Secret Letters

How one nurse changes lives of loved ones during the war

Secret Letters

It was 1942 when Gwen was chosen as one of the 400 nurses to be sent to a beach head in France. She was petrified of the unknown, and what was she about to encounter. Most of the nurses thought of it as an adventure, but they had no idea. Gwen knew, she knew because her brother had already passed away. Because of injuries he encountered in the war he lost his life. Gwen knew it was her duty to attend this journey in his honour.

They had arrived at the camp in the wee early hours of the morning. Greeted by the head nurse, who was tough as nails. She pursued to tell the girls of their duties and specified under no circumstances were we to become too friendly with any of the soldiers. They were sent on a mission and they were to carry out their duties only.

They set up a line up for each girl to retrieve their sleeping quarters, their wash basins that they would use on patients, wash clothes and blankets. The first night was sleepless for Gwen. She could hear the injured crying out in pain and agony. Some were only teens. It was breaking her heart and she could feel the tears slowly running down her cheek. She tried so hard not to make noise. There was no way to know if she had slept or not. The camp alarm was loud and no time to think. More injured soldiers coming and all hands were needed.

Gwen ran with her basin and filled it with water and wash cloth, going to the nearest wounded soldier. He was only making a mere whisper, and she couldn't make out what he was saying.

“It's okay, I am right here. I am just going to wash your wound okay?” She couldn't make eye contact, she wouldn't dare. Trying to stay focused, she opened his shirt and gasped. His rib was protruding through his skin. She slowly gazed up to his face. He was sweating and non responsive due to shock. Gwen quickly turned to look away thinking she would be sick.
Another nurse came to her aid and took right over, giving Gwen a bit of relief. This will be much harder than she ever imagined.

The whole day felt like a hollow pit. One that would never end. Corruption, evil, and just wrong. It was everywhere she looked. She was finally relieved of her duties late in the night. Maybe a couple of hours before the next group of wounded soldiers arrived. Gwen was sure she didn't sleep for more than two hours before she was uprooted from her cot. Rushing with her bin and adding fresh water and grabbing a new clothe she went right to the scene. Some barely made it back, others were already gone. Her heart sank. She watched the other nurses and could now see they know; the devastation has hit everyone. Not one smile on anyone's face. It was as though the grim fog of death swallowed the entire world.

“Gwen!”

Gwen turned around and was faced by the head nurse. “Yes mam?”

“We need nurses aid in the recovery quarters. Too many men needing assistance.”

“Of course mam.”

Gwen thought this would be a lot better than watching men die at her feet. She headed for the tents that held up to 500 men. She was given the duties of caring for 40 of them. Some men were able to talk with her and some were just silent. She wasn't sure if it was the pain or they were in shock. She mended wounds from surgery,  well the surgery that could be performed in such baron conditions. Washing bodies to keep them feeling human.
The next morning Gwen was back in recovery once again. She was putting new bandages on a soldier, when he spoke to her in a monotone voice,”I am not going back home, am I?”

“Of course you are. As soon as youre well enough.”

The soldier smiled faintly,”You have kind eyes. You have a big heart. This I can tell.”

Flattered Gwen thanked him. She went about her business and though, this was the first soldier that had spoken to her since she arrived. She smiled to herself with a grain of hope.
Later that day the same soldier called her over.
“I just thought I would tell you my name.”

“Of course, I am sorry, I should have asked.”

“I don't want to be just one of them. I have a name. I have a family back home.”

“Okay, tell me your name.”

“My name is Michael Fuller.” I have a brother, my parents and my girl.”

Gwen did not want to cry. She felt his anguish.” Well that is wonderful Michael. A very handsome name as well.”

“I was wondering, if maybe you could write a letter for me. I am no good with only one arm.”

Gwen did not know what to say to this. She had so much to do and no time to sit and write a letter. She felt horrible for it.
“Well Michael, how about if I come back when I am relieved of my duties and sit and write that letter?”

“Thank you. What is your name?”

“My name is Gwen.”

“Well Gwen, you are an angel.”

Hours later Gwen was dead on her feet. She was leaving for the night, when she suddenly remembered her promise. There was no way her heart would allow her to dismiss this. She found a note pad and a pen and quietly walked over to Micheal's bed. His night light was still on and he was anxiously awaiting her. She was hoping he would be sleeping and she would not have to do this.

