Williston graphic., 1918-07-11
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I8 AN AMf,RlCAN S0LMfR
& WHO WENT
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MACHINE GUNNER .5fRYINGM fRAhcEE-
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her on the seat was corporal OF tl'e
r. A. NJ. c., They kept up a running
conversation about Blighty which al
most wrecked my nerves; pretty
soon from the stretcher above me, the
Irishman became aware Of the 1act
that the bandage from his foot had De'
come loose it must have pained MIN
horribly, because he yelled In a louo
voice:
IF you don't stop this bloody death
wagon and fix this D. bandage Oh
my foot, will get out and walk"
The girl on the seat turned around
and in a sympathetic voice ASKED
"Poor fellow, are you very badly
wounded?'
The Irishman, at this question, let
out howl of Indignation and an
swered, "Am I 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 the corporal came to the rear ana
fixed him up, and also washed out my
right eye. 1 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.
1t was night, lanterns were flashing
here and there, and I could see stretch
er-bearers hurrying to and fro. Then
l was carried into 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; l thought I had made hit, and
tried to tell her how I got wounded,
but she would put her finger to her lips
and say, Eyes, know, but you mustn't
talk now, try to 60 to sleep, it'll 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 it, but l didn't.
From the train we went into ambu-
lances for short ride to the hospital
ship Panama. Another palace and more
angels. l don't remember the trip
across the channel.
l opened my eyes; was being car.
rieds on stretcher through lanes of
people, some cheering, some waving
flags, and others crying. The flags were
Union Jacks, was in Southampton.
Blighty at last. My stretcher was
strewn with flowers, cigarettes, and
chocolates. Tears started to run down
my cheek from my good eye. like a
BOBBY was crying. Can you beat it?-
Then into another hospital train, a
five-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
real bed.
This real bed was too much for my
unstrung nerves and / tainted.
When came to, pretty Red Cross
nurse was bending over me, bathing
my forehead with cold water, then she
left and the ward orderly placed
screen around my bed, and gave me a
much-needed bath and clean pajamas.
Then the screen was removed and
bowl Of steaming soup was given me.
1t 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 from?" l an
swered:
"From the big town behind the
Statue of Liberty" upon hearing this
she started jumping up and down,
clapping her hands, and calling out to
three nurses across the ward:
"Come here, girls-at last we have
got a real live Yankee with u.s.
They came over and besieged 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 handages and told me, after view
ing my wounds, that he would have to
take me to the operating theater i'm
mediately. Personally l didn't care
what was done with me.
In few minutes, four orderlies who
looked like undertakers dressed In
white, brought stretcher to my bed
and placing me on it carried me out of
the ward, across courtyard to the
operating room or pictures" as Tom.
my calls it.
l don't remember having the anes'
thestic applied.
When came to was again lying IL
q bed in Munsey ward. One of thu
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