Skeeter Beaters History
Early in 1942, a group of 8 Navy Entomologists, Doctors, and enlisted Pharmacist Mates entered the war in the South Pacific with a mission - reduce casualties caused by an enemy responsible for more than 5 times those inflicted in combat with the Japanese - Malaria.
During the next 4 years, the ranks of this all volunteer group grew to over 2,500 and their efforts successfully reduced malarial casualties by a staggering 98%.
Skeeter Beaters-Memories of the South Pacific, 1941-1945 provides a unique look at a never before documented microcosm of US history and that of the war in the Pacific. The book chronicles the wartime activities of an all but forgotten group and their link to modern malaria control.
Their story is not the story of how we won the war in the Pacific or a detailed scientific treatise on tropical disease but more the story of “What did you do in the war, Daddy?” The reader has a ringside seat into their world of life and death. The fear and horror of war, exotic tropical islands, fearsome island natives, the hated Japanese enemy, and a world of disease, a dangerous scarcity of food, nightly bombings and daily shelling survived through the tedium of the job.
Today malaria continues to cause the deaths of over 3 million people each year with over 1 million of them children. There is yet, no known cure; only preventive measures.
History, however, can be a persuasive teacher when considering the legacy of the Skeeter Beaters and their tactical, ground level approach to the war on malaria.
It is the historic relevance of this group of Navy medical and engineering personnel that provides a personalized example of how a grassroots movement can successfully combat a costly and deadly disease - malaria. Theirs is a powerful illustration of how a small cadre of individuals can successfully wage a decisive campaign against malaria with a well thought out strategy implementing inexpensive, low tech solutions to overcome the disease.
On July 1st, 1946, following the war, approximately 400 former members of military units that followed the lead of the original 16 members of the US Navy Skeeter Beaters helped found the Communicable Disease Center in Atlanta, Georgia an organization known today throughout the world as the Center for Disease Control (CDC). In 1949 the CDC pronounced the US free of malaria as a significant health threat.