“Okay Micheal, we are going to have to stay quiet, not to disturb the others.”

“Yeah, sure.”

“So who are we writing to?”

“Everyone in general.”

“Okay, let's get started.”

Dear family and Emily,
I know how hard it has been for you all, not knowing my whereabouts, or if I am okay. I cannot lie to you that the last few months have been terrifying, depressing, and tiring. I have met some great friends and I have lost many along the way. It seems like it has been dark for so long. I try to focus on the moon as I lay amongst the bushes. It seems to be the only thing that connects me to home. I am safe right now. I am wounded however but in a first aid camp. My nurse Gwen is an amazing person and takes care of me well. She says once I am healed I can come home. So hang in there and please do not worry.
I love you all so dearly.
Emily, when I get home I going to ask you to marry me. I love you so much and miss your embrace.
Love,
Micheal x o

“Okay, I will put this in an envelope and send it off.”

Micheal gave her his address and thanked her.

With hardly any sleep at all Gwen was right into her next shift. She assumed Michael was doing okay and tended to others that were severely wounded. This poor guy lost both of his legs. She could hardly stand it. She changed his bandages and washed his brow. He wasn't awake and probably a good thing.

As the day lingered, Gwen was becoming very fatigued and pushed herself to check on Mr. Fuller. His bed was empty. She panicked and ran to the another nurse who covered her shift.
“Amelia, do you know where Mr. Fuller is? Did they send him home?'

“No, I am sorry, Gwen he passed away last night. Internal bleeding I think they said.”

That was it for Gwen she left the tent and went straight to her cot. She opened the letter she was supposed to send and cried straight from her heart. She started to question her value here. How could she be here and get to know these men and then watch them slip away.  It wasn't fair, this was the other side of the coin in this war. Their country recruits these men, some boys and we as women are recruited to watch them suffer and die. There was no purpose to this.

Gwen finally fell asleep and the next day was her day to rest. They rotated the shifts so the nurses could have a day off to regain their strength. It still was not easy to rest through the bombing and sirens and gun shots, the cries of men suffering, but she did her best to lay still. Her feet were tired and her hands were chapped from alcohol that was used to treat wounds.
During her time lying there and holding on to this letter she came to a decision. She was going to write letters for all of them, even if she had to sneak in the time. She would make sure that they get to say something to their loved ones. Whether they lived or not she would write their last words of love to their family.

Entering the tent she would seek out soldiers that may not make it home. She would ask them what they would want to say to their families. She would write what she could in point form and in the late hours of the nights she would write their letters. Over time she had collected quite a few. It helped to allow the soldiers to live on. A final thought for their families to remember them by. This was her best way to cope.
It never made it okay or even better. The letters only made it easier to make it through one day from the next. She would lay and read them like a story. One she could never dream up. The emotions of these men were sad, devastating and heartbreaking. For each letter she read, she felt as though she knew them. A part of them that the war would never know about.
They had a life before this terror. Families that loved them and missed them. Some were in the middle of college when they left. Others were eager to leave.

Days turned into weeks that then turned into months. Gwen saw so many come and go; she was never numb to it, but accepted that this is what the war was.

When the time came and it was announced the war was over, everyone was overwhelmed with joy and tears. It all seemed like a bad dream. Gwen went through every letter and neatly tucked them into envelopes. Some she mailed out and attached her own little note about knowing their loved one on a personal level. Others lived close enough that she would deliver them, many being invited into homes and families wanted her to stay. Showing her pictures and trophies. She became somewhat of a counsellor to these people.

Her own mail started to pile with letters written to her. Questions being asked about the soldier she tended to. After a year of answering letters and travelling with letters she kept hidden for up to three years during the war, she decided to write a book. Her book entailed of war stories on the other side of the coin. Being a care giver, a counsellor, a friend. People needed to hear the Nurses side.

Her secret letters became a book. One that sold millions of copies and that so many thrilled to read. Gwen was someone with a kind heart and gave her time to the war, but she gave her heart to the families.
She was a strong young woman that turned a crisis into a memory to be cherished. She filled the gap between child and father, mother and son, sister and brother. Not many could have given that much of themselves while dealing with a world tragedy. Strength and endurance were her attributes. Nobody could have prepared anyone for the tragedy of the war. How Gwen turned the fate of men into something to treasure took more strength than anyone could have known.

(words) 2053