Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1917-10-26
CHAPTER I.
I Decide to Go to France.

IT'S a long way from Douglas. Ariz.,
to some port In France" but |
made the trip rugged up as dough.
boy ,-and ! would 80 farther than that
to be near my husband. However, the
"old man." as every commanding OIL.
Ger is called In the army, sent me back
on the same transport after had spent
five days In port within sight of my
husband. but out Of reach, and I've
nights walking the floor and without
sleep.
! am going back again and pay my
own way and get behind the lines and
take care of the boys know so well
when they are hit. The income from
these stories Is going to help pay my
fare, and then won't have to fool the
officers, as | did, with the regulation
salute and heels on the same line and
as near to each other as the conforma.
tlon OF n man permits, knees straight
without stiffness. body erect, from the
hips inclining slightly forward; shout.
ders squared and falling equally, arms
and hands hanging naturally, back OF
hands outward. little finger opposite
seam OF trousers. head erect, chin
slightly drawn In without constraint.
yes looking straight In front, catching
about fifteen PAGES forward. That Is
the position OF soldier"
fooled them all right.
| think the authorities we're mean
not to permit me to land In France.
AS long as ! was there, 1t seems to me,
they might have stretched a point and
allowed me to have had look at the
war. But they were firm. They said
letting me by might set an example for
other girls to follow and the first thing
they knew Uncle Sam would have O
troop Of lady soldiers on his hands.
At that, | cannot see why shouldn't
be soldier and good one too. My
grandfather fought In the civil war
My father was regular In the Seventh
cavalry. am the wife of soldier
one OF the bravest. best Sammies under
the dag. He Is over there now on the
Job, doing his bit to make the world
safe for democracy, as they say. And
am over here praying he won't stop
q German whiz- bang while at It.
Exactly when the idea Of posing as O
rookie" came to me ! do not remem
Der My husband. John j. Carter. was
corporal In the Eighteenth infantry
encamped at Douglas. Ariz. He belongs
70 * company. There WAS a lot OF tall
among the boys for long time about
being ordered out None OF them knew
where the Eighteenth would be sent
They used to come TO our house ir
Pritleville. right outside OF Douglas
when they were OF duty and do hear
Of surmising and guessing Some OF
them thought they would be kept or
the border to see that things remained
quiet there and kid with the Mexicans
Others had bunch they would fol
low Pershing to France. The old tim
ers were pulling for the latter,
As look back now ] must have had
the germ Of the idea In the back OF my
head even then though ! never voiced
II even to myself. You see. was mar
ried only last December, and the
thought OF my husband going away
and leaving me behind stirred my i'm
aGination We went together foi a
year and half before we dug up the
parson. wish had that year and d
half with him now.
One day Corporal Carter came home
from the supply depot. where be had
been on guard duty, The minute
saw his face knew he had his orders
He was not excited, because he is ar
old timer at soldering He told me h'
was leaving the next day under secret
orders There was not much warning
The troops Just packed up aud left
did not tell him | was going. too
because he knows | always go through
with anything ! take notion TO dc
and It might have worried him. But
had determined to make try at II any
how. That evening and the next morn
ing, while he was busy attending to the
details OF packing and getting Off,
was pretty busy myself ! knew whsgl
there was a discarded khaki uniform
regulation army that would ut me BY
the uniform | mean the trousers. coat
shirt and campaign hat.
Ready to March.
Getting the rest of my wardrobe wa
easy bought shoes, boys size, which
looked exactly like the army shoes
Canvas leggings and boys underwear
completed the outfit was ready an(
eager to be on the march was TWEEN
ty.two and full OF health aud boyish II
appearance.
My husband said his farewell abou
noon lie was pretty blue because h'
thought II would he goodhy for u Ions
time. perhaps foI always But he 4
first, last aud always u soldier. and h'
did II as soldier should suppose h'