WWI Memoir of C.R. Black - Revision history

AzraelBrown at 03:33, 14 November 2016

2016-11-14T03:33:54Z

AzraelBrown at 03:23, 14 November 2016

2016-11-14T03:23:06Z

AzraelBrown: /* "You are going home!" */

2011-11-12T13:39:23Z

"You are going home!"

AzraelBrown: /* The Storm */

2011-11-12T13:38:00Z

The Storm

AzraelBrown: /* Over the Dark Blue Sea */

2011-11-12T13:37:39Z

Over the Dark Blue Sea

AzraelBrown: /* Good Bye, France */

2011-11-12T13:36:17Z

Good Bye, France

AzraelBrown: /* "You are going home!" */

2011-11-12T13:35:51Z

"You are going home!"

AzraelBrown: /* ""You are going home!" */

2011-11-12T13:33:32Z

""You are going home!"

AzraelBrown: /* In Conclusion */

2011-11-12T13:31:07Z

In Conclusion

AzraelBrown: /* Good Bye, France */

2011-11-12T00:57:22Z

Good Bye, France

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:33, 14 November 2016
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−	THE WEAVER<ref>Poem by Benjamin Malachi Franklin, first published in 'The Memphis Commercial Appeal' newspaper in 1950 ([http://www.~~drbethrobinson~~.com/~~2011~~/~~03/the-weaver~~.~~html~~ source])</ref>	+	THE WEAVER<ref>Poem by Benjamin Malachi Franklin, first published in 'The Memphis Commercial Appeal' newspaper in 1950 ([http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=34977489 source])</ref>

	My life is but a weaving<br>between my Lord and me.<br>I cannot choose the colors<br>he weaveth steadily.<br>Oft times He weaveth sorrow,<br>And I in foolish pride<br>Forget He sees the upper<br>and I the underside.<br><br>Not till the loom is silent<Br>Ant the shuttle ceases to fly,<br>Shall God unroll the canvas<br>And explain the reason why.<br>The dark threads are as needful<br>In the skillful weaver's hand,<br>As the threads of gold and silver<br>		My life is but a weaving<br>between my Lord and me.<br>I cannot choose the colors<br>he weaveth steadily.<br>Oft times He weaveth sorrow,<br>And I in foolish pride<br>Forget He sees the upper<br>and I the underside.<br><br>Not till the loom is silent<Br>Ant the shuttle ceases to fly,<br>Shall God unroll the canvas<br>And explain the reason why.<br>The dark threads are as needful<br>In the skillful weaver's hand,<br>As the threads of gold and silver<br>

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 We arrived at Minneapolis and spent a day there, and on February 4, 1919, we stepped off the train at Sheldon and then - Home Sweet Home.
-Just a thought<br>And just to think - <br>A slap of ink, embroiled the world<br>in War!  A fleet of ships through "U" boats slink - <br>A Kaiser is no more.
+Just a thought<br>And just to think - <br>A slap of ink, embroiled the world<br>in War!  A fleet of ships through "U" boats slink - <br>A Kaiser is no more.<ref>ibid, page 26 of the 303rd Signal Service Record.</ref>
 ==In Conclusion==

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 =="You are going home!"==
-Very early on the morning of Nov. 15th<ref name="november-problem">After armistice, CR Black made numerous errors as to the month; every reference of "November" after his release of the hospital should actually be "December".</ref> the doctor who called on us each fay came into our ward and all smiles.  We knew something was up now.  He said, "Men, you are going home.  Get up and get ready."  What a feeling!  We were up, got dressed and packed our few belongings all in nothing flat.  He gave us a quick check-up, a snappy O.K. took each of our hand in a firm hearty handshake, a fond "good bye", and "Bon Voyage".  He said: "I wish I were going home, too".  We still have as one souvenier [sic] the full chart papers that hung at the foot of my bed.
+Very early on the morning of Nov. 15th<ref name="november-problem">After armistice, CR Black made some errors as to the month; every reference of "November" after his release of the hospital should actually be "December".</ref> the doctor who called on us each day came into our ward and all smiles.  We knew something was up now.  He said, "Men, you are going home.  Get up and get ready."  What a feeling!  We were up, got dressed and packed our few belongings all in nothing flat.  He gave us a quick check-up, a snappy O.K. took each of our hand in a firm hearty handshake, a fond "good bye", and "Bon Voyage".  He said: "I wish I were going home, too".  We still have as one souvenier [sic] the full chart papers that hung at the foot of my bed.
 ==Leaving Paris Behind==

