In 1917, when the U.S. entered World War I, Emory University organized a medical unit that would be known as Emory Unit, Base Hospital 43. It was composed mainly of medical school faculty and medical alumni and served at Blois, France, from July 1918 to January 1919.

To meet the growing number of casualties, two principal surgical teams were organized—the first under the command of Davis, the second under Charles Dowman. In August, a surgical team was deployed to staff Mobile Hospital 1, providing front-line care for American soldiers fighting in the Meuse-Argonne offensive, the climactic battle to end the war. Twice during these final months, Base Hospital 43’s capacity was again increased to meet the desperate need; the day before the Armistice was signed ending the war, the hospital was serving 2,237 patients.

The Emory unit remained in France, caring for ill and wounded soldiers, until relieved from duty on January 21, 1919. They returned home to a rousing welcome at Camp Gordon that March.