When war was declared on Germany April 5th, 1917, the government sent
out calls for volunteers. The auxiliary organizations were to be the
first ones to go across, and it looked as if ambulance companies would
be among the first to get into action. Many of the universities and
colleges in the east started at once to organize ambulance companies.
These companies were quickly filled, and the enthusiasm spread quickly
to the west.
Early in April Dr. Edwin R. Tenney of Kansas City, Kansas, was appointed
by the adjutant general of the State of Kansas to organize a national
guard ambulance company in that city. Until this time there had never
been a national guard ambulance company in the State of Kansas. Dr.
Tenney had been a practicing physician in Kansas City for a number of
years and before coming to the city he served as a physician during the
Spanish-American war. For the past five years he had held a lieutenant's
commission in the U. S. Army Reserve Corps. It was through his efficient
work that this company was recruited to full strength within a month
after he received his appointment.
The recruiting office in the press room at the city hall was a very busy
place during the month of April. Every one was anxious to join some
branch of the army. By April 25th the company was recruited to its full
strength of sixty-four men and the office was closed. However, orders
were received the next day to recruit the company to eighty-four men, so
again the office was opened for business with a sign which read, "Join a
motor ambulance company and _ride_." It was in this office that so many
of the men held up their right hand and said that fatal "I do."
About this time Dr. Richard T. Speck, of Kansas City, Kansas, received a
lieutenant's commission in the Kansas National Guard and was assigned to
this company. A few days later Drs. A. J. Bondurant, of St. Margaret's
Hospital, Kansas City, Kansas, and A. H. Adamson, of the General
Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri, also received commissions and were
assigned to this company.
On April 30th Major Seth A. Hammell, of Topeka, Kansas, mustered the
company into the state guard as Kansas Ambulance Company No. 2. Another
ambulance company, known as Kansas Ambulance Company No. 1, was
organized by Lieutenant W. L. Rhodes, of Argentine, Kansas.
After the state muster the company had two drill nights a week. These
drills often interfered with some of the men's plans, but that made no
difference as they now belonged to "Uncle Sam" and duty came before
pleasure. It was at these semi-weekly drills that the men learned the
first principles of soldiering under the leadership of Lieutenant R. T.
Speck and Sergeant Roscoe Leady. They were unaccustomed to regular
drilling, especially on paved streets, and many times they went home
with sore feet from doing "fours right and left" and "to the rear,
march."
On June 14th the company was called out for federal inspection and was
formally recognized by the federal authorities. This was the first
formation in which every one was present, as many of the men lived out
of the city and could not come to the drills. After this inspection the
men were told to be ready to leave at any time, as it wouldn't be over
two weeks at the most before they would be called out. The days dragged
slowly, and it seemed that the company would never be called into
service. The men were all anxious to start for France and many of them
had already given up their positions, thinking that it would be but a
short time until they would leave.
On Decoration Day the company was ordered out for a special formation to
march to the cemetery and to pay tribute to the heroes of the past.
However, it rained so hard that the march was called off and instead the
men were assembled in the auditorium of the High School where they
listened to an address by J. K. Cubbison.
For a number of years it had been customary for all national guard
organizations to go into camp on the night of July 3rd and stay until
the 4th, when they would put on an exhibition of some kind. Consequently
this company, together with Company A, First infantry, K. N. G., and
Battery E, First Field Artillery, K. N. G., went into camp on the night
of July 3rd at the City Park. To most of the men this was their first
experience in sleeping on the ground, and it will not be easily
forgotten, for the next day found every one with aching bones. In the
afternoon of the 4th the men of Company A, Infantry, put on a sham
battle, and this company followed them up, administering first aid to
the "wounded."