Our Visit to Bethesda Hospital (175)

Last week in DC, we were offered the opportunity to make the trip up to Bethesda Naval Hospital to share some time one on one with wounded troops from Iraq and Afganistan...It required getting up at 4 am to make the trip on the metro train on our second day there. And Gunny Bill and I did not give it a second thought, we jumped on that opportunity and are so glad we did......

We did not know who we would visit or what we would do or say. And a little bit apprehensive I guess about maybe the whole thing and it would have been easy to just sleep in and take in the DC sights that day. But we knew it was the right thing to do and turned out it was, and we enjoyed sharing time with these men and women being treated at the Hospital....Gunny does this kind of stuff in Omaha quite a bit, but I have not and I guess it was I not we that was concerned if I would be able to make anyone's day a little better....

We visited with about a dozen mostly men who had suffered servere concusions being blown up some more than once by explosions...Most of them suffered from memory problems as it kind of scrambles the grey matter I guess...I think the help they get is working and that some day they will be fine and out working and adding their contribution to society....The Marine I am seen with told me his father and granddad were both Marines and that he joined up and requested infantry against his dad wishes...But he is about to land a job as a police officer soon he told me and I think he will be a good one...Some were more willing to talk than others, I think probably different stages of progress in treatment was the case.

We each had a chance to give them a pep talk as a group before the one on one...My thoughts were that they had suffered for our cause and that we were grateful but for them always to remember the foundation that they had as a Marine...It will serve them well going forward...and many sucessful men and women share the same solid core values foundation as do they....

But then the one on one talks were good probably as much for us than them in a sense...I guess I came away grateful that our troops are being cared for and the time is being taken to make sure they are back to as near as normal as possible before sending them on their way....I guess our mission that day was with the "walking wounded" and that was OK...I had invisioned men lying
in beds with legs and arms amputated or in traction much like my friend Randy Kington who was paralized in Viet Nam...In his book, "What a Life", he wrote he credits the system with great marks on the care he was given and the meeting of his every need...he went on to be a very sucessful man....I hope and pray that all of these young people whom we met will also....

It was a long day, but a memorable one that I am glad we were able to do....

Semper fi.........................................