Military Doctor

[thedrifter]

Military Doctor

I am a doctor specializing in Emergency Medicine in the Emergency
Departments of the only two military Level One-trauma centers. They
are 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, because of the location of these
two large military medical centers. As a military doctor in training
in my specialty, 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,prior to medical school, 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 in the first 30 minutes, 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.


Sempers,

Roger