The Marines would die for
Old Baptist “Doc” —He
almost died for them
By Sergt. ALEXANDER WOOLLCOTT
of “The Stars and Stripes,” A. E. F,
OU would turn your pockets inside out for the United
Y War Work Campaign if you knew dear old “Doc” of the
Marines, a white-haired, slow-speaking padre, who is Y.
secretary with the leathernecks and so beloved by them that
it’s past telling. He was a preacher in Arizona—had been, I
think, a missionary with the lepers when the war came, and
he went from his pulpit to the Y.
They have always loved him, the Marines. I think it was
because he had the genius for meeting all mankind brother-
to-brother. And because he would not spare himself
any hardship that the boys had to undergo.
If they hiked, he would not ride. . If they had to march
half-way across France as fast as their legs would carry them,
Doc marched, too, and what is more, carried the full pack,
lest any boy should ever say old Doc did not know what a
real hike meant.
NES 7 a NN Of course, their devotion became a cult on the Marne when
Rr Sy Whe it was he who took the hind end of a litter and went out
. Tae, through a very rain of shells to bring in and save the wounded
colonel. And they did save him. Can't you picture it—the
two of them creeping over the treacherous ground, with the
: ; private turning now and then and hissing back to poor old
Why you should give twice as bulky Doc not to “stick up so far” in the air?
much as you ever gave beforel That little expedition dropped Doc unconscious with
gas and shrapnel, and when he came to he found that
The need is for a sum 70% greater than any gift ever asked
for since thie World Desran, Pits Goverment has red this sun quite mysteriously, all his Y ensignia had been cut away and
at $170,500,000. Marine emblems sewed on in their place.
By giving to these seven organizations all at once, the cost |} Doc holds services now and then. I know of one a young
ad effort of six alyiional campaigns Jy saved, Jew organized. It was held in a deserted church which a
volunteer squad had spent three hours in cleaning for the
occasion—three hours routing the dust and cobwebs and litter
ii Rtn Buin of fallen plaster and broken glass. Then the congregation
300 Leading Stage Stars trooped in and the service began with the distribution of
2000 Athletic Directors rosaries fished from Doc’s capacious pockets for the Catholic
2500 Libraries supplying 5,000,000 books boys, some of whom had lost theirs in the fight.
85 Hostess Houses
15,000 Big-brother “secretaries” They have a way of looping their rosary through their left
Millions of dollars of home comforts
Unless Americans do give twice as much as ever before,
our soldiers and sailors may not enjoy during 1919 their
shoulder strap and wearing it into battle as the knights of old
When you give double, you make sure that every fighter wore their lady’s colors into the jousts. It is an inspiring
has the cheer and comforts of these seven organizations every 3 h iful nif
RE nM EY thing to see a whole company thus beautifully uniformed, but
provide him with a church, a theatre, a cheerful home, a store, sometimes they come back with the beads torn away.
a school, a club and an athletic field—and a knowledge that the . : : :
fle bak Lome are with Biot. Part amt cosa Well, Doc distributed his own supply and I doubt if a
passerby at that moment would have suspected him of being
a Baptist clergyman. Doc—and indeed most of the padres of
the front—have to rake their memories to tell what denomina-
tion was theirs before they took this great communion.
You have loaned your money to supply their physical needs.
Now give to maintain the Morale that is winning the war!
And Baptist Doc is only one of thousands who are serving your boys in the
great religion of Fatherhood, whose creed and faith are Service. Keep
them onthe job next year! Pershing needs a thousand like them every month.
UNITED WAR WORK CAMPAIGN
¥Y. MC A Y.W.C A,
&
NAT'L CATHOLIC WAR
COUNCIL —K. of C.
*
JEWISH WELFARE
BOARD
*
WAR CAMP
COMMUNITY SERVICE
*
AMERICAN LIBRARY
ASSOCIATION w if
®
SALVATION ARMY