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                             In Memoriam

        A victim of the 1918 Spanish Influenza Epidemic

              Fred Truscott, Age 27, Glasgow, Montana

     1918 was a horrible year for small towns all across America. A war was raging far away. Many young men were called to serve. People made sacrifices. They bought Liberty Bonds. Anxious families awaited news of their beloved Doughboys. Sometimes it was bad. People prayed.

     The little town of Glasgow, Montana had other problems. A drought had severely curtailed the harvest. More men were about to be called up for the war. Then the influenza hit. The Glasgow Courier was full of reports of people struggling with this especially virulent edition of the annual nuisance. Many took ill, some died. Schools closed. Deaconess Hospital had a surge in patients.

     They called it the Spanish Influenza. Unknown to most folks on the Montana plains, it was rapidly ravaging the entire globe. Millions were dying. Governments at war were downplaying the threat. Spain wasn’t at war and saw no need to censor the news about the pandemic. Though the virus appears to have originated in rural Kansas, it would be forever known as the Spanish Flu.

     Fred Truscott was one of Glasgow, Montana’s favorite sons. He had been in the first graduating class of Glasgow High School in 1908. Then he went off to Notre Dame, earning a degree in Electrical Engineering in 1913. After working for Montana Power Company for a few years, he joined his father, John, in the mercantile business. He became one of the Directors of the local Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture. This young man was going places.

          When the Great War came in 1917, Fred made himself useful to the war effort. He served on committees for the Red Cross and Liberty Loan Drives. He was a Director and Lieutenant in the Home Guard. When called to active duty, he faithfully reported to Camp Lewis, Washington. The discovery that he had a bad lung got him sent home three weeks later. In spite of this setback, he persevered. In September of 1918, he proudly reported to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri to take up special limited service duty.

     The crowded Army camp was a perfect place for the spread of infectious disease. Many young men were catching the Spanish Flu. Some would develop pneumonia from it. In the days before anti-biotics, many would die.

     Shortly after his arrival, Fred Truscott reported to Sick Call with flu-like symptoms. His condition quickly worsened. He developed the dreaded pneumonia. A telegram summoned his Mother and Sister to his bedside. They made it in time to comfort him. His father came too late.

     After a hard fight for life, he passed away at six O’clock in the evening of Thursday, October 17, 1918. His body was shipped to Helena, Montana for burial next to a sister.  The war he wanted so much to be a part of would end barely three weeks later.

     Why did I pick now to relate the sad odyssey of Fred Truscott? It’s complicated. Fred was a victim of a worldwide pandemic, like the one now sweeping through China, Italy and a hundred other countries. The 1918 influenza infected much of the world’s population and killed 50 million or more. There was no vaccine and precious few therapies with which to treat it. Fred was typical of its victims. I also feel a small connection to Fred as I grew up in the same town and attended the same schools he did. My father was one year old when Fred died. My Grandmother was pregnant with my Mom. Fortunately, they lived on remote ranches where exposure to the virus was less likely. I had an older brother who graduated from Glasgow High School in 1958. The speaker at the ceremony was the only surviving member of that first graduating class some 50 years before. She reminisced about Fred. My young mind made a connection. For me Fred Truscott is the face of the 50 million who died in 1918.

     A Century has passed since Fred’s death. We find ourselves facing a trial much the same as Fred faced. The Coronavirus, or COVID-19, is a “novel” virus. That means it has never, ever appeared on this planet before. No one living today has any immunity to it. Like the 1918 flu, it is highly contagious. Because it is a novel virus, there is no vaccine and no effective treatment for it. It appears that it can live on inanimate surfaces for quite some time. The 1918 pandemic often killed young, healthy people in the prime of life. Thus far, COVID-19 appears to be targeting people of all ages, but it is mostly killing the elderly. (The average age of the many Italians who have died is 81.)

     Our nation has been slow to respond to the threat of the Coronavirus. Being tough Americans we didn’t worry as much as we should have. Tests for the virus were slow in being developed and still appear to be in short supply. Prominent leaders and some media pundits have tended to downplay the very real threat COVID-19 poses. As with the wartime censorship of 1918, many Americans lack information. Many were confused by the conflicting reports of the danger. A lot of them saw it as something that didn’t affect them. They said it wasn’t much of a problem and it damn sure wasn’t OUR problem. Consequently, the pandemic has spread throughout the land.

     A Coronavirus Task Force has been established. It includes some of the best minds from our scientific and medical communities. They are desperately trying to “flatten the curve”. If we fail to decrease the rate of new infections, our healthcare system will be overwhelmed in a few short weeks. All Americans have a stake in this battle. It will get worse according to the experts. How much worse depends on you and me.

     It’s been a while since a contagious disease this dangerous has gotten this far out of control. We need to take drastic steps to keep us from ending up like Fred Truscott. Personal sanitary practices are not enough. We need to spend the next few weeks, or however long it takes, maintaining our social distance. Some, who show no symptoms, can still spread the virus. You may get the Coronavirus and shrug it off with little consequence. But what about your neighbor, weakened by some other disease? Do you really want to kill your elderly relatives? If you don’t get the disease, you won’t be spreading it.

     Stay home if you can.

     Avoid crowds and gatherings.

     Use good sanitation.

     Say your prayers.

                                                                             LDT

                                                                             3/16/20