My Dad was a medic in Vietnam. This story I refer to him as the Doc. I have taken some literary liberties in telling this for a couple reasons. First, I do not have the news article I got information from. Second, I read that article years ago and I barely recall the details. Third, I pieced together what few stories I have heard my Dad tell of his service.
It’s probably not the best story. Had I researched it at all, I could have described the jungle better. I could have a city or camp name, etc. Anyway, I thought it was fairly good.
It was a warm humid day. Patrolling through the thick jungle was rather uneventful. As Doc crawled into bed that evening, shouts and rounds of gun fire were heard off in the distance which alerted the entire camp.
“Ambush!” Came the warning.
Doc quickly got up, readied his M-16 and took cover outside the makeshift hospital tent. As a medic, his job was only to assist the wounded. I understand that he was called on more then was required to go out on patrol, because as it was put “Doc was religious and always came back alive.”
A call for help was muffled by the dense surroundings. Doc slowly made his way towards the sound. It could be a trap he thought.
A medic was worth about as much as an officer. Get one of them and several others are bound to suffer had a medic not been allowed to treat them. Catching one was easy too, just wound a solider and the medic will come. Or another solider I suppose. The point is you can get two with “one” shot.
Doc found the wounded officer but didn’t rush to his aid. Surveying the area the best he could in the dark, Doc slowly made his way closer to the officer when he was certain the coast was clear.
The officer was shot in the leg. It wasn’t a bad wound but the officer was muttering in pain. Doc put down his weapon and pulled out some supplies.
“Quiet,” Doc whispered. “I’ll get you patched up then we'll get out of here---“
An artillery shell exploded the ground behind them throwing them both forward about ten feet. Doc shaken but vigilant, wiped the dirt and leaves out off his eyes and started to feel around for the officer who was deathly silent now.
The officer was out cold when Doc found him, but vital signs were found. Doc began to patch him up when a rustling sound was heard. Something or someone was coming. Doc panicked and frantically felt around for his weapon.
It was defiantly someone and it sounded like they were looking for something. Possibly looking for them. It was a trap, but the shell and moved them out of harms way.
Moon light shown down for an instant on what was unmistakably that of a Viet Cong solider. Doc’s heart jumped, they had seen each other! Only feet apart, Doc scrambled back into the shadows and desperately prayed for a weapon.
As the enemy charged, Doc was fortunate to find the officer’s M-16. One short burst of fire and the soldier fell at the Doc’s feet.
Bandaging up the officer, Doc was able to pull him back to the hospital tent. The camp had returned to normal by now. Well, as normal as it could be I suppose.
The officer awoke in the hospital bed. He looked around and saw a large blood stain on Doc’s backside that trickled down his leg.
“Doc,“ the officer moaned. “You're bleeding bad.”
“Negative, it is just from you guys.” The Doc waved his hands around all the other patients’ beds.
“I think he’s right Doc” another patient explained. “You should get that checked.”
“Nonsense.”
Later that night, Doc retired to bed. The massive adrenaline rush began to subside and a searing pain on his backside throbbed. Doc put his hand over the source of the pain and was quite shocked to see the amount of blood left on his hand.
For the second time that night, Doc pulled his clothes back on. This time dragging himself toward the helicopter that was bound for a safer hospital. No one helped Doc on or off the helicopter. With the low blood count, all the Doc could do was prop himself up and wait for someone to help. Finally someone did.
Anyway, the story goes on to say that Doc was taken to Australia for recovery and was awaredd the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star for the heroic and eventful evening.
Posted by Michael at November 16, 2003 10:22 PMI'm sorry, he was taken to Guam. Austrailia was for R&R later.
Posted by: Michael at January 25, 2004 08:58 AM