Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1917-11-16
CHAPTER v.
No France For Me.

NHB rest OF the Trip was unuef
guard. | think 1t was the hfth
day we were under way they got
me | could hear the men singing and
drilling The routine of the army was
going on as If nothing had happened.
How longed to be back In my old
place among them as doughboyl All
had now were the clothes. just mem
cries of my soldering. had to stick
60 them because there was nothing else
on board for me to wear.
did not see my husband for two
days II was hard to know he was on
the ship. only few feet away. and
yet could not even speak to him.
begged so hard to see him that they
finally let him up. and after that he
was allowed to come to me when he
was Off duty.
He told me the men we're getting
anxious to land They had recovered
from their seasIckness and wanted to
see what II was like "over there" All
We're In the best OF health AS their
appetites returned they complained
more and more about their rations,
which Is to be expected. At mess one
evening a homesick Sammy talked
about the deep dish huckleberry pie
his mother used to make lie almost
caused riot
"You'll be pickin' berries out OF the
air soon. boy. lead ones" said Sam
my, who had eaten his pie mostly on
OF lunch counters all his life.
For the most part those were dreary
days for me. AS | saw my husband
only for short time when he did get
up to my prison, outside could hear
all the noises OF the troops-noises that
had sounded so sweet In my ears be-
fore. There were the calls OF the crap
players. the plaIntive music OF tho
ukelele. no longer soothing to me now.
and the harmonizing Of the old. sad
tunes Previously the accomplished
player Of the luke" had been the most
popular man on board. and he was yet
for ell I know, but not with me. |
would have liked to kill him when he
tuned up.
Much time was on my hands for
thinking. | was proud OF the respect
these soldiers OF Uncle Sam had shown
me-a girl-when they had every OPP
portunity to take advantage OF me with
me living among them as one OF the
gang. | am speaking OF those who
were aware OF my presence on board
They ought to make fine record In
France. both in and out OF the trench
es ! was also proud | hadn't been
seasick. although ! had never been on
the ocean before ! had shown up
some OF the rockies I'm this respect any
way. for they had been seasick crowd
Neither had had any fear ~ sub
marines. even though | cannot swim y
stroke This was more than som" ~
the recruits could say Severn :" the"
had been very npen moral ~ q" '"'''
INTO sweats or pure fear with each
submarine alarm for drill purposes.
felt. perhaps. | would DIT better In the
trenches than they would.
About noon one day heard a grea.
commotion on board. Men were run.
ming backward and forward. shouting
and calling TO one another. Things
were being moved In a hurry. The
whole ship throbbed with new life.
tried to discover the cause OF the ex.
element by peeping through my single
portfolio. but could see nothing. A
guard came TO my door and knocked.
Land Is Sighted.
"Land to starboardr he shouted. he
out such startling Information from me
There was lump lin my throat the
size of an apple Would ever set foot
In France? The officers had promised
they would do all they could 10 get the
authorities 10 let me stay. The army
officers were especially nice to me.
believe they sincerely wanted 10 see
me win ont after the chances ! had
taken.
Some OF them know openly urged
be permitted TO land. II was the ships
captain, technically I'm charge OF me
who killed all my prospects. as found
out later.
II was on Saturday we came int
port. We were not sure of the name OF
the place, although we had pretty
fair idea what II was.
Extra guards were stationed q
watch me. The quartermaster captain
was taking no chances on my sneakinl
ashore once he passed my cabin
watch that portfolio" he ordered
shes as slippery as an eel We dom
want any more OF this foollsbness."
BY and by the ship came TO anchor
could hear the men going ashore
Was my husband with themi did
not know. The thought that he might
he ordered OF without so much az q
goodby drove me nearly crazy. | guess
J was quite mad for time. ! was nc