DEFENDING AMERICA
BY DAVID H. HACKWORTH
04 July 2000
THE GREATEST GENERATION AND INCREDIBLE DOCS
Medics have been my heroes from the first time I saw a "Doc"
risk his life to patch up a wounded grunt. They're the bravest
of the brave and the noblest of the noble. I've never known a
more selfless or dedicated group of humans.
This, from an Army Airborne Ranger doctor, explains why I feel
this way:
"As a military doctor I work long hours. One tends to become
jaded by the lack of sleep and the endless parade of human suffering
passing before you.
"With our large military-retiree population, it's often a
nursing-home patient. I've caught myself groaning when the ambulance
brought in yet another sick, elderly person. I hadn't stopped
to think of what citizens of this age represented.
"I saw 'Saving Private Ryan.' I was touched deeply by the
sacrifices of so many. I was touched most by the scene of the
elderly survivor (Pvt. Ryan) 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 hospital and hadn't realized what
magnificent sacrifices they had made. The things they did for
me and everyone else who 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've been privileged to an amazing array of experiences recounted.
These experiences have revealed the incredible individuals I've
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 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. 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 medic
in his many attempts. How different was the response from this
person who'd seen unspeakable suffering.
"There was a retired colonel who had parachuted from his
burning plane over a Pacific island held by the Japanese. Now
an octogenarian, his head was cut in a fall at home where he lived
alone. His CT scan and suturing had been delayed until after midnight.
Still spry for his age, he asked to use the phone to call a taxi
to take him home, then 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. 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 paid
for it ourselves. My only regret was that my shift wouldn't end
for several hours and I couldn't drive him myself.
"And there were the gentleman who served with Merrill's Marauders;
the survivors of the Baatan Death March and Omaha Beach; the 101-year-old
World War I veteran; the former POW held in North Korea; the former
Special Forces medic. 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 am angered at the cutbacks -- implemented and proposed
-- that will continue to decay their meager retirement benefits.
I see a president and Congress who have turned their back on these
individuals who've sacrificed so much to protect our liberty.
I see later generations who 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
enlisted medics aware of these amazing individuals. 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 that this nation knows not what it
is losing.
"We should all remember that we must 'Earn this.'"
Thanks Capt. Stephen Ellison, M.D... Well said.