On the alert to move. Staff came and took pictures. It rained and is very cold.
Written at a later date: We left Esquennoy on the 5th and went to Remerango and put a tarpaulin over a disabled truck or camion. It rained all the three days we were there, but for all that we were able to make cocoa and donuts and help the boys as they passed through on their way to the front. Our boys were rushed from the Contigny front to the Soissons. We left the third day. We went to help at the dressing stations, and others attended the boys. It was terrible and no one can imagine it. Our boys were brought in on trucks loaded like logs and the blood would be running through the floor of the truck. Through it all, the boys would wave their hands and call “Hello there Sister Sallie! How proud we are of our Sallies. They’re always on the job.” We had to leave the place many times because of the raids; the planes came over most all the time. One night I remember better than any other, was when a plane dropped a G.I. can on the dressing station kitchen, smashing up five trucks and killing the men and boys; it knocked us all down. I was only a few yards from it. It was quite a while before we knew what had hit us. Then the Maj. told us to go to the cave. It was about half a mile from where we were. We started, but because of the bright moon, the Hun could see us, so we crept all the way. He dropped the rest of his load and we were scared. We got to the cave and believe me the planes came, lots and lots of them. They did much damage. We stayed there a few hours and then went back, after some digging. The bomb had uprooted many trees and killed many boys on their way to the front.
We worked hard and helped to get things together. Tried to make life more comfortable for the boys. Did our best making hot and cold drinks and giving them to the boys the best we could.
After the sun set each night we would lay to rest many of the boys and pray God to help us to do more. After four days and nights of this we moved back with the boys.
We went to Dammartin until all had been mobilized, then on the roads again. Traveled two tours and stayed there a few days. Then on to the front to Nonsard. Lived in what had been a German canteen, three days before, but the Germans shelled us terrible and killed many of our boys and knocked our buildings over. We had to leave, after all the boys had gone, and went to the woods a little to the West of Nonsard into a cabin all made of small round sticks. It rained the whole time but every night the planes came, would bomb us, and turn loose the N.G. guns. We slept on the ground when we slept at all. The Germans shelled us every day. Killed some. They knocked our coffee tank over and spoiled our place and made us miserable as they possibly could.
Every day a German or two would come all dressed up in American uniforms, but our boys were always on the job.
We stayed here for seventeen days under heavy shell fire all the time. The Germans had held this place for four years and sure did hate to lose it.
Here there were all kinds of pretty little dug outs and houses. A few of the French were here, and they sure did love our boys.
Left and went to Rambluzzin. Stayed there and worked at the gas hospital. It was sure terrible to see the suffering. Nothing is more terrible than this gas that is used.
We did our best here and after four days left and went to Varenns.
Diary of a World War I Donut Girl 