TRANSCRIBED FROM THE NEWARK JOURNAL JULY 4, 1918 P. 1
SHEROD ARNOLD DRENNEN
Somewhere in France
My Dear Parents:
Tis Sunday and everything is very quite. We are awaiting orders for another trip: never know what minute, so we have to be ready at all times.
We never get any news of any kind. Sometimes we hear the booming of the big guns somewhere. One morning recently some boys came running down to my car and asked me if the roaring they heard was guns. I laughed and told them it was only some Frenchmen blasting stone for a building, but it did not satisfy them by any means.
Had to stop and show some French people the train. They come in great droves every Sunday. Some of them have been shown thru four or five times already. They make very good interpreters for the newer ones.
I made a visit to see a sick child this morning. The people are very grateful for our services as the French doctors are all in the war service. Quite a contrast to some of our American M. D.’s whose only excuse is that they have families of their own to take care of. Am wondering when this is over what their attitude toward the doctors who left their families, gave up the comforts of home to do their bit for the love of humanity. The people of America cannot realize what war is until it is brought to their shores. They know nothing of suffering and hardships. Some of the pictures I have seen would harden the heart of any man who has the least spark of manhood. Wish I could tell you lots of things.
Am well and will always be glad of having the chance to do my bit. Have not had a letter from you since leaving the States.
Your loving son,
Sherod
NOTES: Written by Sherod Arnold Drennen. He was born on October 24, 1889 and died on June 19, 1968. He was a major in the U. S. army and served in the 60 Hospital Training Unit. He is buried in Lone Tree Cemetery in Stuttgart in White County. He was a doctor serving in Hospital Train 63.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON
SHEROD ARNOLD DRENNEN
Somewhere in France
My Dear Parents:
Tis Sunday and everything is very quite. We are awaiting orders for another trip: never know what minute, so we have to be ready at all times.
We never get any news of any kind. Sometimes we hear the booming of the big guns somewhere. One morning recently some boys came running down to my car and asked me if the roaring they heard was guns. I laughed and told them it was only some Frenchmen blasting stone for a building, but it did not satisfy them by any means.
Had to stop and show some French people the train. They come in great droves every Sunday. Some of them have been shown thru four or five times already. They make very good interpreters for the newer ones.
I made a visit to see a sick child this morning. The people are very grateful for our services as the French doctors are all in the war service. Quite a contrast to some of our American M. D.’s whose only excuse is that they have families of their own to take care of. Am wondering when this is over what their attitude toward the doctors who left their families, gave up the comforts of home to do their bit for the love of humanity. The people of America cannot realize what war is until it is brought to their shores. They know nothing of suffering and hardships. Some of the pictures I have seen would harden the heart of any man who has the least spark of manhood. Wish I could tell you lots of things.
Am well and will always be glad of having the chance to do my bit. Have not had a letter from you since leaving the States.
Your loving son,
Sherod
NOTES: Written by Sherod Arnold Drennen. He was born on October 24, 1889 and died on June 19, 1968. He was a major in the U. S. army and served in the 60 Hospital Training Unit. He is buried in Lone Tree Cemetery in Stuttgart in White County. He was a doctor serving in Hospital Train 63.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON