No one seemed to know what to do, but nearly everyone was doing what he ought not to have done. The new year of 1943 was ushered in by the unit’s first air raid: An annex for convalescent patients and ten-ward tents for a venereal disease stockade were operated by other groups, but under the administration and professional supervision of the 8th Evacuation Hospital. In addition to caring for patients, the hospital staff was responsible for determining whether certain patients would be returned to duty with their units or evacuated to the United States. Arab contractors replaced sewer and water lines, rewired the building, removed walls, and built an operating room. Major Paul Winthrop, an oral surgeon from Delaware and a World War I veteran, was put in charge of turning the Consulate into a 400-bed general hospital. Army Engineers drew up the plan for the renovation and provided the materials, but were unable to actually carry out the work due to other responsibilities. Two days after landing the unit was treating patients, although it took weeks to make the building truly functional for hospital purposes. On November 20th, after an uneventful cruise, the 8th Evacuation Hospital unit went ashore at Casablanca and proceeded to the Italian Consulate to set up a provisional general hospital. On-board the men passed time by reading, playing cards, talking, and practicing fire and general alarm drills.
Single or double occupancy cabins were modified to hold six to nine officers, and the enlisted men slept in bunks stacked four to six high, built so close together that the men had difficulty even turning over. After conversion it carried approximately 3,000 troops.
The Santa Paula was built in 1932 and had been a luxury cruise ship with a capacity of 228 passengers.
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