Greenland Grapevine a Community Newsletter for the Town of Greenland, NH
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Greenland Grapevine A Community Newsletter for the Town of Greenland, NH Vol. 8 Issue 2 Summer 2014 MEMORIAL DAY A Chance Meeting — Lifetime Memories IN GREENLAND By Glenn Bergeron Recently I had the extreme pleasure out she was headed to the small town of of talking with long-time Greenland Suippes, France, where the nurses were NH resident and WWII nurse veteran, to work in a make-shift general hospital Ruth Ladd. We discussed her nursing complex comprised of a series of large experiences in the war zone and espe- tents located behind the front lines. cially her surprise meeting with General George S. Patton, Jr. What follows is a It was here that Ruth encountered her heart-felt account of that meeting and first experience with the casualties of the events that led up to it. war. The amount and magnitude of It was July of 1944 and A parade, speeches, and music Ruth, along with her brought old and young alike together fellow nurses, had just at Remembrance Park on Memorial crossed the English Day. The solemn event was well Channel on a trans- attended as those who served in past port ship, which was and present wars were honored and now anchored off the remembered. For more scenes of the shore of Normandy, event, please turn to pages 10–11. France. They climbed aboard a Higgins landing craft (a small boat used to shuttle Sheila Pratt Selected as personnel from ship to shore that is made Citizen of the Year with a large front door By Barbara Fleming for a fast exit after At Town Meeting on Saturday, March at the school and in the community. landing) for their ride 15, MJ O’Neill of the Greenland onto Omaha Beach. Women’s Club presented the 2014 It was also Sheila’s idea to organize an Yes, Omaha Beach, Citizen of the Year Award to Sheila annual Memorial Day Parade in Green- the same beach the Pratt. Sheila is a long-time Greenland land from the Town Hall to Remem- allies landed on Ruth Ladd (L) with her friend Gravelle after completing resident and taught at the Greenland brance Park on the Town Green. This during D-Day 1944, a seven-mile walk. Ruth cannot remember Gravelle’s Central School for 40 years before has grown each year and involves the just seven weeks last name, but she hailed from Bucksport ME. Ruth retiring in 2010. Since then she has Greenland Veterans, the Greenland earlier. met Gravelle on the train to Ft. Devens and they were become one of the most reliable and Police and Fire Departments, the roommates for a long time. consistent substitute teachers, and has Greenland School Band, and other On the short ride to repeatedly made herself available to the community groups that are proud to shore, Ruth had time to reflect on how horrific injuries to our servicemen was, school community to help in whatever join in recognition and celebration of quickly her life had changed since the at times, overwhelming. Doctors and capacity has been war began. In December 1941, Don nurses alike were asked to put in more needed. Ladd, her fiancé, joined the Army Air and more hours, but on less and less Force as a bombardier and was ordered sleep. Long rest periods were generally Sheila is familiar to to Guam in the Pacific Theater. With out of the question and the only stress many parents and Don away, Ruth entered the nursing relief came in the way of taking simple students as a teacher program at New England Baptist walks or writing letters. and as someone Hospital and graduated in 1943 as a truly dedicated to registered nurse. Shortly after gradua- As bad as these conditions were, they promoting strong tion, she married Don while he was on would get even worse. Ruth received community and social leave. Almost immediately, she joined orders to report to a Third Army field values. She has long the Army Nurse Corps and was sent to hospital on the front lines. Arriving at been involved with Fort Devens MA for basic training and, her new location, Ruth soon noticed the Pease Greeters, later, pre-operative school. Once she that the wounded she cared for were and worked hard to received her commission, she departed just as horribly scarred as the ones she raise and maintain the United States for England aboard previously treated at her last command, awareness of the sacri- the Queen Mary. After a short stay in except now they were wheeled in at a fices of our military Scotland, she boarded a transport ship quicker rate. troops by organizing for her trip to Normandy, France. seasonal treat collec- Ruth elaborated on one incident in tions and Valentine’s Her thoughts were suddenly inter- particular when she was treating a Day card projects. She rupted by the noise of the landing craft’s young African-American soldier. He door opening up and slamming down was