 11.   Disposition of Remains of Those Who Die in France.

 (a) The remains of all officers, enlisted men and civilian employees of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, who have died or who may hereafter die in France, shall be buried in France until the end of the war, when the remains shall be brought back to the United States for final interment.

 (b) Such cemeterial facilities as the Army may have acquired in France shall be available to the Navy.

 ARTICLE 111.  Disposition of Remains of Those Who Die at Sea.

 (a) The remains of all officers, enlisted men and civilian employees of the Army, Navy or Marine Corps who die on board a ship enroute to or from the United States, shall be embalmed and returned to the United States on board the ship on which the death occurred.

 (b) All ships engaged in transporting troops shall be equipped with the necessary personnel and material to carry the foregoing requirement into effect.

 ARTICLE IV. Enforcement.

     The War and Navy Departments will at once take the necessary steps to put the foregoing into effect.

War Department, March 28, 1918.  Navy Department, March 28, 1918

/s/ Benedict Crowell               /s/ Josephus Daniels.

Acting Secretary of War.           Secretary of the Navy.

Josephus Daniels.

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B.