The Delta independent., 1918-07-19
wendell eEcHTEL TELLS
INTERESTING EXPERIENCES
The following is letter received by
a friend from Wendell Bechtel, who is
now seeing service in France:
"Just Somewhere"
June, 21 1918.

Dear Friend:
u II is now a. m. on rainy cold.
Nireary June morning. The first gray
s.reaks of dawn are appearing. A
uueer time to be writing a letter, you
may say. / will admit that but 1T is
a good method to while away the long
morning hours, while the patients
sleep.
suppose you have read about the
work the army has been doing lately.
They have put our division "on the
map" and incidentally on the germans
too. / shall not go into any OF the
war news, for by the time ii reaches
you it will be old stuff.
We have our own newspapers over
here and will send you few clip
plings. The same is printed In Am
erican papers. but l know If / send
you the clippings you will be sure TO
read them.
Those old guns are banging away.
I am in the habit of having that noise
luIl me to sleep. Already a man has
invented an electric contrivance
which makes all the noises known. for
the states. to be installed above his
bed so that he may have peaceful CD
slumbers at night.
When win the Sammy return, you
may ask. Well, that Is hard 10 an
swer The majority OF France think
II viii be over by winter Many Of the
fellows say we VIII be home for
Christmas So IL goes
We had received several hundred
patients. all gnssed. and We had to
work day and night, grabbing few
hours sleep whenever possible.
Our hospital is in n school building
but that was filled to overflowing,
and we had to resort TO tents-36 pa
tients in tent.
The gas Is not so very fatal. Only
puts a man out OF business temporar'
ily. II blinds the eyes. which remain
blinded for several days. depending
upon the amount and kind of gas used.
II inhaled. the throat and lungs are
affected. After the first day blisters
develop on the body wherever the gas
has come In contact And such Bills
ters! They are like the rocky noun
tain region, and how the boys do suf-
fer. And not being able to see makes
Il worse. II is impossible to keep
them straight in bed. especially when
they are on the ground.
Miss King Y. NJ. c. A. worker.
dropped In one afternoon with choco-
late. cakes. chewing gum and CHEEKY
line of talk. She told them they look
ed like litter of puppies.
I sure had my hands full We all
did One evening one Of our patients,
n sergeant. eyes opened and he could
see enough to get around. Seeing
that I had more than could do, he
wrapped his blanket around him and
did what he could. giving drinks and
other little necessities. After had
tended to the eyes and burns sent
him to bed.
We did not have any pillows. but
that night some arrived and ! man.
aged to get n bunch. but was two pill
lows short The sergeant had one and
when he saw I was short he threw
n out and said. Here, use this" and
he did without went back and
rustied three more. fixing him up with
two.
Soon afterwards. we sent him back
10 n base with the rest. hut before he
left he came and shook hands with
me. bidding me goodbye and good
luck. Tears were in his eyes. but
smile was on his face. He had been
my patient only three days. the first
: two OF which he was entirely heip-
less. when he left he said. I'VE dough
& boys often make fun OF you medics.
hut YOU are always ready to help us,
and I want to thank you for what you
have done for me-"
Courage. sacrifice and unselfish-
nessi Those who have not known II
are learning II now. That sergeant
MAS an old-time man. perhaps 3d. HIS
words were simple. yet they went
home.
Oh II some OF those young men
back in the States could see the cour-
are and sacrifice of these men. the
Recruiting offices would be hooded
With applicants.
The Cathedral bells are ringing. 1t
n five o'clock. They are the most
harmonious bells have ever heard.
Nclodious! They play regular tune.
n inst peeped out. Daybreak is here.
heavy barrage is going on. That
seans more patients. The scent OF
1nses ts In the air and the birds are
o1nging. Another day Is at hand. on.
SVhat Is so rare as day inJune?
Ven In war time. Can we soon say
AAlvs right In the world?'
W Sincerely your friend.
wendell BECHTEL.