Last week we began learning about the impact of the 1918-19 influenza pandemic in our region. We explored the origins of that outbreak, guided by John M. Barry’s history of that pandemic entitled “The Great Influenza.” Medical evidence suggests the outbreak originated in southwest Kansas; spread to the Army training center at Camp Funston in Eastern Kansas; and troops from there brought it to army camps around the US.

The story of the influenza pandemic first touched our region through our young men who were drafted into the Army and sent to the newly-constructed training camp at Camp Dodge, outside Des Moines, Iowa.

The Lyon County News-Messenger reported our region began sending young men to Camp Dodge in September 1917. By the end of February 1918 we had bade farewell to 246 young men with community dinners, dances, parades, and bands as they boarded their trains for Camp Dodge. These young men came from all over Lyon County and beyond, including the communities of Amiret, Arco, Balaton, Canby, Cottonwood, Florence, Garvin, Ghent, Lynd, Marshall, Milroy, Minneota, Renville, Russell, Taunton, Tracy, Tyler, and Wabasso. Their number included Walter Bedore of Marshall, one of several whose draft numbers were not called for Camp Dodge in February, but who insisted on joining their brethren as voluntary inductees.

John Berry reports Camp Funston, Kansas hospitalized its first influenza case on March 4, 1918. Within three weeks another 1,100 soldiers there required hospitalization. In the meantime soldiers from Camp Funston were moving to other camps. Two weeks after Camp Funston’s first case, influenza cases arose at Camps Greenleaf and Forrest in Georgia.

Ultimately, twenty-four of the thirty-six largest U.S. Army camps experienced influenza outbreaks that spring. Camp Dodge was among those that experienced an outbreak.

The News-Messenger had been publishing new releases from the Army Headquarters at Camp Dodge since the date of the first draftees leaving Lyon County in September 1917. The Camp Dodge news release published on March 8, 1918 described how the command had been receiving nearly 2,000 new inductees per day over the previous week. It also announced the 1,000 bed Camp Dodge hospital had been completed and staffed with 100 Red Cross nurses. Finally, it reported that illness, which it did not identify, had already filled the new hospital beyond its capacity:

“There are now about 1,000 men in the hospital. Barracks are now used as an overflow pending the installation of all necessary equipment in the new addition to the base hospital.”

Two weeks later on March 22nd a Camp Dodge news release reported more illness among soldiers and the first deaths.

“[T]he base hospital has found its duties considerably increased. There were 1,300 men needing medical care last week and this kept the 105 nurses very busy. A couple of deaths from pneumonia the past week served to intensify the dread of that disease which has been the cause of more deaths at cantonments all over the country than any other affliction.”

Two weeks later on April 5 the News-Messenger carried a tragic front page story out of Camp Dodge.

“Death of Marshall Boy — Dies at Camp Dodge April 3 — Walter H. Bedore of 350th Infantry Succumbs to Pneumonia after Short Illness”

Walter was 27 years old when he insisted on joining the February roster of inductees even though his number was not called. He had only been sick a few days at Camp Dodge before dying. Marshall’s businesses closed for his funeral at Holy Redeemer Church so that all might attend to honor the young soldier.

The news release from Camp Dodge a week later on April 12 reported more worrying medical developments, again without identifying the epidemic disease.

“Health conditions the past week have given the medical corps much concern. Fifteen deaths from pneumonia in six days caused an investigation to be made as to the probable source of the disease. It is stated that 30 percent of the cases are fatal . . . Whenever possible men with colds are being moved into separate sections of barracks.”

The news release also reported Camp Dodge had an urgent need for more Red Cross nurses.

The April 19th Camp Dodge news release tried to sound a reassuring note, while acknowledging on-going medical challenges as they fought an infectious disease, which it did not identify, and its sometimes deadly consequences.

“While there is nothing alarming on account of the scourge of pneumonia that is prevalent at Camp Dodge, nevertheless a most determined fight is being made to ascertain the source of the disease and to this end the most noted physicians in the United States are battling with the deadly visitor.

“Every precaution possible is being taken to prevent the further spread of pneumonia, which caused some 20 deaths the past week. Wards are all under quarantine. Caps, gowns, and masks are worn by every person who enters the wards, visitors not excepted. Doctors put on freshly-sterilized clothing before entering each separate ward. Thousands of pneumonia masks are being made in work rooms throughout the country for use in contagion wards of military hospitals . . . Sheets are hung between every bed. When a patient reaches the stage where he is able to walk again, he is also given a mask.”

Camp Dodge, the site that had received 246 of our young men for Army training, was in full epidemic mode. Rather than investing its entire energy in preparing to fight a war, it was also fighting a disease that was disabling and sometimes killing its young troops.

I welcome your participation in and ideas about our exploration of prairie lives. You may reach me at prairieviewpressllc@gmail.com.