American Field Service

The American Field Service (AFS) was established in 1915 by A. Piatt Andrew, a political economics professor at Harvard University and a former U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Treasury. Started as a volunteer ambulance corps in 1914, it has evolved into an international foreign exchange organization.

Ambulance Corps

Created as an ambulance arm for the American Hospital in Paris, the American Field Service cut its ties with the hospital to become a volunteer organization providing ambulance and transport services to the Allied forces in France during World War I. Andrew's idea originated from the Anglo-American Ambulance volunteer service, organized by American Marion Sims for service during the 1870-71 Franco-Prussian War.

Related Topics:
Paris - Allied - France - World War I - Marion Sims - Franco-Prussian War

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Headquartered at an ancient château at 21 rue Raynouard in the Parisian suburb of Passy, the American Field Service had more than 800 volunteer ambulance drivers plus many transport sections. The AFS actively recruited its drivers from the campuses of American colleges and universities with individual ambulance units made up exclusively of drivers from particular universities. They all worked without pay, and ambulance driving required the volunteers to serve under extremely dangerous missions on the Front. There were 151 drivers with the AFS who were killed and a number of others earned the Croix de Guerre and the Legion of Honor for their heroic actions.

Related Topics:
Passy - Croix de Guerre - Legion of Honor

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During World War I there was another volunteer ambulance corps in France called the Norton-Harjes Ambulance Corps as well as the American Red Cross service in Italy. When the United States entered the war in 1917, both the American Field Service and Norton-Harjes were merged into the U.S. Army Ambulance Corps on August 30, 1917. Also, once the Americans entered the war, many of AFS volunteers joined the U.S. armed forces as officers and served in the regular Army.

Related Topics:
Norton-Harjes Ambulance Corps - American Red Cross - Italy - August 30 - 1917

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Following the Great War, the AFS continued as a legal entity, offering student scholarships to France until World War II when they again provided ambulance service in France and as well in North Africa.

Related Topics:
World War II - North Africa

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