Paid The Price

[wrbones]

got this from a Marine known here as 'shirlsmarine'




> > > Won't Be Long And They Will Be Gone



From a Military Doctor


> > >
> > > I am a doctor specializing in Emergency Medicine in the Emergency
> > > Departments of the only two military Level One-trauma centers. They
> > > are 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, because of the location of these
> > > two large military medical centers. As a military doctor in training
> > > in my specialty, 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, prior to medical school, 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 in the first 30 minutes, 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 that 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 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.
> > >

[JAMarine]

I looked up MSgt. Roy Benavidez and read his citation. This is real deep stuff here. Thanks Warren for the Post.
I will not ever forget.