November
5, 1918
My
Dear Mother:
I
had just got through writing a letter to Henry on October 28th
and telling how safe we are, but Fritz got the best of me that same
evening. I am now in the hospital minus one leg just above the knee
and a shrapnel hole through the other one just below the knee. From
present indications I am getting along as well as can be expected
and lately have not suffered very much
This
may be somewhat of a shock that I should put it as plainly as I do,
but you might as well know exactly how things are now. Then you won't
worry if recovery seems slow later on. Everybody has been treating
me just fine and you can be sure they are doing all they can to put
me "back on my feet" in the shortest possible time. I will
send Henry's letter as soon as I can find it. It is somewhat soiled,
but I think he will be able to read it. I shall try to get letters
out as often as I can, but you don't want to expect a large number
at first as everybody is busy and I must not burden them too much.
Let Hans know about this and have him inform the Kearney friends.
Greetings and love to everybody.
Your
loving son,
Clarence
January
24, 1919
My
Dear Mrs. Olsen:
I
am in receipt of a letter from your son, Hans Olsen, written from
Bayard, NE. asking in regard to his brother Clarence, and your son.
Clarence
was evacuated from an evacuation hospital near the front to Base Hospital
No.49, November 15 and came under my care. He sustained very severe
wounds about November 9, I think, in a few days before the signing
of the armistice.
A
high explosive shell wounded him in both legs and resulting gas gangrene
made it necessary to amputate both limbs above the knees. This was
all done before he entered Base Hospital No. 49, and in it no doubt
was the only measure possible to give the poor boy a chance to live.
The shock of course was intense. When he came to my care he had a
developing broncho-pneumonia, but he put up a most wonderful fight
against the inevitable.
I
talked to him each day as we both came from Nebraska and have the
same name. He related many interesting, at the same time, harrowing
experiences at the front. Although very modest and reluctant in telling
his own personal part in it, I could easily see that your son was
one of the bravest and most courageous boys in his command.
The
tragic part of it all, is the fact that he should fight through the
war and be cut down when victory was in sight, but he was happy in
being able to live and know that the war was over and won, and all
due to the American Dough-boy.
He
was cheerful throughout, never complaining, a true soldier, even though
the worst injured in my wards.
I
instructed the nurses to give him extra care, which they were glad
to give and spent a great deal of time in adjusting him to protect
his limbs and prevent bed sores and do all we could to give him a
chance.
He
had great fortitude and resistance, but the trial was too severe and
he passed away without a struggle or pain December 2, 1918.
He
was given a military funeral. Our chaplain — Jasper H. Tancock, Dean
of the Holy Trinity Cathedral at Omaha — presided at the grave, and
after the sound of the firing squad died away, the remains of your
dear boy were laid to rest while taps was blown for him the last time.
Clarence
made the supreme sacrifice, and all in all he may have accomplished
more by his death than if he had lived.
As
you will note, I am now with the 82nd division and no longer
with Base Hospital No. 49, but in due time you will receive any belongings
or property that Clarence possessed as it is an order from the government.
You
may rest assured that your boy did not suffer much, as we did everything
to ease him and he died a soldier in every sense of the word.
A
neat cross with his name and regiment, marks his grave at Allerey,
France, and it will always be kept in the best of condition as he
is sleeping in a government cemetery with many of his comrades in
arms.
Hoping
this letter will allay to some extent your anxiety and worry, I beg
to remain.
Yours
sincerely,
J.E.
Olson
Capt,
W.C. Field Hospital No. 526.
A.P.O.
742
