* Passing of a Generation**
** **Won't Be Long And They Will Be Gone
From 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 wo rk 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, 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 tha t 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 veter an, 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.

 

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Since May 2003. Thank you veterans and patriotic Americans!!

cvpa1DRAFT

 

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