Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1918-02-06
BY Howard Kahn.
(Fronl Association Menu


When the transport -- sails
from this harbor in few days, it will
carry the happiest boy in the world. That
is the way he charaeterizes himself. l
would cali him the nerviest boy in the
world.
His name is Aubrey Mcleod. He is
a farmer student at Purdue University,
a resident of Boston and he served in an
Indiana battery on the Mexican border
last year.
An Of which has nothing to do with
why. he is the happiest and the nerViest
boy in the world.
when histories Of the present war are
written Aubrey McLeod's name will go
down as the first American casualty,
The air raid on Base Hospital No. -,
which resulted in the death of Lieuten-
ant Fitzsmmons Of the Medical Corps
and three privates early in July, injured
Mcleod so seriously that his two legs
had to be amputated SIX inches apoye
the knees. This much has been briefly
mentioned in official newspaper dis
patches. But nothing has been said
about Mcleod himself or his hopes for
the future.
/ met a hospital sergeant on train
bound for this port the other day.
Were taking Aubrey Mcleod home he
said. would you like to see him?'
French and German ''mutiles' during
four months at the French front and the
memory of some of them was still with
me. I did not know whether wanted
10 see a palG-IdceQ, Drawn ana SulLc EjtAB
American. had known some of Nc
Leods friends on the Mexican border
last summer, however, and | thought
some news Of them might cheer him a
bit
/ entered his compartment. Two SOL
diers were there Both were hearty, red
checked, fresh docking Americans, neith-
er Of whom appeared to have known
what a days illness meant. where S
Mcleod" | asked.
MY name is Mcleod" replied one of
them smiling,
Then | noticed that the lower part of
his body was covered with rug.
If the American wounded and the
American people accept their misfortunes
like Aubrey Mcleod has accepted his,
the receipt of the long casualty lists
which are sure to come will cause no
alarm as to American morale.
Looking for sick man?" laughed
Mcleod, reading my thoughts. There S
nobody sick around here. I may get a
little seasicl6 i'll q few days, but there
won't be anything serious about it,
Just what happened?"
"a fleet of Boche planes. They drop
ped six bombs. One of EN- got me. Now
Mcleod said ali this with a smile on
his face.
81 had been on guard Somebody re-
lieYed me, and / lay down for some sleep.
heard commotion and jumped to my
feet. Two bombs went off and I knew
1t was an air raid. Then third
exploded very near to me- Another man
in my unit began yelling, Help me- and
/ saw that he was wounded. Then
looked down and saw my right leg was
almost cut in two / didn't feel bit of
pain, but / began yelling, too, just like
the other fellow was doing. I remem-
bered the colonel ran in and looked at
me and held me up until two men came
with q stretcher,
Next thing I knew was when I woke
up the following day. I remembered
about about my right leg dangling as II
ready to drop off. ! reached down and
found that it was gone. Then / reached
for my left leg. 1t was gone, to.''
Please remember that Mcleod was not
telling this with tragedy in his voice.
There were no signs, no self -pity. There