NORWICH, Conn. (AP) — As a newly restored piece of forgotten World War I history rolled through a bay at American Ambulance's Norwich headquarters on a recent afternoon, Irene King felt a tinge of pride.
"I'm so proud. So happy," King, 95, said.
Born in 1917, five days after American forces entered the conflict with other Allied nations, King has a tie to the 1916 Model T ambulance now taking up residence in the city that is direct and profound.
Her son, George King III, of Franklin, has spent nearly five years on a quest to bring the story of wartime U.S. volunteer ambulance drivers to light. American volunteers evacuated 500,000 wounded French soldiers from the trenches to field hospitals in 1,200 Model T vehicles during the course of the war.
Today, just one original war ambulance remains in a French museum, but George King wanted the story known in the nation that provided the drivers.
"It was unlike anything I've ever heard before," King said. "At some point during my research, I said, 'I have to tell this story,' and the only way to do that was to build one."
After discovering that one of the original ambulances had been donated to the cause by Groton School in Massachusetts (inscribed as No. 255), King started the Ambulance 255 Project.
King, who repairs Model T engines and transmissions, reached out to corporate and private donors across the country with his idea. Responses and offers to help came from as far away as Stenay, France; Manhattan Beach, Calif.; New Hope, Minn.; and Pantego, Texas.
In all, more than 40 donors from five states contributed the $20,000 it took to build the ambulance with original parts and material, including mahogany shipped from the Ivory Coast in Africa.
Last weekend marked the first public appearance for Ambulance 255, the only one of its kind in the nation.
"It's unique, and it resonates," said Mark Kelsey, King's college roommate and a project director. "You show me something from World War I that rolls on its own."
Ambulance 255 has a busy run ahead of it. It's already booked for the National Memorial Day event on May 28 in Washington, D.C., and is expected to take part in the presidential inaugural parade this January.
King and others involved in creating the vehicle want it to be on display as much as possible, to teach people the history of American volunteer ambulance drivers during World War I.
When idle, it will be stored in a large bay at American Ambulance. Company President Michael Aliano said it was a natural partnership.
"It's got a busier schedule than most teenage girls, apparently, but we'll house it as needed," Aliano said. "It's a true honor to be part of the experience and help introduce it."
As a newly restored piece of forgotten World War I history rolled through a bay at American Ambulance's Norwich headquarters on Saturday afternoon, Irene King felt a tinge of pride.
"I'm so proud. So happy," King, 95, said. Born in 1917, five days after American forces entered the conflict with other Allied nations, King has a tie to the 1916 Model T ambulance now taking up residence in the city that is direct and profound.
Her son, George King III, of Franklin, has spent nearly five years on a quest to bring the story of wartime U.S. volunteer ambulance drivers to light. American volunteers evacuated 500,000 wounded French soldiers from the trenches to field hospitals in 1,200 Model T vehicles during the course of the war.
Today, just one original war ambulance remains in a French museum, but George King wanted the story known in the nation that provided the drivers.
"It was unlike anything I've ever heard before," King said. "At some point during my research, I said, 'I have to tell this story,' and the only way to do that was to build one."
After discovering that one of the original ambulances had been donated to the cause by Groton School in Massachusetts (inscribed as No. 255), King started the Ambulance 255 Project.
King, who repairs Model T engines and transmissions, reached out to corporate and private donors across the country with his idea. Responses and offers to help came from as far away as Stenay, France; Manhattan Beach, Calif.; New Hope, Minn.; and Pantego, Texas.
In all, more than 40 donors from five states contributed the $20,000 it took to build the ambulance with original parts and material, including mahogany shipped from the Ivory Coast in Africa.
Saturday marked the first public appearance for Ambulance 255, the only one of its kind in the nation.
"It's unique, and it resonates," said Mark Kelsey, King's college roommate and a project director. "You show me something from World War I that rolls on its own."
Ambulance 255 has a busy run ahead of it. It's already booked for the National Memorial Day event on May 28 in Washington, D.C., and is expected to take part in the presidential inaugural parade this January.
King and others involved in creating the vehicle want it to be on display as much as possible, to teach people the history of American
Email This
Print This
View Story on a Single Page
