James
Williamson Squires
By
Dr. Robert H. Lafferty, Charlotte
“Captain
Squires fulfilled my ideal of the Southern gentleman” was the remark made to me
a few weeks ago in New York by a young roentgenologist who was associated with
him “over there.”
Born
of a stock of fighters, James Williamson Squires throughout his life was a
fighter. First, since, like most Southern boys, he had little money, he fought
for his education, and he won. Then he fought with unlimited energy and
enthusiasm for success and a reputation as a roentgenologist, and he won. Then
he fought to save the lives of our boys injured in the terrible war, and no one
knows how often he won. He fought a brave fight in his last illness and, at
first, he won. Even in the relapse the last thing he said to his Colonel was,
“We will win out yet,” and we pause to ask, Did he not win? His reward? “Well
done, good and faithful servant”; “Soldier, rest, thy warfare’s o’er.” But
while he won, we have lost—lost a friend, an ardent and enthusiastic member and
physician and roentgenologist, who was always interested in the advancement of
medicine and the progress of science.
Dr.
Squires was born at Matthews, N.C., November 2, 1888. He graduated from the
Charlotte High School in May, 1906, and although he spent most of his
afternoons at work, he led his class. In 1911 he graduated with the degree of
Doctor of Medicine from the North Carolina Medical College, and after
additional work at Johns Hopkins and Rockefeller Institute, he became
associated with his uncle, Dr. A.J. Crowell, in Charlotte. He was married in
1912 to Miss Eunice Jeffries of the same city.
In
1913, after special work under some of the best roentgenologists in this
country, he decided to give his entire time to this specialty, and it was as
roentgenologist for the Yale Mobile Hospital No. 39 that he was serving his
country in France at the time of his death, December 16, 1918.
As a
roentgenologist, he ranked with the best men of his country, and he spared no
energy in working and developing his line of work in this section of the south.
When the call came to arms he was ready, and having received his commission as
captain, he left for Fort Oglethorpe June 16, 1917. From there he was
transferred to the X-ray school in New York, and sailed for Europe the 21st of
August, the very day his second son was born.
Many
and glowing reports came to us of his work overseas. His ceaseless activity,
his unlimited energy, his enthusiasm, and withal, his gentlemanly bearing, made
him a favorite with the unit with which he worked.
Far
away in the sunny land of France, still desolate from savage hordes, there are
many graves tended by the grateful hands of the maids of old France in
recognition of the great service rendered them. But there is one mound upon
which we would to-day shed a tear, for our friend was there laid to rest.
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