Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-07-03
oU6UoUE SOLDIER BOY LOSES
BOTH HANDS AND SIGHT OF
BOTH EYES.
BILL FOR SPECIAL
RELIEF BEFORE CONGRESS
IBy E. c.. Doughcrty.1

Washington, July 3.-Representativt
Sweets bill for the relief Of Henry A.
Bitter, Jr., Of Dubuque, perhaps the
only man in the American army whose
eyesight and both hands were lost in
the service. Will be pressed to early
passage, perhaps when the house re-
convenes following the Independence
Day recess. or as quickly as the Third
Iowa representative can find time from
his duties az chairman of important
subcommittee to call the measure up
for a vote In the house.
The bfll, which has been favorably
reported to the house by the committee
on interstate and foreign commerce.
will enable Bitter TO receive 500 per
month for the employment of an at
tendant or nurse, in addition to the
800 per month he now receives as
compensation and $3.50 a month from
his wartime insurance. Bitter is hope
lessly crippled. and the successful pas
sage of the law giving him the addi-
tional funds for nurse hire is not Ques-
toned.
Representative Sweets measure was
favorably reported by the house COM
mittee on interstate and foreign COM
merce largely thru the impression made
on the committee by Mr.. Bitter's own
statement, which tells story of the
maximum patriotism a soldier can
demonstrate. Bitter's statement, which
was made u part OF the record by Rep
resentative Sweet, is a remarkable doc
ument. 1t follows:
He Gave Much.
My name is Henry A. Bitter, Jr.,
and reside at Dubuque, Iowa. I am a
registered pharmacist and enlisted on
May 81, 1918, at Dubuque in Company
c, 352nd infantry. We went first to
Camp Dodge. then to Camp Mills. then
tor Liverpool, then to Southampton.
then to La Harve, then to Gringon, on
the Alsace front When the armistice
was signed we were behind the Alsace
front.
Il was injured on Nov. is, 1918, SUI
fering the loss Of both eyes and both
hands. My injuries were incurred in
the following manner: Just before the
armistice was signed, we had orders
to go UP to the Toul sector, but the or
der was not carried into effect for sew
eral days. When We arrived in the
ToUl sector, I was detailed to 60 to
Luneville to divisional gas school.
On the last day of this school, the cap
tain in command ordered a maneuver
in honor of the brigadier general and
some French officers. We were to as
simulate an advance thru a smoke
screen and carried offensive hand gren-
AIDES. The pin in one OF the grenades
which I carried worked it's way out
and the grenade exploded premature
ly, causing my injuries.
II was sent to base hospital near
Toul, but was in bed only eight days,
owing to my perfect physical condi-
ton. My arms were amputated imme-
diately. The surgeons gave hope that
might save the sight Of one of my
eyes. However. 1t was five weeks be-
fore could have my eyes examined by
a specialist, and when I did he gave
me no hope whatever that I could re-
cover the Use of either eye.
II am 20 years old and my father
and mother are living. My father is
SO years old and my mother 60 My
father is doing nothing at present He
~ LdllUT ny IIduG. j "DCheu my way
thru school and at the time OF my en-
listment was registered pharmacist
In charge Of the retail department of
the Torbit Drug Company of Dubuque.
was paid little over 500 a month,
but just before enlisting 7 had a prop
osition offered me whereby could
have purchased q part interest in the
business, paying for it on time At the
present time believe I would be max
ing $50 to $3.50 per month, besides
having a part interest in the business
Our home is not paid for as yet, and
have no other trade or profession be-
sides that of a pharmacist.
AS the money I am now getting
from the government, will state that
receive $3.50 a month from my war
risk insurance and 800 month com
pensation allowance. I am not able to
clothe or feed myself, and it is imprac-
tical to use artificial hands because OF
the loss of my eyesight. I would need
my eyes to direct the artificial hands
because these hands would have no
sense of feeling. It is necessary for