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Mon Jul 30 19:40:40 BST 2007

As the daughter of a WWII Navy pilot and Navy Cadet Nurse I applaud your
caring message about our "greatest generation".  Unfortunately, too many
physicians saw my dad in his last days, and my mom (who survived bone CA
as a teenager, two mitral valve jobs and countless other surgeries) as
just another elderly patient.  WWII, Korea, and Nam were our last equal
opportunity wars.  Everyone gave their all and hoped they and their
loved ones survived.  Dad visited his best friend, a hero of Iwo Jima,
less than a month before he died in February.  Neither could hear
(cannon, gun fire, etc.) but they both said they would be "under a tree,
with my rifle, waiting for my elk, smoking a cigarette" (Montana's
version of Heaven).  Dad's friend, an American Indian, died less than a
month later, after saying "Monty is waiting for me".  Our sadness is
replaced by the knowledge that these brave men no longer suffer the
indignity of falls, being tethered to oxygen, losing their driving
privileges, being unable to hunt and fish, and being cared for by
healthcare providers who see them as another "bed".   God bless those
who are still left and save them from uncaring health providers, of
which I have seen too many.

Connie Potter

( Won't be Long and They Will  All 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 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 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. USArmy 

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Soon To Be Gone - From A Military Trauma Doctor