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September 03, 2004

A Navy Doctor Returns to the U.S.

A surgical team doctor is rotating back to the United States. Here is a snippet from an e-mail she wrote, listing her memories of serving in a field hospital and caring for Marines wounded in combat. It's an amazing list. And if you can get through it without tears falling, you are made of much stronger stuff than I.

Here are some of her good memories:

But most of all, The United States Marines, our patients...

Walking, every day, and having literally every single person who passes by say "Hoorah, Ma'am..."

Having them tell us, one after the other, through blinding pain or morphine-induced euphoria..."When can I get out of here? I just want to get back to my unit..."

Meeting a young Sergeant, who had lost an eye in an explosion...he asked his surgeon if he could open the other one...when he did, he sat up and looked at the young Marines from his fire team who were being treated for superficial shrapnel wounds in the next room...he smiled, laid back down, and said, "I only have one good eye, Doc! , but I can see that my Marines are OK."

And of course, meeting the one who threw himself on a grenade to save the men at his side...who will likely be the first Medal of Honor recipient in over 11 years...

The list comes from Blawkhawk's site. Do visit his site to read her complete list, including events that she'll remember with both joy and sadness.

And to the author of the list, thank you for caring for both the fallen and those who serve with them and love them as brothers. As a mom on the other side of the world, it is comforting to know that the Navy is there for our Marines.

Posted by Deb at September 3, 2004 10:41 AM

Comments

I met a marine doctor in Nashville, Tn. in the month of May 2005. He said his name was Shannon, that everyone he knew called him "Doc".
He said he was originally from Kentucky, and is 33 years old. He was back from his second tour in Iraq, on some kind of training, a short cruise with some friends in Mexico and then back to Iraq. IF anyone can help me locate him, I would be eternally grateful. He moved me in the short time that we talked and I would like to speak to him again. The above is the only information that I have about him. I met him in a club where I was working. I gave him my phone number but he has not called. He may have a girlfriend/wife with two sons. He spoke of his 'boys', they are teenagers whom he does alot of things with. I believe I fell in love with this man instantly. (it was his lick on my back that did it).I have not stopped thinking about him since that evening. Please help me find him.
Thanking you in advance,
Leah Charter

Posted by: leah charter at June 28, 2005 07:08 PM