French Soldiers' Gratitude:

Letters to Nurse Marion Rice

The bombing was terrific from both sides but we managed to get into the boches' trenches and take 200 prisoners. But our regiment was reduced to one quarter, losing 1003 men in less than an hour. As for me, a bullet entered my hip and cut through me. I will carry with me a royal memory and an eternal gratitude of my stay at St. Valery (hospital)." Agathon Lepeve (killed in action April, 1917)

"I was wounded in Hebuterne on June 13 (1915) on my right leg by a shrapnel. I was gravely wounded with crushed bones-four days without care and my leg rotting. There was so much pain from my wound. I gratefully address my thanks to the doctors and American nurses and will keep good memories all my life." Charles Buzare

"In June we took the train to unload at the Frevent station. After a long rest we fought for Henville St. Waast which was not easy because we fought in the cellars and ruins of this completely demolished place. We lost 1200 men there.(entry) by one of your little children." M.L'hopiteau

"At 5 p.m. I could hear the shells getting closer and as I was sitting in my trench filling my pipe, I had no time to finish it; a shell fell on me and buried me. My comrades found me fainting and spitting up blood. They put me in a shell hole where I stayed for 12 hours. Finally, the stretcher carrier picked me up, transported me to the emergency area, to Bray-sur-Somme and I was evacuated to the American hospital." Monsieur Lahaye

"Life was not rosey, in mud up to our knees, advancing toward the boches and I don't know what happened exactly. We had two companies taken prisoner and 1200 dead men. On September 3rd at 7 in the morning, I was wounded in the shoulder by a bullet. I got a first aid bandage given to me by the stretcher workers and was transported to la Forestiere where I got another bandage. Then I was sent by car to the Bruay Ambulance and after four days of suffering I was operated on."

Pierre Guillon

From: An American Nurse At War:  The Nurse/Soldier Bond