Evening star., 1944-02-15
Novel Phone Booth Serves Wounded

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at Walter Reed Hospital stands one
Of the worlds most extraordinary
telephone booths-one fitted with
all possible gadgets to simplify tele-
phon1ng for men who have come
back from the wars with crippled
arms and legs. or none at all.
And to aid them, and their more
able comrades as we'll, three CHEEKY
operators are ready IL hours a day
from 8 am. to 8 pinto put
through calls that will unite these
men again with their loved ones at
home.
Because of the efficiency Of the
station, recently installed by the
Chesapeake IL Potomac Telephone
Co., and its watchword of personal
helpfulness, it is becoming the most
popular spot in the hospital. Its
patrons, now averaging 80 a day,
are described by the operators as
the most select and appreciative
phone callers in the world" Many
Of their tributes are inscribed in q
book which they may sign If they
wish.
Before the special booth was in
stalled in the center, men confined
to wheel chairs or litters had to be
carried into standard booths. The
placing Of call was necessarily at
tended by physical pain, or at least
inconvenience.
Patients Wheeled In.
Now the patients are wheeled or
carried into the new outsize booth.
Friendly operators adjust head
phones and breast transmitters on
men who have no arms, hand out
cigarettes and reading matter to all,
and are ready to relieve the tedium
OF waiting by an interlude of talk.
For those who are hard of hearing,
special dials to step up the volume
of sound are available. And lack
Of money doesn't bar a call, for
every veteran using the service has
Al credit rating.
Returned veterans want to call
their mothers first, says Mrs. Hazel
McCrink, 1929 Lang place NE, chief
operator of the center. Wives and
sweethearts rank next. she adds.
Many also call friends and host
esses In Washington who have Wis:
tied them or received them in their
homes.
Veterans appreciate a cheerful
attitude and like to be called by
their first names, Miss Dorothy E.
Bowen, 632 Park road NV, an
other operator, observed.
The third is Mrs. Henriette HOLD
son, TIT Tewkesbury place NV,
who says she enjoys the hospital
assignment because it makes her
feel she is doing something useful
for servicemen. Her husband is
overseas with the airborne engi-
neerS.
Placed Dozen Calls.
Once 1t required almost a dozen
phone calls by soldier to find out
If his buddy was still alive. Both
were wounded at the same time
The soldier had his buddys belong
ings and was overjoyed when he
finally located him in another Army
hospital. Another time the attend
ants were rewarded when a recov-
cred veteran stopped into say sheep
ishly his happiest moments in the
hospital were spent talking with the
operators on New Year eve.
One evening recently a wounded
patient who had Just returned from
three years Of service overseas
waitad anxiously as an operator
tried to reach his wife IN Tacey
CITY, Tenn. He had no telephone
at his home. which was Is miles
out Of the city.
The operator first tried to find
= taxi or messenger service in the
small town, but none was available.
Finally garage operator agreed
to 60 for the soldiers wife and
bring her to telephone II he were
compensated.
He wants $3.50 to get her" the
operator told the soldier.
Il don't care If it costs $780," he
replied.
He talked happily with his wife
for eight minutes.