Pictured is a temporary hospital erected to care for soldiers ill with influenza. Many other hospitals were made up of tents.  (Wikipedia Photo)

By Beverly Clinkingbeard

Following an event or published feature someone has ‘more of the story’ to offer, or a similar experience to relate, as with the subject influenza. Our media has kept us informed as to the numbers of people affected by the flu and steps to take to avoid the flu. Undoubtedly, thanks to medical advances, our nation’s death rate didn’t reach pandemic proportions and is miniscule in comparison to the influenza pandemic of 1918. There were few families left untouched by the Spanish Flu of 1918-20, and for those who lived, often their health was adversely affected.
For medical reasons this season of influenza is designated as A, B, C, the latter being the mildest form. Influenza A is more prevalent and mutates easily; and B is not as prevalent, but potent. Other communicable diseases and epidemics recognized are the Asian Flu in 1957, Hong Kong Flu in 1968 and the Bird Flu in 2004. Many area folks remember that locally, in the summer of 1964, there were several cases of yellow jaundice. (Thanks, Lila Faulkner, for remembering and reminding about that.) The illness is not considered contagious, however, conditions must have been favorable for the disease to develop. News-wise, yellow jaundice took a back page to the polio epidemic, and many were relieved to discover they had jaundice (at the time the remedy was several weeks of bed rest) and not crippling polio.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) was developed in 1946 with the aim and purpose of protecting our nation from malaria. Prior to that, the United States military had established a medical research for studying and preventing disease among the troops.   Today, the CDC studies and monitors all communicable diseases and is a recognized global research source. Undoubtedly they can take credit for protecting our populace from many communicable diseases, including the recent and deadly Ebola that killed many in West Africa.
Now for more…Leslie Schenck of College Springs, Iowa, shared their family’s influenza story. Her grandfather, Ray Schenck, of Clarinda, went with a group of young men to Kansas City to enlist in the Army (1917-18, WWI). While there he became ill with Spanish Flu. He was in a ward with many others and so ill they thought him dead, and took him to a “dead room” where there were many other bodies awaiting burial and family notification.
Fortunately, or by divine appointment, Ray Schenck’s eyes fluttered open and caretakers realized he was very ill, but not dead! (Can you imagine the consternation and surprise of the workers who carried the deceased to the “dead room” and in this case, saw life!)
Ray Schenck was returned to the ward area for medical treatment and as his granddaughter said, “Obviously, he survived, or I wouldn’t be here!” In time he regained his health, but was unable to continue with the original intent of serving in the U.S. Army. Mr. Schenck, along with many others who had also missed the U.S. Army enlistment deadline due to the flu, opted to attend a mechanic school in Kansas City that the government offered the young men.
Later, he returned to the Clarinda area, became a businessman, farmer and pilot, and locally, especially among those interested in flight, Ray Schenck’s name is well-known. His first airplane was an American Eagle Bi-plane. He owned the first sod airstrip in Iowa (1939), a fore-runner to what we know today as Clarinda Municipal Airport-Schenck Field located south of the highway by-pass.
The original Schenck Field was in the area of Garfield Street going south where the present highway by-pass (71 & 2) sliced through it. The hangar areas and original strip are now commercially developed (Akin’s, Co-op) area. Ray Schenck married Zelma Anderson and they had four children. His son, Ronald “Ronnie” Schenck, partnered with his father operating the airport and offering flying lessons. Thank you, Leslie, for sharing your grandfather’s “more of the story.” And, to our readers, stay well.