|
Capt. Steven Ellison,
MD
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 my inquiry. I have been privileged to hear 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 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 CAPT. Steven
R. Ellison, M.D. US Army
If it weren't for the
United States Military, there'd be 'NO' United States of America !
Steven Ellison, MD
A MILITARY DOCTOR
And now as you have
finished reading this, our Congress that enjoys their free medical care are in the process of
charging these people for their medical care and at the same time possibly
reducing their retirement pay. A typical political "Thank you." 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.
|
No comments:
Post a Comment