Fw: Soon To Be Gone

["Don Greenlaw" <dgreenlaw@cox.net>]

Forwarded.

Semper fi,
Don Greenlaw
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Ed Wilbur
Sent: Sunday, January 22, 2012 1:42 PM
Subject: Fwd: Soon To Be Gone









 Date: January 22, 2012 3:38:28 PM EST

 To: Undisclosed-recipients: <>;

 Subject: Soon To Be Gone







           Soon To Be Gone
           by 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 Antoniohas 
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 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, after you've read it.










     --
     Dave Kimbrel
     aka - waveygravy
     Cell 562-577-7457

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