So....
Just, a bit, of art, I did.
A fantasy that I, and probably every other Allied soldier, entertained frequently, was that of getting the Kaiser out on the field, and in the range of fire, and taking it to him. Unfortunately, and to my great disappointment, this never happened, but I did doodle it a number of times, back then, and while bored in a doctor's office waiting room, I scribbled it out again, and I now share it with you.
Just for fun, and obviously, not meant to be anti-German, or anything like that. I'd like to know what you think. "Ach! Mein Gott!" of course means 'Oh my God!' in German.
Oh, if only...
I know, I'm not, the best artist, ever, but, like I said, it's just, for fun. Image, is copyright, me; please, do not use, without, my permission. You can find it, and other works, on my deviantART page, here: http://aef1918.deviantart.com/art/Run-Kaiser-Run-203762219
-- Alan.
My name, is Lieutenant Alan J. Cameron. I was born, in Cheshire, Connecticut, on March 27th., 1891. I come, from an age, of flying machines, amberols, dime-a-dance girls, motorcars, and bathing machines. I remember, the new science, of blood-typing, and the introduction, to the market, of such things, as chiclets, and Dr. Pepper.
As a young man, from a fairly, well-off, family, I could have gained, a simple, respectable, position, of business, but all of my life, I have been driven, to work hard, to push myself, beyond the limits, of endurance, so I began, taking work, in some, of the most toiling, professions, of the age. I have worked, pressing steel, for knife-blades, rolling ink, for the news-papers, driving steel, for railroads, shovelling coal, for locomotives, pouring iron, for tools, hauling cargo, for shipyards, and, mechanicing, the new, Ford machines, among, other things.
When war, broke out, in Europe, in 1914, I knew, a soldier, was what, I was meant, to be. Knowing, conflict, wouldn't be long, in reaching, The United States, I enlisted, in time, to be one, of the first, American soldiers, or 'doughboys', sent over to France, to fight, in The Great War.
Later, 'Black Jack' Pershing, would require, that all American troops, be assigned, to American units, but somehow, this ultimatum, never quite, made it to us, so we stayed, where we had, initally been assigned; namely, with a group, of very pleasant 'Tommies', or British fellows.
We would, fight alongside them, for most, of the war, which meant that I, and my men, were some of the few Americans, to participate, in such conflicts, as Passchendaele, which, is no honor, I assure you.
I served some time, in the medical field, as I had a knack, for that, and for staying cool, in the face of bad injury, but they needed, fighting men, more than they needed, medical staff, so the vast majority, of my service, was spent, huddled, in the absolute misery, of a muddy front-line trench.
Life there, was about as close, to mud-hell, as you, can get, but we stuck it through, despite, the insanity, of death, destruction, and illness. I was, in due time, promoted to Lieutenant, and I like, to think, that I proved, a good officer, to my men. I certainly tried my hardest, to do the best possible, by 'my boys'. I made my share, of mistakes, but I also, kept them going, through a lot, so I try, my best, to forgive myself, when I lie awake, in the middle of the night, thinking of those, who died.
The War, dragged on, into 1917, and I followed, my unit, around Belgium, France and the Netherlands, through beautiful country, torn to waste, by war. I wrote, often, to my mother, and I did my best, to keep my men safe, and healthy.
The story, is a dark one, and while, I may, eventually, tell more of it, here, I will simply say, that in late 1917, myself, and some of my closest friends, fell captive, to the Bosches, as we called the German foe. We were taken, to a war camp, which was part, forced labor, and part, torment. Even still, I spent, all the energy, I had, attempting to protect, my men, an endeavor, I was not, always successful in. It was in this camp, I was, at last, to die in, from a mixture, of Influenza, and the wounds, I had suffered, at my captor's hands. Some, would say, that was the end, of the story. For me, it was only the beginning.
I turned 120, this March. I am married, to my wonderful Cockney Ellen, a beautiful woman, I adore, with all of my heart, and we have, a small son, James Gene, who was born, this April 30th, and is, an absolute delight. I have two, adopted daughters, Sarah, aged 8, and Gwen, aged 9, and a wonderful friend, Alyssa, who I consider, to be every inch, my little sister.
I am, a serious, and sober, man, responsible, to a fault. I am 100% soldier, and I can, and will, incapacitate, and kill, anyone, who threatens, my family. Meeting me, at first ,can be, a bit awkward, as I can seem, very intimidating, at first discussion, but I do, know how to smile, and I can, be a very warm, and devoted person.
If appearances, mean anything, I stand six foot four, have short blonde hair, blue eyes, what you might call a strong jaw, and enough ripped muscle, to make most people, stare at me. I appear twenty-seven, just as I did, the year I died. My men, used to joke, that I looked, more like Fritz, than the soldiers, we were shooting at.
I own, a Harley Davidson, motorcycle, which I ocassionally, go tearing about on, and more weapons, than most people would know, what to do with. I enjoy, working, with metal, and anything, that involves fire.
I still, have much difficulty, dealing, with some of the things, I did, and had done to me, during the War, as do most veterans, of any war, but with help, from my lovely wife, Nel, I am slowly, beginning to heal. Alyssa, too, has been invaluable, in helping me, overcome, some of my deep, lingering, horrors, and regrets, sometimes at three, or four, in the morning. I still have nightmares, I still flinch at the sound, of fireworks, and I think, I always will, but it is part of who I am, who I have become.
There are many stories, I have, to tell, some funny, some sad, some strange. I am, still, I admit, becoming used, to using computers, so it may be, some time, before I begin, sharing, openly, all that I would like, but I will do, my best.
I guess, that's all, I really have, to say, at present, so, for now, I'll say, over and out.-- Alan.
