Re: world warII question
Sally Mac Laren (jhartl0@DSRTVISTA.APACHEJUUD.K12.AZ.US)
Wed, 4 Dec 1996 18:41:59 +0000
I feel that I can give you an answer to several of your questions.
They may not be helpful and I will readily admit that not many people
have the same feelings as I do, but here are a few of my thoughts.
I was living in Ohio when the war began. I had just graduated from
nurses training. My fiance, who was a medic had been killed on the
Death March of Bataan and I was devastated.
So I enlisted in the Army Nurse Corps, was stationed for a while at
Ft. Harrison in Indiana, I then volunteered for overseas duty. At that
time, I really didn't care whether I returned or not.All I thought of
was helping some of the soldiers who were more fortunate than my loved
one had been. To my amazement, I met a young pilot and we were married
overseas during the war. We have had a little over 53 years of
happiness, so I am so glad I went. I, not only helped myself, but felt
proud that I had been of service for my country.
How did I feel seeing so many killed? That's not as easy to talk
about- even now. It was truly heart breaking to see them come in so
badly wounded, far away from home and their loved ones, many had
little or no hope of ever returning home. It wasn't easy believe me,
but I tried very hard to think of each one as my brother ( I had two,
but they were to young to be involved) and treated them as I hoped
someone else would treat some one near and dear to me.
Even though we were a hospital unit and supposed to always be in a
safe place, it wasn't always exactly that. For many years after
returning home, I was extremely frightened during a thunder storm. It
seemed as though the bombs were going to be right there very soon.
That I have gotten over, but I'll never forget the poor wounded men
and boys I met there.
If you have any further questions that I might be able to help you
with, feel free to write to me.