If I can get this to work I will send a forwarded article I received r> > From a Military Doctor
> >
> > I am a doctor specializing in the Emergency
> > Departments of the only two
> > military Level One-trauma centers, both in San
> > Antonio, TX and they care for
> > civilian Emergencies as well as military personnel.
> >
> > San Antonio has the largest military retiree
> > population in the world living
> > here As a military doctor, I work long hours and
> > the pay is less than
> > glamorous.
> >
> > One tends to become jaded by the long hours, lack
> > of sleep, food, family
> > contact and the endless parade of human suffering
> > passing before you. The
> > arrival of another ambulance does not mean more
> > pay, only more work.
> >
> > Most often, it is a victim from a motor vehicle
> > crash. Often it is a person
> > of dubious character who has been shot or stabbed.
> > With our large military
> > retiree population, it is often a nursing home
> > patient.
> >
> > Even with my enlisted service and minimal combat
> > experience in Panama, I
> > have caught myself groaning when the ambulance
> > brought in yet another sick,
> > elderly person from one of the local retirement
> > centers that cater to
> > military retirees. I had not stopped to think of
> > what citizens of this age
> > group represented.
> >
> > I saw "Saving Private Ryan." I was touched deeply.
> > Not so much by the
> > carnage, but by the sacrifices of so many. I was
> > touched most by the scene
> > of the elderly survivor at the graveside, asking his
> > wife if he'd been a
> > good man. I realized that I had seen these same men
> > and women coming through
> > my Emergency Dept. and had not realized what
> > magnificent sacrifices they had
> > made. The things they did for me and everyone else
> > that has lived on this
> > planet since the end of that conflict are
> > priceless.
> >
> > Situation permitting, I now try to ask my patients
> > about their experiences.
> > They would never bring up the subject without the
> > inquiry. I have been
> > privileged to an amazing array of experiences,
> > recounted in the brief
> > minutes allowed in an Emergency Dept. encounter.
> > These experiences have
> > revealed the incredible individuals I have had the
> > honor of serving in a
> > medical capacity, many on their last admission to
> > the hospital.
> >
> > There was a frail, elderly woman who reassured my
> > young enlisted medic,
> > trying to start an IV line in her arm. She remained
> > calm and poised, despite
> > her illness and the multiple needle-sticks into her
> > fragile veins. She was
> > what we call a "hard stick." As the medic made
> > another attempt, I noticed a
> > number tattooed across her forearm. I touched it
> > with one finger and looked
> > into her eyes. She simply said, "Auschwitz." Many of
> > later generations would
> > have loudly and openly berated the young medic in
> > his many attempts. How
> > different was the response from this person who'd
> > seen unspeakable
> > suffering.
> >
> > Also, there was this long retired Colonel, who as a
> > young officer had
> > parachuted from his burning plane over a Pacific
> > Island held by the
> > Japanese. Now an octogenarian, his head cut in a
> > fall at home where he lived
> > alone. His CT scan and suturing had been delayed
> > until after midnight by the
> > usual parade of high priority ambulance patients.
> > Still spry for his age, he
> > asked to use the phone to call a taxi, to take him
> > home, then he realized
> > his ambulance had brought him without his wallet.
> >
> > He asked if he could use the phone to make a long
> > distance call to his
> > daughter who lived 7 miles away. With great pride
> > we told him that he could
> > not, as he'd done enough for his country and the
> > least we could do was get
> > him a taxi home, even if we had to pay for it
> > ourselves. My only regret was
> > that my shift wouldn't end for several hours, and I
> > couldn't drive him
> > myself.
> >
> > I was there the night MSgt. Roy Benavidez came
> > through the Emergency Dept.
> > for the last time. He was very sick. I was not the
> > doctor taking care of
> > him, but I walked to his bedside and took his hand.
> > I said nothing. He was
> > so sick, he didn't know I was there. I'd read his
> > Congressional Medal of
> > Honor citation and wanted to shake his hand. He
> > died a few days later.
> >
> > The gentleman who served with Merrill's Marauders,
> > the survivor of the
> > Bataan Death March, the survivor of Omaha Beach,
> > the 101 year old World War
> > I veteran, the former POW held in frozen North
> > Korea, the former Special
> > Forces medic - now with non-operable liver cancer,
> > the former Viet Nam Corps
> > Commander. I remember these citizens.
> >
> > I may still groan when yet another ambulance comes
> > in, but now I am much
> > more aware of what an honor it is to serve these
> > particular men and women.
> >
> > I have seen a Congress who would turn their back on
> > these individuals who've
> > sacrificed so much to protect our liberty. I see
> > later generations that seem
> > to be totally engrossed in abusing these same
> > liberties, won with such
> > sacrifice.
> >
> > It has become my personal endeavor to make the
> > nurses and young enlisted
> > medics aware of these amazing individuals when I
> > encounter them in our
> > Emergency Dept. Their response to these particular
> > citizens has made Me
> > think that perhaps all is not lost in the next
> > generation.
> >
> > My experiences have solidified my belief that we
> > are losing an incredible
> > generation, and this nation knows not what it is
> > losing. Our uncaring
> > government and ungrateful civilian populace should
> > all take note. We should
> > all remember that we must "Earn this."
> >
> > Written By CPT. Stephen R. Ellison, M.D.
> > (If you send this story along to friends, please
> > include the author's name.
> > Thank you!)
>
>

