|
 Dancer
Turns To Chiropody
Dr. Sweet Suffered
Amputation Danger
A professional dancer who became a doctor of
chiropody after he came near losing his own feet during World War II, has
moved to Panama City.
Dr. John P. Sweet, a native of Indiana, was a featured dancer of
Gertrude Lawrence's hit show, "Lady in The Dark," when he was called into
service.
A sergeant in the 508th Parachute branch of the 82nd Airborne
Division, he served four years in the European Theatre of Operations.
During a three-day advance in the Hurtgen Forest area, he was "shaken up" by
artillery shelling and sent to a base hospital where it was discovered that
both his feet were frozen.
Amputations were ordered. But a second lieutenant who knew
the patient to be a professional dancer took an interest in Sweet --- and
saved his feet. Why wasn't more done to prevent or cure such injuries?
After his discharge from the Army, Sweet danced at the Morenka Club
in New York, but soon realized that his damaged feet never could endure the
strain of professional dancing.
He continued to wonder why such things had to happen. He
turned to a new profession, chiropody*. He studied in for two years at
Long Island University, then four yeas at Illinois College of Chiropody and
Foot surgery in Chicago.
Dr. Sweet, whose offices are in the Ritz Theatre Building, is
married and lives at 2410 12th street, in St. Andrew. Mr. and Mrs.
Street have a son, 9, and a daughter, 18 months.
* the the term
podiatrist is often used today rather than chiropodist] |
 John
Pershing Sweet
seen here as a senior in the 1936 edition of the "Anchor"
year-book, of the Cory-Perry Township [Indiana] High School. His
prophesy in he book was "John Sweet is taking Fred Astaire's place with
Ginger Rogers." Apparently his love of dance was already in place.
John's enlistment record is not available in the National
archives but must have been in late 1942 as he was one of those in the 508th
who was declared a qualified parachutist in Special Order Number 55 dated 5
March 1943.
John went through the Normandy and Holland campaigns
before being sent into combat in Belgium in December 1944.
On 2 February 1945 T/4 Sweet was listed as a "non-battle"
casualty due to his frozen feet, as seen in the article at left.
Despite the on-battle status he was awarded the Purple
Heart in General Order 15 as well as the Bronze Service Arrowhead device for
his participation in Normandy assault. |
