Sidney Towner Phelan letter to mother - June 20, 1917
Transcript
[American Ambulance Hospital of Paris letterhead] 20 June 1917 Dearest Mother, You can't realize how the American point of view as shown in my letters seems ridiculous in the light of existing conditions. I can't of course write about conditions over here but I can say this that the U. S. doesn't realize what is up to them and what war means. Last night we had a little job out of our usual line. Capt. Kipling discovered that someone had stored 1100 barrels of 95% grain alcohol back of the hospital. It is very scarce here and it was obvious that the government did not know it was
Transcript
there or they would have confiscated. Some of the barrels were open at the top and the result was the whole place was filled with fumes and of course it was rather dangerous as a match lighted near the place would blow up the whole neighborhood including the hospital. Capt. Kipling arrested two people living there and seized the stuff. Then he called up the government and told them about it. They sent the police and fire departments and put them under our orders. We had to stand guard over it all night and keep anyone from going in or out and passersby on the street from smoking. We had a night call at the same time and the result was we couldn't be relieved until morning. I had to stand guard from midnight until 8:10 A. M. It rained considerably and
Transcript
[American Ambulance Hospital of Paris letterhead] that didn't add to my joy. I was surely tired when my lousy job was over. We expect to get in barracks in a few days and then get to the front later. Tell everybody at home that I can't write a whole lot of letters. I have too much to do. Send me some chocolate and any other food you can. Lots of love to everybody. I think of you and miss you lots but I'm not sorry I am here. Towner P.S. Cupps Scudder and his brother OVER
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are here and signed up with me at Neuilly. I wish Val was here and Morty Lucas. Then we would have our old gang.
Details
| Title | Sidney Towner Phelan letter to mother - June 20, 1917 |
| Creator | Phelan, Sidney Towner |
| Source | Phelan, Sidney Towner. Letter to mother. 20 June 1917. Sidney Towner Phelan Papers, 1899-1960. A1209. Missouri History Museum, Saint Louis, Missouri. |
| Description | Sidney Towner Phelan, a St. Louis, Missouri native, wrote this letter to his Mother while serving as a volunteer ambulance driver in France during World War I. In this letter, Phelan described the living conditions in France and explained how the French were rationing certain items. |
| Subject LCSH | World War, 1914-1918--France; World War, 1914-1918--Medical Care; Rationing--France; Ambulance driving |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I; American Ambulance Hospital of Paris |
| Site Accession Number | A1209 |
| Contributing Institution | Missouri History Museum |
| Copy Request | Transmission or reproduction of items on these pages beyond those allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the Missouri History Museum: 314-746-4510 |
| Rights | The text and images contained in this collection are intended for research and educational use only. Duplication of any of these images for commercial use without express written consent is expressly prohibited. Contact the Missouri History Museum's Permissions Office at 314-746-4511 to obtain written consent. |
| Date Original | June 20, 1917 |
| Language | English |