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Letter to Editor
October 21, 1952
Atlanta Daily World
Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia
What is this article about?
Dr. Verna Simons shares a poignant memory from about six or seven years prior, when she treated a desperately ill Black soldier on a cold night aboard a train to Chicago, assisted by troops who expressed deep gratitude, marking a highlight of her 45-year osteopathic career.
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OCR Quality
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Full Text
After six or seven years ago we were coming home from a Florida vacation on a twenty-four car sleeper train into Chicago. In the night the porter knocked on our door, said they had a very sick soldier and needed a doctor. There were two cars of colored soldiers on this train. It fell to me to go to this sick fellow as it was a desperately cold and windy night and their car was seventeen cars up toward front. My husband does not walk too well and he could not make it.
I put on a robe and slippers and an officer from the troops took me through these cars and open spaces, or I'd have blown off, sure.
I gave this young man the best treatment I could under the circumstances and then advised the officer to take him off and to a hospital at the very first place we came to, and in a very little while the train stopped and he was taken off.
I've been called a lot of things, no doubt, but those anxious young colored chaps were so anxious about this sick one, that they hovered around while I cared for him, and I overheard one say 'she's a perfect angel to come here this time of night and care for calling him by name'. I'd give most anything to know who he was and where he is now.
That was one of the highlights in all my 45 years of Osteopathic practice. More power to you.
DR. VERNA SIMONS
Grand Rapids 3, Michigan.
I put on a robe and slippers and an officer from the troops took me through these cars and open spaces, or I'd have blown off, sure.
I gave this young man the best treatment I could under the circumstances and then advised the officer to take him off and to a hospital at the very first place we came to, and in a very little while the train stopped and he was taken off.
I've been called a lot of things, no doubt, but those anxious young colored chaps were so anxious about this sick one, that they hovered around while I cared for him, and I overheard one say 'she's a perfect angel to come here this time of night and care for calling him by name'. I'd give most anything to know who he was and where he is now.
That was one of the highlights in all my 45 years of Osteopathic practice. More power to you.
DR. VERNA SIMONS
Grand Rapids 3, Michigan.
What sub-type of article is it?
Reflective
Emotional
Historical
What themes does it cover?
Health Medicine
Military War
Social Issues
What keywords are associated?
Osteopathic Practice
Sick Soldier
Colored Troops
Train Medical Aid
Racial Gratitude
Cold Night Treatment
What entities or persons were involved?
Dr. Verna Simons
Letter to Editor Details
Author
Dr. Verna Simons
Main Argument
recounts a memorable experience treating a sick black soldier on a train, emphasizing the gratitude shown by the troops and its significance in her 45 years of osteopathic practice.
Notable Details
- overheard troops calling her a 'perfect angel'
- occurred on a cold, windy night on a sleeper train to chicago after a florida vacation
- advised taking the soldier to a hospital at the next stop