Adam Gruca - "Military Medic" in the Years 1914-1920

Adam Gruca was born on 3 December 1893 in MajdanSieniawski. In 1902 he began his education in a 4-year primary school. Thanks to the support of his teacher, Helena Ostrowska, in 1906 he became a student in a Gym-nasium in Jarosław. On 16 June 1913 Adam Gruca passed his secondary school leaving exam and in autumn he started his studies at the Faculty of Medicine at John Casimir University in Lviv. His studies were interrupted by the outbreak of World War I. On 1 July 1914, he was conscripted into the Austro-Hungarian Army. After sixweeks' training he was assigned to a hospital at the Merciful Brothers Monastery in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska. Subsequently, he worked for two years at the Field Hospital No. 2 in Andrychów, where he first started learning surgery. On 1 May 1916,Gruca was promoted to second lieutenant and was granted a three-month leave, during which he completed the 2nd year of his studies. In July 1917, he was transferred to the Italian front. Adam Gruca served in the Austrian army until 31 October 1918. On 6 November 1918 he volunteered to join the new Polish Armed Forces and was incorporated into the 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment. After one year of service in the Polish Armed Forces, he was transferred to Lviv, where he completed his 3rd year of studies. On 30 August 1920, he was assigned to the 34th Infantry Regiment. In 1921 he was promoted to captain and moved to the reserve. During the 5-year army service,the young student was able to gain practical knowledge and medical experience. On 24 June 1922, after nine years, he obtained a diploma in Medicine.