THE THIRD ANNUAL GREAT GENEALOGY POETRY CHALLENGE: "The OD Pill"

Today I take a parenthetical pause in my stream of posts on family church history to participate in Bill West's Third Annual Great Genealogy Poetry Challenge, formerly known as The Great Genealogy Poetry & Song Challenge.

This year my offering comes from a letter written by my grandfather, Francis Allyn Newton, Co. H., 107th U.S. Infantry, Camp Wadsworth, Spartanburg, S.C., to his mother on November 3, 1917. He closes the seven page letter with,

I had better close now as I am getting sleepy. With love to all, I remain Your Loving and Obedient Son, F.A. Newton

P.S. You will find a little poem in here that will possibly interest you. It was written by Pvt. Van Zandt in my tent. He is somewhat of a comedian. It was written about a certain Cathartic pill which is given to soldiers for nearly all ailments and is the cause of much comment in the Army. It is known as the O.D. pill.

The O.D. Pill, by Van Zandt, Co. H., 107th U.S. Inf.

You've heard of Doctor Reynolds

That wonder working man

With his cure for Barbers itch

And all the troubles of the Land

Who with a root and berrie

And a bit of bark, you see

Not to mention sand, imported

Upon a camels misplace knee

From the Himilayan Mountains

In far off Heathen Chinee

Concocted him a potion

Which has been my notion

Of a medicine perfect

For suffering humanitee

No doubt Doctor Reynolds

Would be the wonder still

But for the discovery

Of the O.D. Pill.

Long and grand was his reign

And his renown was wide

But when the O.D. came

Old Doc began his slide

No pain nor sprain, nor ache nor break

Can long hold out if a pill you take

If the Army surgeon had his way

The Soldier would live 'til Judgement Day

For a headache or a toothache

For a backache or an earache

Take a pill

A fallen arch arises

With a speed that surprises

Take a pill.

If while jumping over hurdles

Brooks and tree stumps, even turtles

You sprain your ank. and yelp with pain

You had best quit your clatter

For there's really naught the matter

Take a pill.

If you're feeling rather blue

Cuz she hasn't written you

Take a pill.

If work drills fatigue you

Don't lay down, the cooks will need you

Take a pill.

When on the trip across

Your stomach you have lost

O're the starboard railing

Midships in the sea

While the others are whaling

You'll be no longer ailing

Take a pill.

When the Hun has run you thru

With a long short point or two

And made things worse

With gas and bombs andsuch

Tho' he's belted you and flayed you

By the living God that made you

You'll be a better man than he'll be

Take a pill.

My grandfather continues...

Written on the pill given by the Army surgeons for nearly all ailments...it's name is taken from the color of the uniform, Olive Drab, although the pill is white.

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