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 ==The Storm==
-On our third day at sea, Nov. 20th, we headed into a sleet and for storm.  No one could be on deck any length of time.  Our ship's captain said the storm's wind velocity was nearly 50 miles per hour.  Out ship was tossed to and fro until we thought that at any minute we would be shipwrecked.  It was so terrific that at times one could barely see the water.  Ice and sleet had formed from six to eight inches everywhere.  The storm started at about ten in the morning and died down at around 11p.m. the same night.  The ship's big fog horn screamed out its thunderous and ear-splitting warning every ten minutes.  We heard only five or six answering blasts from another ship in the storm passing by.
+On our third day at sea, Nov. 20th<ref name="november-problem"/>, we headed into a sleet and for storm.  No one could be on deck any length of time.  Our ship's captain said the storm's wind velocity was nearly 50 miles per hour.  Out ship was tossed to and fro until we thought that at any minute we would be shipwrecked.  It was so terrific that at times one could barely see the water.  Ice and sleet had formed from six to eight inches everywhere.  The storm started at about ten in the morning and died down at around 11p.m. the same night.  The ship's big fog horn screamed out its thunderous and ear-splitting warning every ten minutes.  We heard only five or six answering blasts from another ship in the storm passing by.
 We had very good eats, bed, and rooms, everything spic and span, no guard duty.  No work of any kind.  All we did was eat, sleep, read and every night there was a moving picture show in the big theatre located in midship and on the lower deck, (about 40 feet under the waterline).  Some were of good variety, but on the average they were quite contrary.
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 Now it was the 22nd and we were beginning to look for some sight of land.  Some of the boys were still sea sick and others just getting "took".  Our trip was getting to be one day after another of "when do we eat?" and "Where are we today?"
 "Where are we today?" was shown on a chart in the hold of the ship and was as popular as a scoreboard in world series time.    On the last day of our trip the "Where are we today?" chart was wrapped around the cane of one St. James Lane and carried away with him "bon souvenier".
 ==AMERICA!==

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 We were now on board the great French liner, LaFrance.  This was a passenger boat and 728 feet long and 280 feet wide and a four stacker.  It carried 52 life boats and 72 rafts and there were 8 decks.  We occupied the deck at the water line.
-Everybody on the boat that could get on the main deck was there and it was a solid bunch of humanity.  For the most part everyone was quiet, hardly a word was spoken as we stood and strained our eyes at the fast fading shoreline of Brest, France.  We too were silent.  What was on our minds?  Yes, it was still the thoughts uppermost in our minds -- of those gallant "buddies" of ours whom were sleeping some on the battle-fields where they had fallen, others in the American cemeteries "row by row, where the poppies grow".  Thus, we bade France "good-bye" and turned our eyes westward.
+Everybody on the boat that could get on the main deck was there and it was a solid bunch of humanity.  For the most part everyone was quiet, hardly a word was spoken as we stood and strained our eyes at the fast fading shoreline of Brest, France.  We too were silent.  What was on our minds?  Yes, it was still the thoughts uppermost in our minds -- of those gallant "buddies" of ours whom were sleeping some on the battle-fields where they had fallen, others in the American cemeteries "row by row, where the poppies grow"<ref>A reference to the poem [http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/flanders.htm In Flanders Field].</ref>.  Thus, we bade France "good-bye" and turned our eyes westward.
 ==Going Home==

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 ==Good Bye, France==
-Shrotly after 1 p.m. we marched down to the dock.  It was low tide and we boarded a large ferry boat to make the trip of what looked like a mile or better out to the big ship anchored in the bay.  Pulling alongside of the monster ship we went aboard at about 1:40p.m.  Evidentally [sic] we were the final load to arrive, and hardly had we got settled and on top dech when the big anchor began to rumble and all deckhands were at their posts and doing their particular kind of duty.
+Shortly after 1 p.m. we marched down to the dock.  It was low tide and we boarded a large ferry boat to make the trip of what looked like a mile or better out to the big ship anchored in the bay.  Pulling alongside of the monster ship we went aboard at about 1:40p.m.  Evidentally [sic] we were the final load to arrive, and hardly had we got settled and on top dech when the big anchor began to rumble and all deckhands were at their posts and doing their particular kind of duty.
 Several minutes passed by; then two long blasts of the giant whistle sounded and the huge boat turned slowly and with her giant engines throbbing we headed towards sea and westward.

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 This means that soldiers well and otherwise were leaving our midst fast, while new ones coming in.  We were missing our ward and other ward buddies fast and getting new ones in their place.  Rumors were started several times that we were soon to move, and go home.  Like of old, we didn't believe in rumors or signs.  We were beginning to get anxious and wanted to go somewhere. We were almost fully recovered from our malady and we wanted to go places.
-==""You are going home!"==
+=="You are going home!"==
-Very early on the morning of Nov. 15th the doctor who called on us each fay came into our ward and all smiles.  We knew something was up now.  He said, "Men, you are going home.  Get up and get ready."  What a feeling!  We were up, got dressed and packed our few belongings all in nothing flat.  He gave us a quick check-up, a snappy O.K. took each of our hand in a firm hearty handshake, a fond "good bye", and "Bon Voyage".  He said: "I wish I were going home, too".  We still have as one souvenier [sic] the full chart papers that hung at the foot of my bed.
+Very early on the morning of Nov. 15th<ref>After this point, CR Black made numerous errors as to the month; every further reference of "November" should actually be "December".</ref> the doctor who called on us each fay came into our ward and all smiles.  We knew something was up now.  He said, "Men, you are going home.  Get up and get ready."  What a feeling!  We were up, got dressed and packed our few belongings all in nothing flat.  He gave us a quick check-up, a snappy O.K. took each of our hand in a firm hearty handshake, a fond "good bye", and "Bon Voyage".  He said: "I wish I were going home, too".  We still have as one souvenier [sic] the full chart papers that hung at the foot of my bed.
 ==Leaving Paris Behind==

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 Like you, we say and think of what price glory?  And what price victory?
-In final ending we say "There shall be wars and rumors of wars, but fear yea not, for the end is not yet."  But it is the end for those many of our sons who are falling in Korea today.  May God bless and protect them.
+In final ending we say "There shall be wars and rumors of wars, but fear yea not, for the end is not yet."<ref>Mark 13:7.</ref>  But it is the end for those many of our sons who are falling in Korea today.  May God bless and protect them.
 ==References==
 <references/>