This is pretty interesting. Seems like the Colonel is enjoying himself...and he's doing what seems like good work in Afghanistan. Still, 70?
Dr. John Caulfield thought it had to be a mistake when the Army asked him to return to active duty. After all, he's 70 years old and had already retired - twice. He left the Army in 1980 and private practice two years ago.
"My first reaction was disbelief," Caulfield said. "It never occurred to me that they would call a 70-year-old."
In fact, he was so sure it was an error that he ignored the postcards and telephone messages asking if he would be willing to volunteer for active duty to "backfill" somewhere on the East Coast, Europe or Hawaii. That would be OK, he thought. It would release active duty oral surgeons from those areas to go to combat zones in Iraq or Afghanistan.
But then the orders came for him to go to Afghanistan.
...
"I've been a soldier for 25 years," he said. "When your country asks, you do it."
His wife of 47 years, Patricia, said she thought a cruise through the Panama Canal they took after he gave up his private practice would be the most adventurous experience they would have after retirement.
"I feel a lot more comfortable than when he was in Vietnam," she said. "This is a great way to finish his career."
Getting ready involved updating his medical credentials and re-establishing military security clearances. His pre-deployment preparation at Fort Benning, Ga., included making sure he was physically fit and could use a gun. Caulfield carries a gun in a holster strapped to his side, sometimes under his scrubs.
Well, it's certainly an unusual last tour. I seem to recall that age waiver for Docs were not that unusual, but sending someone like that to a combat zone, that's pretty wild. Sort of the Sherman T. Potter School of Military Medicine. Good for you Colonel. Come home safely.
posted by Jo Fish on 12.12.04 at 10:20 PM
Comments:
Sounds a bit wacky to me. He went without protest, so I guess it's fine with him.
Why not put Rumsfeld on active duty in Afghanistan or in Iraq where he would do less harm than in Washington, DC? The 70 year old doctor is governed by the Hippocratic Oath: "First, do no harm." And I'm sure the good doctor will abide by this. But Rumsfeld apparently abides by the hypocritic oath: "Never admit making a mistake."
posted by: Shag from Brookline on 12.13.04 at 07:22 AM [permalink]
Sherman Potter! Very appropriate. I hadn't thought of the MASH connection. I have to admire the guy, it's one thing to backfill a CONUS hospital, but the Army actually deployed him? They must have been smoking something. Why doesn't the Army ever consider the "how's this going to look in the front headlines" factor?
this is a great opportunity for preznit chickenshit to redeem himself from those desertin' days. maybe pickles and the little drunks could go along for a little torturin' and hummers. maybe even pugsley limbaugh could enlist?
posted by: the drunken cheerleader on 12.13.04 at 12:36 PM [permalink]
There were many such white-haired soldiers in Afghanistan, and some of them were tougher'n nails. The history of the U.S. in Afghanistan goes back far longer than the 80s - the Army Corps of Engineers built the largest dam in Afghanistan, and a few of those folks are still around. One went back to look into repairing that dam, but the project is on hold since the majority of the water goes to the Helmand district, where nearly half the world's opium is grown. (Email me if you want to see pictures of what it looked like two summers ago).
Ugh. An old coot military doctor screwed me over wrt a foot injury requiring deep stitches. had to have it resewn twice. I hope this old guy knows his shit.
posted by: erin on 12.15.04 at 07:16 PM [permalink]
