Soon to Be Gone

**Willowdared** · 02-04-09, 01:37 PM

I got this from my cousin and wanted to share.

SOON TO BE GONE
By 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 s ince 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.