Mr. John W. Taylor entered our employ in October of 1922, the man standing a little over 6 feet and apparently in the very best of health, asking for a position which was not open at that time, but subsequently was given an opportunity to demonstrate his ability and knowledge. He was finally give steady employment after the first of December that year.

Within the course of six months it was noticed that Mr. Taylor had frequently to retire for a short time, and was subject to violent fits of vomiting, followed by headaches which he relieved somewhat by the use of colored glasses. He never would say anything about his physical troubles until within a year when questioned closely he admitted his war career and described in detail his volunteering for army service – that of railroad work for which he was particularly fitted, having been an expert switchman in the yards of his home town LaCrosse Wisconsin. A number of them went in the same enlistment, almost directly to France.

Proper training and schooling of this corps, whose duties were moving heavy artillery, shifting as I were, overnight on flat car from one position to another in the lines, necessitated no detail of instruction as to the method of training-this man already being an expert. However, his general instructions included that he was not to partake of any food carried in his uniform. His attempt to satisfy his hunger by eating a partial loaf of bread resulted in almost immediate poisoning of the stomach by odorless gas. He told of his hospital experiences and admitted that he could not partake of seasoned foods without this danger of vomiting which had come under the writer’s observations.

From the 22^nd of October, 1922 to the 16^th of October, 1932, John Taylor even rode to and from his work in my store with myself. During that entire ten years I saw his in his home and on various trips when the store was closed. It is seldom that one can see that much of another human being-much more than you do of your own intimate family and it is true that the motives and causes of life’s work will bring out a great many things. Gradually it was impressed upon me that this man had something nobody could cure and that he was coming through with his work in life, a real soldier.

He never attempted, of his own accord, to secure anything from our government. He was willing to maintain himself and those dependent upon him.

He took the best of care of his health, such as he had, with this dreaded poisoning always with him. He finally admitted severe pains in the head, and blindness and when it was suggested by the writer that he should have a physical over-haul he consented to see the family doctor. During this examination, characteristic of the man was the lack of complaint. In fact, he was not inclined to admit his long year of suffering to this doctor. He underwent the examination, and mindful of the doctor’s suggestion decided to remain at home to relax and rest up. He was informed by the doctor that he was likely to have a nervous breakdown if he did not heed this warning. The nauseating effects of food were quite apparent when the writer visited him quite often during the short time of ten days, that he remained at home, to his death.

It would be impossible for me, not being a medical man, to explain the symptoms and this suffering over a number of years, or even the last ten days in which the man was at home with his family, but I am quite sure that the cause of his death was that of this gas poisoning caused by his services to his country.