PDA

View Full Version : A holiday tribute to those who saved lives



thedrifter
07-03-07, 05:40 AM
A holiday tribute to those who saved lives

By FRED R. ECK/Special to the Daily News

Monday, July 2, 2007 7:06 PM PDT


Forty years ago this year in 1967, I was aboard the USS Sanctuary AH-17, cruising between the DMZ and Chu-Lai to the south along the coast of Viet Nam. During this time (April -October) we picked up and gave medical attention to several thousand patients.

I was a Hospital Corpsman working in the Ear, Eyes, Nose & Throat ward and working Hilo Ops throughout the day and night, bringing patients flown in from the field to the triage area and then down to the respective wards throughout the hospital. It was a very traumatic time for all of us.

To some of out patients, it was R & R; a nice air-conditioned ship with good food and lots of attention. To others, it was to bandage them up and send them home.

One of the points I wanted to make that I wasn't able to make in my speech at the Avi Hotel & Casino a couple of weeks ago was the care given to these fine soldiers, Marines and other military patients.


We always talk about the death associated with war and conflict but not the laves that were saved by caregivers like the Sanctuary. I would like to stress this point. This beautiful white angel with red crosses painted on her side was nothing short of miraculous to all who came aboard her. We saved literally thousands of lives during her time off the coast of Viet Nam.

The crews of the ship and hospital staff were very professional and courteous to all who came aboard her. The best TLC was given to every patient who was either sent home or fully recovered and back to duty in the field.

We had generals, admirals, congressmen and even Bob Hope on board to entertain the troops.

There have never been enough thank-yous for all she did while serving her country.

I was fortunate to have served aboard the Sanctuary for the brief time that I did.

I'm also fortunate to have two of my shipmates here in Bullhead City - Patrick O'Keefe and Tom Mitchell.

On this Fourth of July holiday, I would like to say thank you to them and to all who served on the Sanctuary from April 1967 to 1874.

And to remember the slogan we had imprinted on the ship that will never be forgotten: “You find them, we bind them - Open 24 hours.”

Fred Eck is a resident of the Tri-state and a Vietnam War veteran. He was guest speaker at the Avi on Flag Day.

Ellie