TRANSCRIBED FROM THE ARKANSAS GAZETTE NOVEMBER 10, 1918 P. 27
Well, we landed at Du Brest August 5, stopped there two days, and lit out for the front, Juilly being our destination. On arrival we were side-tracked, and the engine hooked on the other end and started out for Chateau Thierry, but, as before, we were shuffled out of this place and finally landed in the railroad yards of Paris. We stayed there for four hours, and started out again, finally landing in Toul. After the usual hustle and bustle, we finally got settled down and began getting our hospitals in shape, for we understood that the Americans were going to start a drive, and we had barely finished our preparation for the rush when we were notified to look out for patients.
The first night we had 548 patients to pass through the receiving ward. After the first bunch I lost track of them, but I think we handled about 1,500 causalities in four days, and had them on their way to base hospitals in the rear. I worked in the operating room at nights after we were through in the office, and, believe me, I surely thought I had a little nerve, but after three nights of assisting at cutting patients all to pieces and putting them together again—oh, well, I had to pass the “buck,” that is all. I did last longer than the regular operating room assistants, for they would pass the “buck” in about an hour, and I could stick it out for about six hours, and then I would have to give up and go to bed.
Well, when you see men on 12 operating tables being worked on, you can imagine the sensation, for we had very few cases that did not go on the table. It was constant; as fast as one case was finished, another was put on the table. Sherman sure did express the definition of war.
Mother we are on the verge of another move. I have not been able to find out where we are bound, but I presume we will go toward Mertz, for we are too far behind the troops to do good evacuation work, as they have advanced 15 miles ahead of us, so we have to follow up.
NOTES: This partial letter was written by Walter H. Cockmon to his mother Mrs. Eli S. Cockmon of Little Rock, Arkansas. He was of medium height and body type with brown eyes and dark hair. He had some heart trouble but was accepted for the medical department. He was born on October 19, 1888 and died January 13, 1936 at San Antonio, Texas. He is buried in the Oakland-Fraternal Cemetery, Little Rock. His tombstone inscription shows: Serg. Headquarters Co. Battalion 14 Evacuation Hospital World War.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
Well, we landed at Du Brest August 5, stopped there two days, and lit out for the front, Juilly being our destination. On arrival we were side-tracked, and the engine hooked on the other end and started out for Chateau Thierry, but, as before, we were shuffled out of this place and finally landed in the railroad yards of Paris. We stayed there for four hours, and started out again, finally landing in Toul. After the usual hustle and bustle, we finally got settled down and began getting our hospitals in shape, for we understood that the Americans were going to start a drive, and we had barely finished our preparation for the rush when we were notified to look out for patients.
The first night we had 548 patients to pass through the receiving ward. After the first bunch I lost track of them, but I think we handled about 1,500 causalities in four days, and had them on their way to base hospitals in the rear. I worked in the operating room at nights after we were through in the office, and, believe me, I surely thought I had a little nerve, but after three nights of assisting at cutting patients all to pieces and putting them together again—oh, well, I had to pass the “buck,” that is all. I did last longer than the regular operating room assistants, for they would pass the “buck” in about an hour, and I could stick it out for about six hours, and then I would have to give up and go to bed.
Well, when you see men on 12 operating tables being worked on, you can imagine the sensation, for we had very few cases that did not go on the table. It was constant; as fast as one case was finished, another was put on the table. Sherman sure did express the definition of war.
Mother we are on the verge of another move. I have not been able to find out where we are bound, but I presume we will go toward Mertz, for we are too far behind the troops to do good evacuation work, as they have advanced 15 miles ahead of us, so we have to follow up.
NOTES: This partial letter was written by Walter H. Cockmon to his mother Mrs. Eli S. Cockmon of Little Rock, Arkansas. He was of medium height and body type with brown eyes and dark hair. He had some heart trouble but was accepted for the medical department. He was born on October 19, 1888 and died January 13, 1936 at San Antonio, Texas. He is buried in the Oakland-Fraternal Cemetery, Little Rock. His tombstone inscription shows: Serg. Headquarters Co. Battalion 14 Evacuation Hospital World War.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT