Old Glory and Verdun, and other stories

In this vivid wartime tale a young American woman arrives at a bustling French field hospital, nervous and eager on her first morning in Ward Eighty‑Three. The narrative plunges listeners into the cramped vestiaire, the clatter of uniforms, and the relentless stream of wounded soldiers pouring in from Verdun. Through the eyes of a novice aide, the stark contrast between textbook first‑aid lessons and the brutal immediacy of battlefield injuries becomes palpable.

She grapples with fear and uncertainty, watching seasoned nurses and doctors move through a hierarchy that seems both comforting and overwhelming. The story captures the raw humanity of the wounded—bright‑eyed boys with cigarettes tucked behind their ears—while the narrator wrestles with her own doubts about saving lives. Listeners will feel the tension of an emergency ward, the camaraderie among volunteers, and the haunting backdrop of a war that tests every ounce of courage.