Monthly Archives: July 2018

Gas Stamps and Rubber: Precious Commodities During The War

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Rationing During World War 2 Last week, I wrote about the horrendous trip from India to Washington DC made by LT. Elsie Ott, the first flight nurse,  and her patients. This week I'm writing about a trip my dad made during WW II. The section below is a cut from my forthcoming book Our Duty, and highlights the impact of rationing during World War 2. Johnny, one of the important men in the true novel, had taken his sister-in-law to Lincoln, Nebraska to tell her young pilot husband goodbye before he headed to the conflict in Europe. Johnny had to borrow old tires and enough gas stamps  to try to make the 400+ mile trip. A Sad Trip Home “We left for home right after the ceremony. We tried to talk about how keen the send-off was, and that Ben had lost a lot of weight. Margie said it was such a wonderful gift for me to take her, and then she had to gulp and turn to the window. I know my stomach was tied up in knots and felt a boulder in my gut. Poor Margie had to have been even worse. But she was strong and held it together pretty good until she thought I was asleep that night. Must have had a towel over her mouth in the bathroom, but her sobs bout ripped me apart.” “You two shared a room?” Polly could not hide her incredulity. “Oh hell, we had planned to be home by dark, but that wasn’t in the cards. Barely got on the road when we had the first flat tire; another gave out before we got to Topeka. By that time, thunderheads were piling up, and the sky was as dark as our mood. When it started pouring, l decided we had to find a place to stop for the night. I didn’t want to take the chance of getting hit by a truck while changing a tire in that downpour. Margie and I agreed it was a waste of dough to get two rooms, so I took the floor.” “That makes sense.” “Our rotten luck still wasn’t over, though. We left before sunup, so I could get home and help Dad in case it hadn’t rained there. Luckily we stopped for gas and breakfast less than an hour outside of Topeka.  That’s when I discovered my wallet missing---left in such a rush forgot it on the night stand.” Polly shook her head, “Oh my gosh. What did you do?” “I left the owner of the gas station my watch as security that I’d return with stamps if he gave us enough gas to get back to Topeka. I prayed my billfold would be safe-- and it was.  The people at the motel were gonna mail it, but hoped Margie had money to get us home.” “What a trip!” Polly sighed, “Thank goodness those folks were all honest, and helpful.” During World War 2, gas and rubber rationing was an important part of…

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Lt. Elsie Ott—First Flight Nurse of WW2

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Lieutenant Elsie Ott had never flown before being assigned to the first medical evac. flight.On that flight Lieutenant Ott would have the  lives of several soldiers in her hands. Doctors did not even clear the patients for air travel, much less a trip that would take them almost half way around the world.Lieutenant Elsie Ott was a nurse at a military hospital in Karachi, India (now Pakistan) in January 1943. She had never flown and had no training about the effects of high altitude on any type of injuries or illness. However, she was given orders to accompany five soldiers in serious condition to Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C.She was given no list of supplies needed or directions as to what to expect---just to be ready to leave the next day. Lt. Ott used her nursing intuition to gather basic medicine and equipment she felt might be necessary during the flight that would take an entire week. "Ott was responsible for the medical care of five casualties during the flight. Two patients were paralyzed from the waist down, one had tuberculosis, one had glaucoma and           another patient had manic-depressive psychosis. She collected a bedpan, urinal, aspirin tablets, and other medical supplies during her flight preparations. She also received blankets, pillowcases, sheets, two Army cots and two mattresses. 'A medical department staff sergeant with chronic arthritis, who had recently been a patient himself, accompanied Ott on the flight as her medical attendant'." (Source)  Because the Germans controlled Europe and Northern Africa, the flight had to take a course across the middle of Africa. Along the way 11 more patients were added.A detailed description of the flight with it's many stops for refueling and overnight layovers is a testament to the human spirit to overcome sleep deprivation, inept officials, and multitude of diverse tasks to complete the job. Judith Barger's book BEYON.D THE CALL OF DUTY  Army Flight Nursing in World War II,  details Lt. Elsie Ott's odyssey. This wonderful book is a tribute to flight nurses, and Barger gives a vivid picture of the terrible ordeal of Lieutenant Ott. Years later,  Elsie  told an interviewer that she was so tired when the flight arrived in Washington, she was unable to answer simple questions and requested permission to fill out paperwork the next day. She couldn't even remember her name and had to sneak a peek at her dog tags to provide that information.As a result of the success of her mission, the bureaucrats who thought medical evacuations and a flight nurse program were ridiculous to consider had a change of heart. This mission would have taken at least two months by air and ship;  therefore the first school for training flight nurses was soon opened at Bowman Army Air Field in Kentucky.  Due to her actions,Lt. Elsie Ott was the first woman to be awarded the Air Medal by the United States Army.Lt. Elsie Ott receives Air Medal from Brigadier General Fred  BorumThe citation accompanying the award read:Second Lieutenant Elsie S. Ott,…

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