The Mena weekly star., 1918-08-01
MACHINE GUNNER SERVING IN PRINCE

Poor fellow, are you very badly wounded?"
 The 1rishman. at this question, let out howl of indignation and an- swered, "Am very badly wounded, what bloody cheek: no. I'm not wound ed, I've only been kicked by canary bird"
 The ambulance immediately stopped. and-ths- coTp0ral came to the rear and fixed him up, and also washed out my right eye. was too weak to thank him, but it was great relief. Then l must have become unconscious, be- cause when I regained my senses. the ambulance was at standstill, and my stretcher was being removed from it.
 It was night, lanterns were flashing here and there, and could see stretch er-bearers hurrying to and fro. Then l was carried into a hospital train.
 The inside of this train looked like heaven to me, just pure white. and we met our first Red Cross nurses; we thought they were angels. And they were.
 Nice little soft hunks and clean, white sheets.
 A Red Cross nurse sat beside me during the whole ride which lasted three hours. She was holding my wrist; thought had made hit, and tried to tell her how I got wounded, but she would put her finger to her lips and say, Yes, know, but you mustn't talk now, try to go to sleep, it'li do you good, doctors orders" Later on learned that she was taking my pulse every few minutes. as was very weak from the loss of blood and they ex- pected me to snuff 1t, but I didn't.
 From the train we went into ambu- lances for short ride to the hospital ship Panama. Another palace and more angels. I don't remember the trip across the channel.
 l opened my eyes; was being car rled on stretcher through lanes of people. some cheering, some waving flags, and others crying. The flags were Union Jacks, I was in Southampton. Bllghty at last. My stretcher was strewn with flowers, cigarettes, and chocolates. Tears started to run down my cheek from my good eye. I like a booby was crying. Can you beat it?-
 Then into another hospital train, a fve-hour ride to Paignton. another am bulance ride. and then I was carried into Munsey ward of the American Women's War hospital and put into a real bed.
 This real bed was too much for my unstrung nerves and tainted.
 When l came to, pretty Red Cross nurse was bending over me, bathing my forehead with cold water, then she left and the ward orderly placed a screen around my bed, and gave me a much-needed bath and clean pajamas. Then the screen was removed and a bowl of steaming soup was given me. It tasted delicious.
 Before finishing my soup the nurse came back to ask me my name and number. She put this information down In little book and then asked:
 Where do you come fromf" l an swered:
 From the big town behind the Statue of Liberty" upon hearing this she started juInping up and down, elapping her hands, and calling out to three nurses across the ward
 Come here. girls--at last we have got a real live Yankee with us." t They came over and besleged me with questions, until the doctor ar rived. Upon learning that was an American he almost crushed my hand in his grip of welcome. They also were Americans. and were glad to see me.
 The doctor very tenderly removed my bandages and told me. after view ing my wounds. ttha. he would have to take me to the operating theater im- mediateiy. Personally didn't care what was done with me. 86
 In few minutes. four orderlies who looked Ike undeftdkers dressed in white. brought stretcher to my bed and placing me on 1t carried me out of the ward, across . courtyard to the operating room CT pictures" as Tom my calls 1t
 don't remember having the anes- thestic applied.
 When l came to was again lying in bed in Munsey ward. One of the nurses had draped large American flag over the head of the bed. and clasped in my hand was smaller flag. and 1t made me feel good all over to again see the "Stars and Stripes"
 At that time wondered when the boys in the trenches would see the emblem of the land of the free and the home of the brave" beside them, doing it's bit in this great war of civi- lization.
 My wounds were very painful, and several times at night would dream that myriads of khaki-clothed figures would pass my bed and each would stop, bend over me. and whisper, ''The best of luck. mate"
 Soaked with precipitation would awake with cry, and the night nurse would come over and hold my hand. This awakening got to be habit with me until that particular nurse was transferred to another ward.