> SOON TO BE GONE
> By A MILITARY DOCTOR
> This should be required reading in every school and college in our
> country. This Captain, an Army doctor, deserves a medal himself for
> putting this together. If you choose not to pass it on, fine, but I
> think you will want to, after you read it.
>
>
>
>
> 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, 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.
>
> 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. US Army
>
> If it weren't for the United States Military,
> there'd be NO United States of America.
>
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