January 24th 1920
I am thrilled to be back in Miami. Despite only living here 3 years before my deployment overseas, it still feels like home.
My decision to join the Red Cross started back in March of 1913. I was sent down to Miami to write a story on the first woman to enlist in the state of Florida. We'd been told that the wife of the plumber from the plumbing shop across the street from the newspaper was going to sign up.
I arrived at the ship and the next thing I knew I was sticking up my hand, swearing to protect and defend the United States of America from all enemies whatsoever. I guess they talked me into it. I called my father at the paper and said "Look, I got the story on the first woman to enlist. It turned out to be me." He said, "I admire your patriotism, but that leaves us a little short-handed." Luckily I wasn't called up for a while, so my father had enough time to find another society editor. (1. pg112)
That year in the army was probably the most wasted year of my life. They made me a yeoman first class, responsible for writing letters for my commanding officers, many of whom got upset when I improved their grammar in my writing.
Being in the Navy inspired me to join the Red Cross and go overseas. I began to work hard to improve my French and managed to convince the commandant in Key West, Captain Johnston, to help me put in for an official discharge form. The Navy was a glad to get rid of me as I was to leave. In my place they got some trained secretaries, girls who were cute and more useful in that sort of job. It's always important to get the right person for the right task. (1. pg114)
I left Miami in the Summer of 1918. First to New York, then to England, and finally to France via channel boat. There wasn't much civilian relief work to do at the Red Cross headquarters, but I pitched in the best I could. When the war officially ended, I elected to stay with the Red Cross. I was expected to travel from place to place and write stories about the turning over of Red Cross clinics to the local authorities. My department tried to write 5 stories a day that could be submitted to the AP wire service. (1. pg117)
Through my travels I had the opportunity to see many beautiful and unique locations including; many towns in France, Florence, Turin, Rome, the mountain town of Montecatino, the Balkans, Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia, Albania, Athens, Naples, then back to Paris where I boarded a boat to return to Florida. My father had already arranged for me to take up the position of assistant editor when I returned home. I had hung on as long as I could, but I was ready to return home.
- Douglas, Marjory Stoneman, and John Rothchild. Marjory Stoneman Douglas: Voice of the River: An Autobiography. Pineapple Press, 1990.
- Photo: Florida. Military Dept. Marjory Stoneman Douglas. . State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory. Accessed 3 Dec. 2023.<https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/219535>
