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Leonard O'Doull
Fictional Character
Southern Victory
POD: September 10, 1862
Appearance(s): Walk in Hell
through
In at the Death
Type of Appearance: Direct (POV from The Victorious Opposition onward)
Nationality: United States, had dual citizenship with the Republic of Quebec
Religion: Cathoicism
Date of Birth: 1891
Occupation: Doctor, Soldier
Parents: Harvey and Rose O'Doull
Spouse: Nicole O'Doull
Children: Lucien O'Doull
Military Branch: United States Army (Great War, Second Great War)

Leonard O'Doull, M.D. (b. 1891) was a surgeon who served in the United States Army in both the Great War and the Second Great War.

During the first war, he served on the Quebec front at a military hospital in Riviere-du-Loup, on the land of Lucien Galtier. While stationed there, he met Nicole Galtier, who was working as a nurse, much to the discomfort of her father. O'Doull began courting Nicole. Although Lucien Galtier generally looked at the American forces as invaders, O'Doull's fluency in the French language, coupled with his ability to appreciate Lucien's sense of humor won Lucien over. The fact that O'Doull was an Irish Catholic who disdained the British also helped bridge the distance between the two men. The fact that O'Doull helped mend Lucien's leg after the latter injured it while chopping wood cemented their friendship.

O'Doull married Nicole in 1917 and after the war he settled down to practice in Rivière-du-Loup in the newly created Republic of Quebec. The marriage produced one son, Lucien O'Doull, named for his maternal grandfather.

In his time in Riviere-du-Loup, O'Doull developed a fondness for the Quebecois people and culture, and became very close to his wife's family, especially his father-in-law, Lucien Galtier. In the mid-1920s, it became O'Doull's sad duty to inform Lucien that his wife, Marie, was terminally ill.

When the Second Great War began, O'Doull was visited by Colonel (ret.) Jedediah Quigley who encouraged him to rejoin the US Army. Despite his having grown very comfortable in the Republic of Quebec, he found his loyalties remained with the nation of his birth and rejoined the Army's Medical Service.[1] He was initially stationed in eastern Ohio during Operation Blackbeard where he befriended Sergeant Granville McDougald.[2] His whole division was pulled out of the line and sent east to the Virginia front.[3] When the Battle of Pittsburgh began, he was transferred to Pittsburgh. After the Confederate forces in the city were smashed, O'Doull's unit followed U.S. General Irving Morrell as he slashed deep into Confederate territory. After McDougald was injured, he was replaced by Vince Donofrio. After only three months of working with O'Doull, Donofrio was beaten to death by an angry mob for attempting to sleep with a Confederate woman named Billie Jean. As O'Doull had allowed Donofrio to leave with Billie Jean, Donofrio's death weighed on O'Doull's conscience. After several days, Goodson Lord was assigned as Donofrio's replacement.

O'Doull remained on occupation duty in Alabama for some months after the war ended. He quickly grew homesick treating VD on a daily basis, and so used his status as a citizen of Quebec to get his discharge. He returned to Riviere-du-Loup, and discovered how boring the life of a small town doctor could be. Once again, Jedediah Quigley came back to O'Doull, this time to ask for advice on how improve U.S. Army medical care. O'Doull reluctantly agreed to outline some ideas. Sergeant McDougald, now stationed in Cuba, sent O’Doull a box of Habana cigars after the war ended.

References[]

  1. Return Engagement, pgs. 81-84, hc.
  2. Ibid. pg. 180.
  3. Ibid., pgs. 525-526.
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