Hopes for returning to U.S. following abdominal surgery

310.239.1-3.2017 Transcription

Reims Vicinity

24 Sept 45 Mon

Dearest!

The Lord be praised!—

something was done about

this belly of mine today as

regards investigation, exam-

ination, etc.

At 11 A.M. Maj Stumpf (Chf of Surg

in this 189^th G.H.[1]) took me 15 mins.

walk over to Lt. Col. Long (Acting

Chf Surg Consultant of Oise Intermed-

iate Base) for a talk & confirmatory

exam. Next arrangement were

made for 8:45 tomorrow morning

c̅[2] Lt Col Goldburg (Xray) for a barium

“GI-series.” And—tonight

Maj Terry (Terrence) Watt wrote the

history (my history I spoke about

writing out per request) out on Army

Form ^#55 A-1 & examined me to

fill in the “Physical Exam” part of

the sheet. THE LORD BE PRAISED!

[2]

For 1 day (or 2 days or 3 days) I

may still keep on in Anes. work

while some lab tests, etc are done.

Then I’ll go (per formality) into this

189^th & put on pajamas & a

bath robe. Then, before [I HOPE!][3]

too many days Ill be transferred

as a patient to the bldgs of the

193^rd G. Hosp.—about 15 mins.

walk from here. Then & there—

from that spot—the “Ax”

falls or doesnt fall. As best I

can learn, Maj Watt → Maj Stumpf →

Lt Col Long all feel I should be

“Z-Ied” (to the States—Zone of Interior).

I did learn this however———

“the” final “Say” is up to a certain

Col. Nash. He is reported to be a

“fine-tooth-comber.” Heres prayin;

& hopin’ the “teeth” in his “comb”

aren’t too “persnickety”—AND

really! truthfully! scientifically!

I do fulfill the army regulation

regarding herniae {“normal” or incisional}[4] which

[3]

can “Z-I” a fellow.

I have forgotten 17 times to write

something for your peace of mind:—

A fairly recent [5½ wks—Lordieee!][5]

letter from Doris Settle M^cNulty

just before leaving Marsielle

revealed she was getting along

fine & had never had surgery.

THUS, “proving” my statement in

those “3-carbon-copy-Cala[i]s-Failure”

letter[s] that—I can go

6 years, let alone 6 months, c̅ this

thing. (all “reped” at other times).

I shouldn’t write this

but you’ll be horrible “at-sea”

unless I do:— If I am

“approved” by Col Nash; if the “Z-I”

Board (of 3 docs) concur; if (army)

delays aren’t too too damnably

slow inside the 189^th, the 193^rd,

& others they might send me to—

it should be about 3 weeks to

Z-I a guy onto a boat at Le Havre.

[4]

What I’m trying to say is:—

to get “Z-Ied” (onto a boat) it takes

a rough average of 3 weeks [lots

are much much longer; a few beat 3 weeks;

but all in all, 3 weeks is as close an

average as one can guess in this screwball

uncertain den of Inadequates].[6] IF—

Anyhoooo, I lov duz lovez

ya millions, Em c̅ —

All my love,

Dave

P.S. Oh yes—until I tell you

otherwise, dear, please keep writing

to 189^th G.H. A.P.O.[7] 513 as:—(1) As long as

Im here its 2 mins walk for mail [Yet still no mail in 5½⁺ week! GOLLY!][8]

(2) As long as Im at [supposedly][9] the 193^rd

its 15 min walk & (3) even if I leave to

go elsewhere, the 813 Hosp Center et al

is a fairly efficient forewarding “hub.”

[1] General Hospital.

[2] Medical abbreviation meaning “with.”

[3] Bracketed text is part of original.

[4] In original, “’normal’” is written above “or,” which is written above “incisional.”

[5] Bracketed text is part of original.

[6] Bracketed text is part of original.

[7] Army Post Office.

[8] Bracketed text written in the right-hand margin, with an arrow pointing to it from “mail.”

[9] Bracketed text is part of original.