War stories

Yes, there was a lot of storytelling going on during my latest turn on the evening shift. It's kind of funny that way, when you're gone a day or two, and things are really different when you come back.

War stories are common on our unit, since we're a government-run hospital, but how you get the guys and gals to talk, or let them talk can be a whole 'nother story in itself.

One of our more cantankerous folks was rolling by on his way to getting something, so I stopped him and asked if he wanted his pills right now. Sure, he says, I'll take them. We chitchat for a minute and I keep doing my thing. Mr. C. starts talking about his time in the military during the Korean war. "See that scar" he says. Sure, I see it, because I'd just given him his heparin shot. "I got that on my way to Korea. I never made it to the front." I shake my head, therapeutically listen, and he keeps going.

Mr. C. never made it because he had a bad appendix and developed complications. An astute medic pulled him out of the crowd and when they landed in Europe, Mr. C. got a trip to the hospital. The docs didn't want him going too far once he was released, so they found a job there on a base to keep him busy moving supplies along to Korea.

We have also had some World War II vets hanging out with us. One of them was a Marine injured in the Pacific. He's a character and I'm sure his stature alone may have scared more than a few folks in that theatre. I think about some of my relatives when I talk to them, because they'd tell the stories of the war, when I was a child, and my brother and I listened very intently. Most of our relatives who went to World War II came back. One did not. I think of him a lot and the family he left behind.

Maybe it's just because of demographics, but we have lots of Vietnam-era guys at our place, including some of the employees. Lots of folks talk about the jungle and dreams they had while they were there. Some were more premonitions than dreams, but they colored their lives just the same. One guy told me about the lost opportunities from Vietnam--delayed families, deferred education, the bad attitude of some folks that often caused other problems in the jobs they came back to or started after their service. The angst among some who were injured, while other folks their age were in school and never drafted. The volunteers. Some people say, "Who'd volunteer for Vietnam?" and on our unit, you'd actually see some hands, proudly raised, almost defiant. "That was me," one guy told me. "Better to volunteer than be drafted," he thought.

Today, we see some of the Iraq and Afghanistan vets coming in with stories of their own. Swimming at Saddam's place. Guarding air fields in Kuwait. Driving through Afghanistan in the Hindu Kush mountains with snipers everywhere.

And while they're not my words, I leave you with a story I received recently from my husband's old dear friend who is at a southern US air base. His story is a short, but a compelling look at the life of an airman who lost her life recently.

I previously wrote many of you about the presentation of an Air Force Cross, the second highest medal an Airman can receive, next only to the Medal of Honor.

At 1000 yesterday morning, we met in the same hangar, not to pay tribute to a warrior amongst our midst but homage to one who would no longer be physically present with us. SrA Ashton Goodman was a 21 year old (22 next week), from Indianapolis, IN who served as a vehicle operator in the 43d Logistics Readiness Squadron. She had three short years in the AF but had already served as a truck driver, ferrying supplies and personnel from Kuwait into Iraq, been promoted to SrA six months below the zone, and called upon to brief the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

This time she volunteered for a one year tour working with a Provisional Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Afghanistan. SrA Goodman was killed last week when her vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device (IED). Her funeral was Tuesday in Indianapolis. The Wing took up a collection and flew the family here for yesterday’s memorial.

It started with a slide show presentation, a speech by her squadron commander (it was obvious she had made a positive impact on him and the unit), presentation of the Combat Service Medal and Purple Heart to her parents and several comments from squadron members. One squadron member sang a gospel tune that started eyes watering.

Then came the final roll call. Names of squadron members were called and answered until they came to her, silence. Her name was called again with more silence. Once more, still silence and then her full name followed by a 21 gun salute and taps. I challenge any of you to sit through that with a dry eye or after attending such a ceremony to ever hear taps again without a deeper sense of pride and commitment to those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Nursing Meme

Oh,I love these and found this one via WardBunny at wardbunny.blogspot.com

1. How long have you been a nurse?
A couple of years.

2. What Dept/area will you never work in?
L&D (labor and delivery). Too much stress for me.

3. What Dept /area would you like to eventually like to try?
Oh, maybe ICU, neuro, or administration...can't decide.

4. What Dept/area are you in?
Rehab.

5. What is the grossest thing you have encountered?
The acrid smell of one patient's colostomy. It was so bad it stopped people in their tracks walking down the hall when the patient was in the room draining the bag with the door closed.

6. What is the weirdest thing you have seen as a nurse?
The bagless Foley (only saw it in an advertisement: see www.optionmedical.com)

7. What one piece of advice would you pass on to new nurses?
Work hard, pay attention and help your neighbors.

8. How would you help retain nurses?
Offer to rotate nurses every few months if they want to try something new.

9. Do you have days you wondered why you ever became a nurse?
Nope...I'm still having fun, even if my back hurts sometimes.

10. If you hadn’t become a nurse what would you be doing?
I'd work in a marketing position selling t-shirts, knives or beer and hot dogs at the ballpark. Gotta have fun somehow!