Linda Orvis

Rough Cut Linda Orvis

Should anyone feel sorry for my life? Hell no. It toughened me for what was coming: the Great Depression, hunger, riding the rails, living in a CCC camp, stealing, running from the law, World War II and the shame of a 4F classification. When they got desperate and finally let me do my part, I was made a medic and a flamethrower operator in the Army. So first I'd burn the Japanese out of caves, then work like hell to save their charred bodies. Later I was assigned to examine prostitutes for V. D. What's the point of telling my story? There isn't any, unless it's to show how a mean life can cause a person to look inside and choose to do something better for his kids.