1920 ORIGINAL, SAD AND SOBERING MANUSCRIPT DIARY HANDWRITTEN BY AN AMERICAN SOLDIER WHOSE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE DOESN'T COME UNTIL 2 YEARS AFTER THE WAR AND A SERIES OF TRAGEDIES ALONG THE WAY

On offer is a very sobering, fascinating in the sad way it reveals the fragility of human life even for the heroes who walk among us, 1920 manuscript diary handwritten by one such man Laurence M. Grubb. Born in 1897 to Andrew B. and Elizabeth Grubb, Elizabeth was Andrew's second wife as his first wife, Samantha B. Yocum, died in 1892. He married Elizabeth (his mother) but she died in 1905. Laurence, a WWI soldier who fought in Europe where it appears he contracted a lung disease likely from chemical warfare, perhaps tuberculosis. Back to the USA by the summer of 1919 Laurence was too sick to go home so was sent to a New Jersey hospital. His condition worsened and then he was sent to Fitzsimons Military Hospital in Denver Colorado. Experimental drugs were used but failed to save him and Laurence died on December 8th, 1920. [We understand one year to almost the day on December 7th, 1921, his father Andrew died.] This 3¾ x 5¾ diary with 137 days of entries, tells the story of Laurence's time in Denver starting on May 28th when he buys the book. Fortunately for historians he uses 11 pages in the front which summarizes his time in the army. Then from May 28th, (May 26th also has an entry as that is when the experimental drugs start) all the way through to October 11th, there are full handwritten entries never skipping a day. How he was able to write on some days is remarkable. High fevers, multiple injections a day, nausea, weakness, great weight loss etc can only make one wonder at about his waning fortitude. His mantra seems to be "I've been chasing the cure." Nearing the end he is very, very sick and it was almost too difficult to read. Then in another hand, on his last day of entries: "October 11, 1920. Died December 8, 1920 at Denver, Colo. Fitzsimons General Hospital." 1920 "May 26th, Started new treatment. Received five shots in left arm. Never used in this country before. But has been used successfully for ten years in Germany. We are now known as the "Guinea Pigs" on account of being the first to take the cure." "May 28th, Arose after an almost sleepless night. Temp normal. Not feeling very well today. Bought a pipe and tobacco; took one smoke. Read awhile in "The Claim Jumpers" written by S. C. White. Bought this book today, price two fifty. Got some paper and envelopes from Red Cross. Sent a roll of film to be developed. Did not sleep during rest home which is from 1 to 3. Had a slight temperature this afternoon. Finished reading, "The Claim Jumpers." A cloudless day; warm; slight breeze this afternoon." "June 2nd, Day cloudy and cold, much wind. Received our first single shot today. Got mine in the left arm in triceps muscle. Needle very fine and was stuck straight into the muscle. Read in "Rough Riders." We had a special supper given by the welfare workers of Denver. Some of the things we had were; asparagus, boiled ham, strawberry short cake, buns and candy. Some supper, oh boy! Slight temp. this afternoon. Gained two pounds, weigh 112. My friend deceased last night." "June 16th, Feeling a little better but a very bad throat. Took shot. Ask Maj. at sick call to send me to the throat clinic. He gave me a slip and I went down to dinner but could not get an exam because there was no lights. Ate well today. Not much intestinal trouble. Stayed in bed most all day. Cloudy, windy, rainy and dusty. Weigh 109 ½ this week." "July 2nd, Arose early this morning. Washed; brushed my teeth. Went back to bed, stayed until we received our medicine; answered sick call. Got up till nurse made my bed. Went to bed after and stayed there most all day chasing the cure. Had a bath in bed. Broke my thermometer this evening. Very nice day but real warm. Fans going all day and part of night. Payed one month in advance for "Post" seventy five cents." "July 20th, Feeling pretty well all day. Visited some this morning. Chase cure rest of the day. Not so very much temperature. Hot and cloudless most of the day, not much air going. Appetite still good. Watched part of "Robinsons Circus" perform for patients at hospital this evening." "August 4th, Feeling miserable all day on account of my stomach. Answered sick call. Got weighed, weigh 101 ½. Signed application papers for discharge. Got five shots this morning on second course of treatment." "August 15th, Feeling well all day. Arose early and washed while washing saw a most phenomenal thing; A star shooting out of the sky in the light of rising sun. This was almost fifteen to six. Answered sick call, got shot. Chased cure most all day. Miss Turner started to take me for a ride in wheel chair but rain came up." "October 5th, Not feeling so well today, throat bothered me a lot. Nose bleed last night. Spit and coughed a lot of blood from my throat all day. Examined this afternoon by the Maj. Wrote a letter to sis this evening. Nurse gave me a bath in bed this morning. Answered sick call. Windy all day. Cooler this evening, still windy." "October 8th, Feeling just fair. Answered sick call. Nurse gave me a bath in bed. Moved from the "solarium" to the second room west of the office, this forenoon. Still some temp. "Welfare workers" brought me candy, one box, cost $1.50. Ordered last Wed. Weak. Warm all day. Cool and windy tonight." Overall G+.; Manuscript; 32mo - over 4" - 5" tall; KEYWORDS: HISTORY OF, LAURENCE M. 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