Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1918-11-20
Otto Berndt.
Evac. Hosp. No. z, France.


Twelve patients for ward go" an
nounced the receiving sergeant
through the open door. Get ready
Tor them" Immediately everybody
began to get busy; beds were made,
sheets were changed, etc. Everything
which would make things just little
more comfortable for the patients
was done.
We'll guess this is just the be-
ginning of another big rush like we
mad at said the efficient
looking nurse pausing for a moment
in the task of smoothing pillow
where some poor chaps head was
soon to lie. "But l do hope it won't
be as bad as that one for it certainly
was terrible. Those poor boys com
ing in wounded, some of them to go
through life without the aid of an
arm or Leg" And she added in a
lower tone, Some never to return at
all and pray every night for this
thing to come to an end and 1 know
that my prayers must soon be an
swered. 1t certainly is awful"
Eyes, that is all true,'' answered the
dish in the midle of the room, but our
boys are certainly doing some great
work. Yesterdays paper announced
that they captured 5000 prisoners
and supplies. That is not so bad, is
it? From what I can hear the boches
were rather pleased to be captured.
Had good meal in sight I guess y
he added with short laugh. quite
an advance too, kilometers on a 35
kilometer front. Get busy, here they
come continued the ward master.
BED As with that man. Give me his
card. Pull the corners back, Slim.
Where are you hurt, Buddy? In the
leg. Oh that amt bad. You'll be
skipping the rope around here in a
few weeks. That's just a little rest.
One good man wanted up here, fell
low has both legs in splints and is
still under the influence of ether.
That a boy, you guide his body and
I'll take care of his legs. No, not so
high; there, just a little lower and
more to the right Now you're get
ting there. Tilt your litter just lit
tie more, fellows. Good, that's fine.
Cover him up good. Now, kid, you'll
find more blankets under the table in
the linen room.
BED Z with that man; here, to the
right. A little faster boys, we want
to get 'em all put away before the C.
o. comes around to inspect this place.
He's a bear for having things fieeced
up. / had him on my back once be-
fore but never again. Did you have
many in the receiving ward? No?
That's good. Working or hours a
day is sort of working on my nerv-
Gus system lately. Think I'll put in
for a pass. That's good he's all right
now When he wakes up and finds
himself in bed he'll think he's in
heaven This way with that one,
boys; speed up little"
And so on until all twelve we're
slowed away in good shape, many of
them occupying their first bed for
weeks. Half an hour after the first
patient had been carried in the ward
had resumed its customary orderly
appearance and everything was in
shape for the coming of the dreaded
c. o.
"Well thank Heaven that's over
now. Seven men to be evacuated
this afternoon though. Work and al
WAYS more work." he added with a
good natured laugh, "but I'd sure be
willing to work % hours every day
for three months if at the end of that
time they'd promise me trip back to
Gods country. BY the way | hear
that the next hospital train due is an
American and it's going to southern
France" Immediately there was a
chorus of do l go, sergeant, yes
and how about me?" "and me too,
Serg. / am feeling fit for any kind IF
q trip" 81 thought that would bring
YOU to-" laughed the ward surgeon.
All want to get up and walk now,
don't YOU? Well / wish you could,
bovs. but things must be as they are.
Wen do all we can for you, you know
that. Are you ready to start with the
dressings. Miss Minninger? Good,
let's get started. / have to go down
to the operating room soon. That
chan that was down from this ward
has a bad shoulder and want to see
how II comes along. Guess he will
have TO have another operation. Here,
lid " he said to one of the orderlies,
arnn to the operating room and get
. lot of new dressings and don't let
maj nurse down there feed you that
s+uff about not having many on hand.
T know better. Let's see, we nave
ono two. five, seven, fourteen dres-
o;,,gs ~ do. Tell her we have thirty
and then maybe you will get enough.
Here. Miss Menninger, we ma. e