Diary Entries of Beth Stewart
Beth is an American Red Cross nurse for the US.
June 3rd, 1915
Today is the my first day on the job as an American Red Cross nurse! I can't believe I get to help the wounded soldiers. As of now, very few women are allowed to join the army, so this is as close as we are going to get to the front line(4). I've started working at a base in Florida, helping wounded soldiers who return home after being injured in battle overseas(3). The journey so far has been eventful, and I have met many men whom were very dedicated to the services of the United States. Some of which were highly ranked and regretted leaving their men behind to fight overseas. None of them have seemed to be gravely injured, and for that I am grateful. The soldiers who were sent overseas to fight are very brave, and very loyal. They have never spoken of their duties as soldiers however, as it seems like a very dark topic for most men. I do not doubt that most of the men will fully recover. I must go tend to the men now, for it is time for a round of check ups.
Beth Stewart
December 16th, 1915
A lot has changed since I last wrote. I have been transferred across the sea, to a small base camp on the coast of France. This is completely different from how it was back in the US. These men, at this hospital, have much more horrific physical & psychological injuries than I've ever seen before. How these men are coming in from war so physically and psychologically damaged remains a mystery to me. They were fine men, who can’t get the images and experiences of war out of their heads. Was the experience really that psychologically influential that they can hardly walk, talk, and eat on their own(4)? A man came into the hospital yesterday. He could hardly walk, and he was constantly having terrifying nightmares(5). His screaming woke up almost all of the other patients in the hospital. I can’t continue to see this everyday of my life. This country needs to start helping our soldiers more at war. None of these poor men deserve to go through this psychological torture. It is unbearable for them, and also for everyone around them.
Beth Stewart
May 12th, 1916
The war has moved on quite fluently. Here in the hospital in France, we don't get that many gravely injured men anymore. Though there are quite a lot of men with shell shock(5). As a nurse, I get to help the wounded soldiers, and it's very rewarding. Seeing so much disaster and injury gets easier, over time. It's difficult to watch, but my purpose here is to provide relief to the inured soldiers with the rest of the American Red Cross nurses(1). We will continue to help wounded soldiers, no matter what happens.