Henry Norman Bethune[pronunciation?] (March 4, 1890 – November 12, 1939; Chinese: 白求恩; pinyin: Bái Qiúēn) was a Canadian physician, medical innovator, and noted Anti-fascist. Bethune came to international prominence first for his service as a frontline surgeon supporting the democratically-elected Republican government during the Spanish Civil War. But it was his service with the Communist Eighth Route Army (Ba Lu Jun) during the Second Sino-Japanese War that would earn him enduring acclaim. Dr. Bethune effectively brought modern medicine to rural China and frequently treated sick villagers inasmuch as wounded soldiers. His selfless commitment to the Chinese people would leave an enduring impression on Mao Zedong, so much so that the Chairman's eulogy of Dr. Bethune was committed to memory by generations of Chinese students.[1]

Ironically, the man responsible for developing mobile blood-transfusion service for frontline operations in the Spanish Civil War would die of blood poisoning.

Dr. Norman Bethune came from a prominent Scottish Canadian family.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Bethune