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I've been spending some time reminiscing about my time in Vietnam, all of which was spent, fortunately, at the 24th Evac Hospital. I was caught up in the first draft lottery (#60) and assigned an MOS of 91D20 - Operating Room Technician. The training I went through at Fort Sam Houston, Texas in 1970 didn't begin to prepare me for what was in store for me. I will attempt to put down a few memories as best I can remember them, dropping as many names as possible.

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Tom Holland, November 1970
Courtesy of Tom Holland
Click on photo for larger version.

I remember the first day I showed up for duty. I was basically given a set of scrub clothes to put on and although it wasn't said out loud, I was to shut up and stay out of the way. As I recall, we were running at least 4 of the 6 rooms that day. I couldn't circulate much, since I didn't know where anything was, And there was no way they were going to let a raw rookie scrub in and assist on a case!!! Capt. Jim DeLoach, Head Nurse, was very nice and did what he could to put you at ease. The same can be said for Lt.'s Glenn & Rhonda Ross, Lt. Rose Carroll, Capt. Karolyn Skov, and Sp4's John Passeno & Ron Engel.

Anyway, I slowly started to pick up the nuts and bolts of the job. Pat O'Toole, Gil Yee & Hugh Leahy were among those I tried to look at with the most attention; they were the best in the business. I started scrubbing in on some of the minor cases -- debriding a few frag wounds, the odd appendectomy. 

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Tom on the left, assisting Dr. Lynn Whelchel with an appendectomy, September 1971
Click on photo for larger version.
Courtesy of Tom Holland.

Being left-handed I had to learn to thread the suture and clamp it into a needleholder for a right-handed surgeon. That went fine until we got in a left-handed doctor, who would take the needleholder from me and turn the needle around so he could use it properly. Guess I should have stayed with him full time!!!!

I remember once a soldier came in who had a live round -- a mortar shell maybe -- lodged in his abdomen. They operated on him out on the chopper pad. Can't tell you who the surgeon was, but Sp6 Baker volunteered to assist. I don't recall his first name, but he was a good guy; older than most of us enlisted guys but we got along great.

I can remember a 14 hour marathon case on a soldier who had a gunshot wound to his face. I scrubbed in to relieve Phil Calvi, I think, who had been in there for a few hours. I assisted from 7am to 12 noon, and was relieved myself by Tom Hamilton. Also involved at various times -- there was more that one procedure going on at once -- were Lt. Anita Mullen, Capt. MJ Heffernan, Steve Castro, Ralph Bistodeau & Lt. Lana Feldhusen. You might wonder how I knew all the names on this particular case. Well, I photographed the OR log for that day. Thought it would have been an all-timer, and it sure turned out to be. Wow, were we beat after that one!!!

I saw quite a few surgeons work in my year there. While I'm no expert, here are a few I'm sure you'd have been in good hands with:    Dr. Charles Middleton. Dr. Roy 'Rocky' Reid. Dr. Roger Z. Thurman. Dr. ? Barcia. The last one was very intriguing. He was all of 6' 7 and wore size 9 gloves. He jacked the table up so high the rest of us needed stepstools! But somehow, he could do the most delicate work with those huge hands. I would not have believed it if I didn't see it with my own two eyes. There were also other good ones, but remember, it's been 30 odd years, and I apologize to those I've omitted.

We worked 12/6 most of the time. When we were off duty we were known to party as hearty as we worked. There's absolutely nothing like being in your very early 20's like I was. At $3 a case (no ring tabs!), the Bud & Schlitz flowed (& flowed & flowed), but at that age you have incredible recovery powers. Three hours of sleep, a shot of coffee and back at work - no shakes. Now THAT I really miss as I get ready to say good-bye to 50.  I miss most of those I worked with during that year. It was tough being away from my family and friends all that time. But the people I worked with became like a second surrogate family I've never forgotten. A few names may be hazy, but I carry the memories around in my heart.  Here are a few more I've got to mention:

Tom Kohn, Dan Boren (he took all the surgery photos I have that I appear in), Ken Gross, Larry Chiara (the only one I've ever seen face to face back here in the world), George Mason, Clyde Byrge, Bob Braun, and many others. I eagerly hope to see one and all in San Antonio next year.

Tom Holland


Updated: July 7, 2003