 |
1530 Tyler Street
Berkeley, California
March 3, 1956
Philip S. Hench, M.D.
Mayo Clinic
Rochester, Minnesota
Dear Doctor Hench:
Replying to your letter referring to the Lambert Case: Doctor Ames is not included in the House Bill nor was he
with intent excluded. Most of Lambert's previous attempts
have included Ames as the first one named. A few years ago
there was a congressional ruling that no congressman could
present a Bill concerning an individual unless that person
was a native or a citizen of the State from which the cong-
ressman was elected. Lambert resides in Illinois, so O'Hara could represent him;
Ames was born in Louisiana, so his case would have to intro-
duced by a congressman from that state, or from Texas, if
he were once a native of that state. Lambert's fight was originally for Ames when he learned that
Ames was buried in an unmarked grave. In his later campaigns
he included himself. Then, When he could get no one to help
for Ames, he was desperate. He told me of it. I replied that
as he could not alter conditions, to "Paddle His Own Cance,"
but added that it was doubtful he would succeed. I wanted
him to leave that 1929 Act alone and try another method. In lambert's life Doctor Ames was the greatest man in the
world, and no bill he ever tried to get through Congress was
"ostensibly" for Ames.--It was always mainly for Ames--and
his nurse Lambert naturally wanted to ride along. The very
association of their names in such a document would have been
highly pleasing to him. Why should he not want recognition? Ames v [c] ould not possibly
have performed all the manifold work of managing Cam [p] Lazear,
inspecting the patients there and them attending them at the
Yellow Fever Wards without having a man who was fully capable
of doing everything for those yellow fever patients by himself
as conditions arose and could be absolutely depended upon at
all times.--Lambert was that man. Ames would never use another
nurse and Lambert knew it. But he would never have stuck there
for any other doctor. No man today realizes what a terrible
job it was and its exacting conditions. Lambert, lame and nearly blind, as he was made three hard bus
trips to Houston and New Orleans, and spent many weeks helping
|
 |
(Hench-Tate--2)
Doctor Brumby assembly and publish that book, "The Forgotten
Man of the Yellow Fever Commission," besides contributing
$650. toward the expense. The very title shows that this book
was solely to publicise Ames, although of course others were
mentioned in it. I think this whole book was a mistake, just
clouding the picture through its predjudiced inaccuracies,
but it shows Lambert was working for Ames, not himself. Lambert has bee t [n] trying desperately to get someone to intro-
duce a bill for Ames. He has written many times to Brumby but
can get no reply. I, too, wrote Brumby to try and locate him
for him but my letter was returned unclaimed. I saw a letter Mrs. Ames wrote Lambert when he tried again
to get her to help her late husband. She very decidedly re-
fused to do anything further. Said she had never wanted any-
thing but recognition of her husband's work and had tried
hard and long and knew she would never succeed and she hated
every officer and politician in Washington and that no honest
person could ever get past them! Lambert's comment to me on
that was: "There's no Swedish blood in her!" All the foregoing, (and there is much more) is just to show
that Lambert tried hard to get help for the cause of Ames. I also felt for a long time that the Act should not be re-
opened, until, later, when I realized there were now no others
to make legitimate claims except Lambert and friends of Ames.
Then thought it unjust for the Army to hold a blocking policy
on that Act of Congress. Why should one congress be blocked
by an act of Congress of a previous age, and the Army prevent
justice being done its own former servicemen through lack of
knowledge of the events. One thing they didn't think of--the possible influence of The
Surgeon of the Army, if they gould get to him with the material.
I knew from the three friendly letters I had received from
him, and what Gen. Truby had told me about him that it might
help to reach Major General George E. Armstrong indirectly. So, knowing that Major McKenzie was sympathetic to the bill,
I worded my letter to him in such a way that I believed he
would show it to his superior for verification. I think he did
just that and it was the little thing that helped for which
Congressman O'Hara gave me credit. You ask, what do I think about it. It is one more unhappy mix-
up in this experiment of strange events. Just think!--The very
idea of the Nurse being honored for his work, and the Doctor
who made the decisions and taught and trained the nurse, being
forgotten! Of course if feel it is wrong, but you would have
to have known Ames personally, as I did, to realize how badly
I feel about it. |
 |
(Hench-Tate-3) Lambert only feels worse. It is "the fly in the ointment"
for him. If this passes the Senate he gets much of what he
wished for himself, but it is small compensation for him
unless Ames receives Congressional recognition. Already he is writing: "I feel like crying." "If this goes
through I'll feel ashamed of my honors. I was a good yellow
fever nurse--I knew all about it, but who taught me? Ames.
I would have known nothing but for him. Everyone remembered
except Ames, the best of alll. Its terrible!" etc. Well, I think I have answered all your questions at length,
perhaps too lengthy. But I wished you to know how this affair
came about and have you not do an injustice in your mind to
Lambert. I know him.--He'd give the whole thing up if it
would help Ames. Anyhow, all this may be for naught. The Senate Committee may
shelve it. Being an old ex-reporter from the City of Washing-
ton, I'm very pessimistic about predicting any happenings
there. Cordially & Sincerely
Tate
Paul L. Tate
|