written by a doctor in San Antonio Tx..

The Army Doc's in this generation are very good. My wife works at Darnall Army Commity Hospital at Ft. Hood, TX. The board scores for ER Doc's out of Darnall are better than most civilian hospitals.

During this current war, they bring in approximately 60 wounded weekly with serious to critical problems. The doc's from CPT to COL work 7 days a week in surgery healing and helping Soldiers and Marines at Ft. Hood.

It is tough but they are as much in the war as one can be not being in a Surgical Hospital in-country. They do the impossible on a daily basis.

I was a Navy Corpsman from 1981 -1988 on active duty and stayed another 6 years in the reserves. I saw a lot of these people. I would get so mad when some of the guys would complain about the "old gomers" and would remind them that those "old gomers" had been in the Marne, Belleue Woods, Batan, Pearl Harbor, guadalcannal, Sipian, Iwo Jima, ect. There were times it about made me cry, to see these frail old men, who were once young tough kids that carried our nation in grave times. Reduced to suffering from age and illness.

I still see it today. I practice medicine in a small town and have a large number of patients in their 70-90 that saw things that I read about in the history books. One was a B-24 pilot that flew on Polesti, another B-25 pilot that saw action over europe. A 96th ID vet that was wounded on Okinawa, a 28th ID vet that landed on D-Day, A Navy Corpsman that landed on Iwo, a 101 AB vet that went through from D-Day to the end of the war. This past year I came home and cried like a baby when I lost a patient that had survived Batan He was awarded the Silver Star just last year for his action in combat, 60 years late. Another 101 AB vet that was wounded on D+7 and captured. I feel richer for knowing these men, and I know I will most likely come home crying when many of these men pass. I have the greatest respect for them, and only wish I could do more for them.

We are hated now around the world because of the way the world is. The American fighting man has been out there every day and night, in time of trouble and peace, for one purpose, to spread freedom and presearve ours.

The sacrifice can not be measured but the result is obvious. Sleep well again tonight, world. The American soldier is on the job for you wheather you want him there or not and you are benefiting wherever you are in this world weather you know it or not.

big medicine, This was posted to show that there is still doctors and medical staff out there like you, and we still have many good men who need and appreciate you. Especially us old gomers.

Chief, You speak my sentiments exactly.

CPTKILLER, Give your wife and her co-workers my thanks, and wish her a Merry X-Mass and a Happy New Year.

Lee L.

M1894,
I have always know that I will be an "old gomer" someday, about 1/2 way there now. My Dad always told me that what goes around comes around. If you want to be treated with respect, then you treat others with respect. Respect is not demanded, it is not taken, and it is not bought, it is earned. And these people have earned my respect. I can only hope that I earn the respect by the time I'm there.

big medicine: It looks to me like you are well on your way to your goal.

Lee L.