in the hospital complaining of encouraged student Dennis Pratt, Sr., (husband), Sheila Pratt, Dennis Pratt, onto the beach. With that, Ruth looked combat fatigue and wished that he could and family partic- Jr., (son), and MJ O’Neill of the Greenland Women’s up and noticed a fleet of trucks waiting go home. While he was talking to Ruth, ipation at various Club, who made the presentation. Greeter events as well. to take them to their next destination. she couldn’t help but think of the recent those who have sacrificed to protect our incident of General Patton slapping two About eight years ago, Sheila initiated freedoms, liberties, and present quality Once loaded in the vehicles, Ruth found Memories Continued on following page • a Greenland Central School Veterans of life. The speeches and invocations Day assembly for the whole school. This each year have been very moving and was so well received that it has become serve to remind us all of what it means an annual event with Veterans from all to be an American. Greenland Grapevine Bulk Rate decades and branches of service invited PO Box 296 Postage PAID to the school to be honored and feted Sheila, or Mrs. Pratt as she is known Greenland, NH 03840 Permit #1 by students from kindergarten through by so many past and present Green- eighth grade. The Veterans are served land students—many of whom are Greenland, NH 03840 breakfast prepared by the Life Skills becoming parents themselves, is really class, and mingle with the students to quite humble and would prefer to avoid answer questions about their service the limelight, but if you see her around RESIDENT / BOX HOLDER to our country. Sheila has faithfully town, be sure to say “congratulations!” invested countless hours each year after and “well done!” to this year’s Citizen of GREENLAND, NH 03840 retiring to keep this great tradition alive the Year! MEMORIES FROM PAGE 1 About Greenland soldiers who were complaining of the same condition. In polished helmet on the seat next to him, he looked fact, General Patton was currently making the rounds to majestic—tall—even while sitting; with his silver-gray Grapevine every field hospital in his command to personally apol- hair neatly combed back, he looked so distinguished. ogize to all soldiers and medical staff for this slapping incident. This was per direct order from General Dwight Smiling, he then leaned over toward Ruth and said, Eisenhower, the Supreme Allied Commander. Suddenly, “Could you tell us how to get to the field hospital?” After Our Mission To improve the quality of life in Greenland by a bullet ripped through the top of the tent and “whizzed” they gave him directions, General Patton turned again informing you of news, events, updates, and by Ruth’s ear striking the soldier in his shoulder nearly to Ruth and said, “Good luck, ladies. Thank you for what opportunities within Greenland so each of us shattering it. When the medical staff finished treating you do for our boys.” With that said, he sat back into his can be a part of the community. his wound and the soldier was resting comfortably, Ruth seat and the Jeep sped down the road and out of sight. said to him, “It looks like you’ll get your wish after all.” Ruth would again see General Patton two weeks later Committee Members The bullets fired into the tents were not the result of when he stopped by her field tent, quickly greeting ► Nancy Bassett - Secretary, Content Manager stray rounds from the front lines, but as a soldiers and medical staff alike. She result of a calculated attack by Nazi para- couldn’t get close enough to talk to him ► Trudie Bergeron - Director, Copy Editor chutists, dressed as American soldiers, this time as he was surrounded by a large ► dropping from the sky shooting as many entourage. Her last vision of him was this Barbara Fleming - Proofreader soldiers, doctors, and nurses as they towering figure in full military regalia, ► Jacque Gravelle - Proofreader could before being killed themselves— helmet setting squarely on his head, and basically, a suicide mission. the trademark, ivory-handled revolver in ► Bette Hirtle - Proofreader its leather holster resting high on his hip. ► Attacks like this were frequent, and it He smiled and saluted to all as he walked John Hirtle - Layout / Advertising became apparent to Ruth that war had out of the tent… and into history. ► Karen Mason - Proofreader no bounds, and it only served to harden ► her resolve. General George S. Patton, Jr., remained a Karen Johnson - Director, Copy Editor controversial figure not only throughout ► Margaret Mooers - Proofreader The one advantage Ruth’s field hospital the remainder of the war but also had for being so close to the front lines throughout the decades—even to this ► Erica Rahn - Treasurer, Public Relations was that it was also located next to General George S.