I am a doctor
specializing in the Emergency Departments of the only two military Level
One-Trauma Centers, both in San Antonio, TX. We 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 brings 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 the 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 my inquiry. I have been privileged to hear
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, he had a minor cut on his head from a fall at his 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 M/Sgt 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.
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.'
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If it weren't
for the United States Military, there'd be NO United
States of America!
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