User:Cjr100B/J.D. Don Mashburn

J. D. Don Mashburn (born June 29, 1893) was a veteran of World War I, in which he served as a medic. After the war he became an entrepreneur by owning an auto repair shop. In 1939, Mashburn was interviewed by the Federal Writers’ Project,and this document is now housed at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Southern Historical Collection.

Early life
Mashburn was born in Asheville, North Carolina on June 29, 1893. He lived on a farm with his parents and three sisters. He attended the local country school while there. Mashburn went on to a Christian junior college to further his education, but did not graduate with a degree. After his time in college he went out west in search for a career that would spark his interest. However, he was drafted into World War I. In 1918, he was sent to Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, where he worked for a medical unit. This was not his passion and he wanted to return home to pursue his business dreams.

After war
When Mashburn returned from the war in 1921 he went back home. When he arrived his father provided him with money to start his own business. Mashburn opened an auto-repair shop in 1921, after learning the trade from a company in Akron, Ohio. His business flourished and maintained customers throughout the Great Depression.

Family
Mashburn got married in 1923, and had three children, one girl, and two boys. He was an active volunteer in his community serving on the Chamber of Commerce, and a deacon of his church.

Conditions of military hospitals in World War I
During World War I Mashburn served in a number of different military hospitals: Camp Mills, New York, Hoboken, New Jersey, and Camp McClellan, Alabama. The United States decided to enter the War in 1917 after the ocean liner RMS Lusitania was sunk by a German U-boat on May 7, 1915. The United States saw the number of casualties greatly increase during 1918. Mashburn stated, “The men died like flies, and several times we ran out of boxes to bury them in, and had to put their bodies in cold storage until more boxes were shipped in”. The conditions of the hospitals were not only bad for the soldiers, but the medics as well. According to The Medical Department of the United States, the enlisted medics were housed in stables and tents.

During World War I, the medics also had to deal with the spreading of the Influenza Epidemic of 1918. (Hyperlink) It is estimated that 548,000 Americans died from the flu from 1918-1919. (Hopkins and Thompson 53). In order to keep from getting the flu Mashburn and his unit were sprayed with disinfectant.

Mashburn’s interview in the Federal Writers’ Project explains that he was not happy with the conditions of the hospitals, and even stated that the best part about the war was coming home.

Entrepreneurship after war
After World War I the United States entered what is called the “Roaring Twenties.” Business began to slowly flourish and veterans from World War 1 began to seek jobs in the booming economy. However, the economy didn’t blossom right after the war because the job market was overpopulated. Since the job market was inflated, entrepreneurship emerged.

Mashburn’s goal before the war was to actually own his own business. He decided to go to Akron, Ohio where he learned the tire business. It was very beneficial to go to Ohio because according to Samuel Firestone, “Akron was home to the rubber tire industry.” Harvey S. Firestone was a very successful entrepreneur in the tire industry, and owned a factory in Akron. After learning the trade of the tire industry, Mashburn opened his own shop in North Carolina. His company was able to remain open throughout the Great Depression, and it could have been from the preparation in Akron, Ohio. Firestone explained, “When the smash of 1920 came and half the business of the country found itself going under, we came to our senses, for we, too, as will later be told, came close to the jumping- off place.” Mashburn was able to learn from the strong business leaders in Akron, who were able to maintain their business throughout the recession.

Federal Writers' Project
The Federal Writers’ Project in North Carolina was a movement that was led by W.T. Couch, who was the director of the University of North Carolina Press during the 1930’s. Couch wanted to help record the “real” stories of North Carolinians and Southerners. He wanted to help eliminate the negative stereotypes of the south, such as racism, and lack of education. Couch believed that if Southerners were able to voice their own opinion, these generalizations would be eliminated.”

The Mashburn interview helps disprove some of the stereotypes that were believed by people in the north. Mashburn uses clear and concise English, and never brings up the issues of race. His drive to become a successful business man helps northerners, and other people who stereotyped against the south, to realize that the southerners were educated and could become successful. It also helps inform the American people of the conditions that young soldiers endured in World War 1.