History, the torch that illuminates: lessons from military medicine.

As in civilian medical practice, only by recording and analyzing military medical experiences can we apply the lessons of the past to future medical practice and improve the care of military personnel. Had certain problems in World War I been recognized and addressed, their repetition in World War II could have been avoided. The end of hostilities brings such a sense of relief that we are inclined to want to put the experience behind us. But we must remain prepared for any natural emergency, and one way to do that is to study the past and incorporate its lessons in future actions.