four hundred eleven

I was born in 1951, we still had World War 1 veterans living in abandoned trolly cars much older than these. They were from a trolly system that we would today call light rail. They went through the city and to a few neighboring towns. You can still see remnants of the rail bed. 

Cars and busses became more common so they were abandoned in a yard in an industrial area by the main railroad tracks.

WW1 ended in 1918 so these men were 55 to 65 years old. I don't know the detailed history and don't personally know any of the men, this is just my experience as a young boy.

These men were a mystery to most people I think my father knew or at least talked with them. To a kid they looked scary. They were gas victims mostly according to my dad. They used mustard, chlorine and nerve gas in trench warfare, it was so horrible it was outlawed after the war as part of the Geneva Conventions.

I have never understood the purpose of this war and from what I have read most historians are confused too, but they sound real smart. One thing I do know all through history almost all nations treat their war veterans like crap.

I don't know why these men lived in these abandoned trolly cars but the city people respected them. 

These men were really messed up a couple had missing limbs and some had their nervous systems ruined. On the hottest days of summer one soldier would be dressed like it was sub zero weather. 

When we shopped for groceries my mother bought an extra something, a can of beans or salmon, a loaf of bread or coffee.  On the way home we would stop the car and one of us would leave it on the step out front.

A friend of mine's dad was a milk man. They delivered bottled milk house to house back then. On Saturday I would ride with them. I remember his dad stopping to drop off milk and cigarettes, then talk with one of them a few minutes. 

I never thought much about it back then it was no big deal it was just something people did.

Occasionally you may see a man my dad's age talking with one of the soldiers but they were mostly antisocial. 

I never thought much about it but the community supplied everything these men needed. One day as we were driving by I saw my doctor leaving with his black bag. In those days doctors did house calls so I knew what it was. 

As I grew older I discovered cars and girls so I didn't think much about those men. I assume the help and respect continued without fan fair. 

I do remember every parade had the local VFW carrying the flags. They would march in uniform with their prominent beer bellies and one WW1 Veteran  would march in uniform with them. People stood and men took their hats off back then.

It may have been what small towns did back then but I believe it still goes on in large and small towns and like always it is done in secret. 

There are bad people but there are far more good people. They do acts of kindness without recognition just because it is the right thing to do.