Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-11-30
Back From He'll With a
Smile Philadelphia Vic
tim Sums 1t Up
NOT A GUTTER IN LOT
BIZ STAG Correspondent
Camp Dix. y. j.. Nov. 30.

pital here Of the first contingent of
wounded and shell-shocked veterans
from overseas
Badly battered. bent and broken
most of US are. but there's not quit
ter IN the lot" he added. Some of the
boys didn't get off so easy as did
tPrivate Summeril was nursing a man
gled leg while he talked). but you won't
hear any whining or snivellng from
them. They're just about the gamest
little bunch of buddles I've seen"
The atmosphere of Ward 90. where
Private Summerl is one of the stretcher
cases, was the Cheerlest of the whole
cantonment today. A lot Of good natur-
ed bantering was going on from cot
TO cot. In a corner a walking case"
was making merry with Il jewsharp,
here and there convalescent heads were
partly hidden under pillows enjoying
forbidden "fags," and on the side Of
bed near the center Of the big room
two negro doughboys We're softly sing
ing.
II olcays fndS some sunshine.
Wherever l may be-"
Gayest Spot in Camp
Outside the big hospital. the camp
had the desolate appearance of a pene-
trating. damp. wintry day Inside 1t
was pleasantly warm and cherry. Not
even those men of the latest draft who
were leaving today with honorable dis
charges in their pockets seemed as happy
as those of their comrades who have
been over on the other side done their
part. paid the price. and now have re-
turned to face life anew under tremen-
douS handicaps.
There were sixteen Philadelphians
among the lot Of wounded men landed
a few days ago from the transport Poca-
hontas. at Newport. and sent thence tc
Camp Dix. Most OF them were walking
cases" and therefore we're allowed to &C
to their homes for the THANKSGIVING
holiday.
The cases OF Corporal J. A. Doody of
1913 South Taney street. and Private
Summeril are the most serious among
the wounded PhiIadelphians Going into
action for the fourth time in the Verdun
sector on September 80. Doody was
struck in the back and left hip by shell
splinters. He expects to be removed to
hospital in Philadelphia soon for an
operation to remove shattered pieces of
the hip bone.
Noncoms Bravest OF Foes
Summeril also saw service on the Ver-
dun front. but did not receive his
wounds until some time latN'. lie par
ticipated in the fighting on the Somme.
and at Barnicourt, and during his whole
time Of service spent only four days in
the trenches. 1t was after the now
famous 'million- dollar barrage" was laid
down by the American artillery on
sixty-mile front in the Nerdun sector.
that Summeril experienced his first open
fghting. on September 26. After that
he was in the thick Of it until he fell.
Both Ankles Broken
Summeril was wounded on October 3
during the bitter fighting in the Argonne
forest Both ankle joints suffered COM
mound fractures from shell fire, and he
was shot through the feet by machine.
gun bullets. His legs are bound in the
heaviest of splints.
THANK God for the RED cross" Sum
meril exclaimed in relating his expert
ence after he was wounded. Nearly ali
of us who were wounded and came out
alive owe our recovery to the quick, eff
ficient and generous aid of the noble men
and women wearing the Red Cross
uniform on the other side.
"The Salvation Army and the Knights
of Columbus also did much for us In
another way, particularly the Salvation |
Army, which sent its workers right up
TO the front line with the things we
needed most and at the right time. And
like the Red Cross, they asked no pay |
for what they did-merely the right to
serve"
Summeril praised the conduct of the |
men in the Seventy-eighth, Seventy |
ninth, Eightieth, Thirty-seventh and |
Forty. sixth Divisions, all of which. he |
said had won commendation from |
American and Allied officers of the high |
command alike.
Reluctant as they are to pose as
heroes. the battle-scarred veterans have
been unable to escape the attentions of
women, who have flocked |
here from nearby towns and cities since
their arrival. The overseas wards were
crowded with them during the visiting |
neriod. Many brought flowers candy,
books and magazines Nearly all of |
them were asking for news of relatives
and friends who have not yet been sent |
home. "
A touching incident took place in one
NJ the wards today, when a strikingly
motherly-looking matron, who
has a son on the other side, exclaimed
what splendid fellows these young
men arel Ny dear boys, you don't know |
how grateful we women are to you. |
could lust hug you all!
A hush fell over the room for a mo- |
ment and several husky looking dough-
bovs dabbed slyly at blinking eyes. Then |
n facetious brown skinned youngster |
grinned and piped up:
..Say, lady, you can hug me !"
Impulslvely, and to his great sur
prise and embarrassment. she turned 10 |
MIN with big tears streaming down her. |
cheeks and t;ght<ned her arms about him !