It was 1918 and the United States was involved in World War I. Fred Dircksen was 23 years of age and a farmer living near Gothenburg, Ne. On June 25 Fred traveled to Lexington to enlist in the Army.

By August 16, Private Dircksen had completed his basic training and was on his way to Europe. On October 17 his unit was assigned to Center Sector, Haute Alsace, France.

The soldiers in Fred’s unit were trained to shoot machine guns containing 500 rounds of ammo. That was pretty impressive for a Nebraska farm boy who had never handled anything more powerful than a hunting rifle.

Among the supplies each soldier was issued was a rifle and a gas mask. They were required to keep those items within reach at all times. Fred’s best buddy was one of the unlucky ones who had placed his gas mask out of reach and suffered mustard gas poisoning. After Fred’s friend was evacuated they lost contact and Fred never learned if his friend survived the gas damage.

By the end of October the weather had turned cold. Rain and wet snow made living conditions unbearable, and tents were not always available. Fred and some of his luckier buddies were able to find lumber to sleep on. Fred’s bed was a six inch wide plank, which was not very comfortable but much dryer than the bottom of a muddy fox hole. Conditions were so bad that his boots rotted, and he was forced to wrap his feet in bags, which also rotted.

Sometime in early November, with bullets flying overhead a small group of German soldiers surrendered to the Americans. The Germans said bullets were flying so thick on their side of the lines they were in fear of their lives.

In November, 1918 Fred was hospitalized with pneumonia. Army hospitals were set up in any available building. One hospital was in a barn, another in a farm house. As Fred’s illness got worse he was placed on the “death porch” with other dying soldiers. It was at this time the Salvation Army brought lemons. Soon after that Fred began to get better and survived to come home.

Fred returned to the U.S. June 1, 1919, and was discharged at Camp Dodge, Iowa on June 14. He received $90.00 separation pay. He finally settled in North Platte where he and his wife, Anna Thompson Dircksen, raised ten children. He worked for the Union Pacific for about thirty years. He and Anna’s four generations of descendants now, in 1999, number about 90, thanks to the Salvation Army lemons!

Georgia Nelms, Used by permission.