Dr. Rugie R. Coates, an Army reserve officer, was called to active duty on November 11, 1941, just short of a month before the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Dr. Coates served in the Pacific, sailing for Australia in February, 1942. The Newspaper article below, published by the Daily Oklahoman, date unknown but a good guess would be the later part of 1942, was send to the family prior to Rugie moving to the filed hospital in New Guinea. While in New Guinea, the tent in which Rugie was working was hit by bombs while he was performing surgery on a wounded soldier. His tent was actually hit on two occasions. One of those bombings resulted in a back injury. The need for doctors was so great that Dr. Coates was forced to ware a steel back brace for the two years of the time he served in the SOuth PAcific. Below is his letter.
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The Daily Oklahoman pays $5 for the best letter from a man in foreign service. A prize is not awarded each week for the fear of the censor has kept most of the contributors from telling a lot of things that would be interesting, and which the censor would approve. Letters cannot be returned. So if you wish to preserve the original, make a copy, preferably on a typewriter, and mail it to the Foreign Services Editor, of The Daily Oklahoman. (EDITOR'S NOTE--This letter (from which excerpts are taken) is from Lt. R.R. Coates, now on duty with a medical unit in Australia. It was written to Dr. D.P. Richardson and Montyl K. Richardson of Union CIty. Doctor Coates' mother, Mrs. Mary G. Coates, and his wife, Jewell, live at 911 Hackberry street, Duncan. A graduate of the University of Oklahoma medical school, he served as a resident physician at University hospital when he entered the army. The $5 awarded for this prize letter goes to his wife in Duncan.) |
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Our boat trip was very tiresome but also exciting at times. We were on the water three weeks and never saw one sign of life. We were on a wonderful liner but had to sleep six to a room. THe ship was blacked out and those days on the equator were hell. We had to bathe and shave in salt water and were only allowed one quart of drinking water each day. If I ever spend any good hard earned money on a boat trip I want some psychiatrist to examine me. On about our ninth day out we were ordered to be prepared to abandon ship. When we got on deck we saw two large battleships coming over the horizon. Needless to say, we had many anxious moments before the ships were identified as friendly. The third day from Australia we ran into a storm which lasted 48 hours. The sailors said it was the worst they had ever seen and some of them had been on the sea 20 years. When we landed our medical organizations was the first off. We were taken to an Australian hospital for one week and given a chance to rest. We were then moved to our present location. The weather is sub-tropical and it is now winter. The days are fairly warm and the night very cool., but it never freezes. We took over an Australian cottage and turned it into a hospital. The campus is beautiful with palms, orange, banana, and lemon trees. Flowers are always in bloom. Tropical gardens are everywhere. The mountains surrounding us are the most beautiful I have ever seen. Even with all this surrounding we haven't many comforts. I haven't seen hot water since coming to Australia. |
The food is tasteless and they never heard of fried chicken or T-bone steak. Mutton and pumpkin are their main dishes. Australian cigarettes are absolutely nauseating. My work has been enjoyable. I am doing nothing but eye, ear, nose, and throat. Am my own chief and thus far have done all the operating I want to do. Our hospital is the first United States hospital in Australia and also the largest. Of course we always have the fear of being moved. The Australians are grand people and do so much to try to make us comfortable and happy, but this poor country has been so handicapped that they just don't know what progress is. It reminds you of America 20 years ago, that is, horses and buggies, poor roads, old styles and simple, hard living. Every men has gone overseas once or twice to fight for England. I doubt that there is not a single home that has not lost some member of the family. They are so brave, however, that puts us to shame when we think of all the luxuries we have has and are still having in the states. Cars are scarce and they are allowed three gallons of gasoline a month. They must have a legitimate excuse to have a car even to get his much. Our main amusement is work. The rest is self-made. We have a dance every Saturday night and movies three times weekly. Even with all this there is a loneliness that comes over us each night that nothing can fill. You just never will realize how much you loved your wife, babies, family, and friends until you are taken so far from them. If I ever complain of anything when this is over I'll be ashamed of myself |