Franklin County, Nebraska

For Another Day

This week I received another letter from Don Versaw of Lakewood CA. he has an easy to read style about the people and events of Bloomington. Since it is growing close to Memorial Day, I thought you might like to read what he had to say about one of the community's honorable woman veterans:

Remembering Bloomington's Female War Heroes.

"I don't know all of them. I was out of the country. Of course, my classmate and long friend, Eloise (Malick) Trautman, was one of them. I was mighty proud of her when I returned to Franklin county after more than six years serving in Asia and my troubles with Emperor Hirohito. But, the one I want to write about was a gorgeous blond neighbor, the girl next door, named Marjorie Royal. I doubt that many remember her this Memorial Day. So…I wish to honor all the ladies who served our country so well by telling you about her.

Marjorie was a product of Bloomington Public Schools, graduating in 1936, with the ambition and drive to become a registered nurse. It was not easy for her, because her father, who she never knew, had gone overseas during World War I and never came back. That sadly left her mom, Alice, a young war widow with a young daughter to raise on her own. They lived in Chillicothe, Missouri at the time of their great loss, and then afterward returned to Franklin county to the farm of her parents, the McRae's in the Ash Grove community.

Alice (McRae) Royal got a job teaching third and fourth grade at Bloomington School and rented my grandmother's home on the north end of town for $5.00 a month. It was good accommodations for the times and a fair rent rate. It had city water and was wired for electricity…that was about it. Other important features were "out back."

From her small salary as a grade school teacher, Alice sent Marjorie to Kearney State Teachers College. How she did it is a credit to them both. The pretty lady from Bloomington earned a cap for her lovely yellow head just in time to become an army nurse. My mom kept me informed of her amazing progress until war conditions cut our communications for several years.

After the war, I learned that Marjorie had served ably with a medical corps hospital unit in Italy during the Anzio Campaign, where their unit came under fire from the wretched German 88's long-range guns. I was immensely proud of her. We had grown up side by side and enjoyed each other's company, not as boy and girl friends but like brother and sister kids. We had such fun and learned much from her brilliant and capable mother. We went to the fields and gathered horehound herbs and made candy with soothing powers when we caught colds. She had been trained as a youngster to do acrobatic dancing and entertained us all until she grew way out of her costumes.

I only had on opportunity to meet with Marjorie when I returned to Nebraska in 1945. She had left army service and had taken a nurse's job in Omaha. We met at her home where she was living with another nurse and she prepared me a memorable supper. She had brought home a rare and precious French cordial and we toasted our survival with it. Marjorie told me of some of her experiences in Europe, and I was fascinated with what had happened there. My experiences were of interest to her as well, but her stories constantly captured my attention, and I kept her at it until it was time for me to leave. Some many years later I learned that Lieutenant Marjorie A. Royal, USA MC had passed away. With her went such a delightful interesting spirit that comes form the hardships and heritage of our Midwestern culture. She brought great credit to her family, our school, and her profession and to our great nation she served so faithfully. Her memory deserves this long recognition." Don Versaw.

If Don hadn't sent this bit of history, many of us living in Franklin county wouldn't know she ever existed. Everyone had a story to tell please send me your stories.

Friendship is lasting, Love passeth away.
Therefore choose friendship that ever doth stay.
Love bringeth roses friendship brings rest,
Both having chosen, Indeed thou are blessed. Anonymous

Rena Donovan, For Another Day.

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