The Washington herald., 1918-09-15
WOUNDED MADE
CITIZENS QUICK
Soldiers at Walter Reed Are
Eager to Become
Naturalized.

Building ships in forty-fve days
may be great, but we also make citi-
zens of wounded soldiers in a little
over two hours.
Speeding up naturalization of all
alien members of our army was a
war measure passed by Congress rot
LONG ago. The process has been
worked out to its simplest terms at
Walter Reed Hospital. where many
men seek TO become actual citizens OF
the beloved country in whose service
they have become disabled.
The long involved method requiring
first second, and even third papers
has been dispensed with, and now in
stead" of two and a quarter years, IL
takes about two and a quarter hours
to become naturalized.
Capt. Edward Lambkin, who handles
this work at the hospital, said that
about every two months a call is sent
throughout the wards TO all men who
would become citizens OF the United
States to assemble in the library at
certain time. in order that they
may be taken to the court to swear
allegiance.
Appeared I'm PaJamas.
The first time / sent that call
about 100 men assembled. but some
of them were still in their pajamas
and dressing gowns and of course
not attired in a fit manner to enter
the august presence of the court.
The next time l sent the call l stipu-
lated that the men be properly
dressed in their uniforms so that they
could be Immediately taken into the
city.
They don't mind the hardship OF
being trundled into an automobile
truck as most OF them are anxious
to have the ceremony performed,
although many are quite helpless
from the loss OF limbs and other dis
figurements.
At first a man had to have two men
he has known a long time to testify
to his character. We had so much
trouble locating these men that the
rule was changed Now / stand as
sponsor to them all and my name is
placed upon all the applications"
Capt Lambkin is known as the
godfather of the newly made
citizens at Walter Reed.
Why shouldn't / stand sponsor FOR
the characters of these mem" he
asked. Haven't they proved Their
worth in fighting for the country by
which they wish to be adopted?
Want Something to Show.
Many of them feel that IL is a
great mark of appreciation for their
services to the country. II is quite
touching. so many of them wish
tangible evidence Of their Citizenshi p.
| something like A lodge card or a PIN
to Confound those who would hence
forth call them 'wops' or 'daEoes.'
The ma jority OF them are eager to
become citizens" said the captain.
"Occa sionalIy some one, invaria bly,
! Of a stupid COuntenanCe, would hauC
! back and would have 10 be urged "a
| take the step.
when l asked him why he was
! such a boob said the captain he
would say that he might want TO 20
| back to Italy some day. And then
would make clear to him the advan-
! tage it would be TO be a citizen oi
| the United States when he went back
! 10 visit Italy, where the United States
! was so highly esteemed.
''One Italian was highly excited NJ
the prospect He said that he was 50
| slad that now he would really he a
! citizen, because he had married q
, grand American girl and had thereby
deprived her Of citizenship. and that
I his naturalization would reinstat'
her"