Historic Hood River
WWI Troop Train
11-11-2013
Notes
On Veterans’ Day last year we saw this wonderful Alva Day image of soldiers returning from the Great War. Today’s image was taken on the same February day in 1919, but this closeup view shows some more of the emotions of the day.
l.e.
It appears that the young man standing in the doorway is looking for someone to greet him.
Arlen Sheldrake
yes, a very emotional picture…..I wonder why this slaughter didn’t turn us all against future wars. And yes, my flag is flying in their and all others who served honor..
I wonder if there was a band out of the picture some place as it certainly appears to be a town event.
Another of your classic & topical postings Arthur, thanks. Arlen
Buzz
I salute our veterans who fight for the right reasons, and present my bent over backside to those who get us into so many of these senseless wars that accomplish nothing. As a naive private in the Army when Vietnam started, I was surprised to see the elation that existed among many career military people who were looking forward to the promotions that were going to be coming down the pike.
nels
Thank you for your comments Buzz and Arlen. There is a great mix of emotions surroundoing the various conflicts. But the damage done to each individual is lifelong, and that is a burden that I share with each returning soldier.
Can anyone make out what the banners on the side of the train cars says?
Arthur
Nels, you can read the full banners and the story about them in last years post: https://www.hoodriverhistorymuseum.org?showimage=522
l.e.
During this "Great War", my grandfather was fighting for Belgium and quickly taken prisoner by the Germans. He was in a German prison camp doing farm labor, so he had access to food. In my teenage years, he cracked an egg on the fence post and ate it raw. I gagged and he informed me that is what he lived on when he was a prisoner.
When my father enlisted during WWII, my grandfather got him out of the service saying he was needed for the farm. At the time, my dad was quite upset about it, but grandpa said wars were the concoction of a few of the wealthy.
Lesa
Grandpa, Dick Scearce, and his brother, Robert, were on this train. They had traveled on it from Fort Dix, stopping at numerous places, all across the country. At the different stops, there were parades, and speeches, and people brought food by the ton. He said It took, what seemed like forever, for them to get to Fort Lewis, in Washington, where they were finally discharged.