Tag: Vietnam

Veterans Day… a personal story

Joanne Dragun, M.D.

Jay’s face brightens when I ask, during his initial consult, if he served. While movement into community care from VA has occurred, millions more, not in the system, present for treatment with their own history invisible. Jay details service in Vietnam the same year my husband was there and seems relieved to have the dialogue opened. I listen carefully to the detailing that many offer, fifty years later- a world away from loved ones, returning to ridicule and pain. Sacrifices hidden, not celebrated and the impact still evident.

As the daughter and daughter-in-law of WWII veterans, I have managed cancer in that greatest generation with reverence. Now, my peers are moving into care and the stories hit home even harder. As college students, having my then boyfriend sent to Vietnam was an anomaly. We knew no one else serving- no family or friends. It was shocking and disorienting. There were film crews there and I watched the nightly news, holding my breath- perhaps even looking to see a glimpse. I sent letters daily- a thread – a lifeline to a world away. Two calls in the year through a ham radio operator whispering “say over” between the fragile words. The morning arrival home in civvies because the dress uniform of the young combat engineer would be ridiculed en-route returning to an ungrateful country. The loss of respect adding to the real and terrible outcome.

You may be surprised at my words today- in honor of my husband of 48 years whose quiet accepting strength never whispers of the time. When he received the Quilt of Valor and met a South Vietnam Captain who thanked him for service, was the first I heard his words of pride in his own efforts trying to rescue a country a world away. I see these men fifty years on with agent orange effects with cancer and the recall hits me like a wave. Treating these brave “boys” now is a high honor. The physician’s “laying on of hands” is a critical part of care. Can you imagine the unique privilege of arriving from a simple young eighteen year old girlfriend to the physical and also spiritual mission of working for their treatment fifty years later?

God Bless our Veterans – our young men and women who stand between each of us and evil. Your lifelong courage and sacrifice is acknowledged and you are honored and never taken for granted. The flag we are choosing to fly today says: “Home of the free because of the brave”. Thank you.

Memorial Day

Joanne Dragun, M.D.1 Comment

Practicing medicine in a military town offers me a wonderful opportunity to care for many veterans and active duty, as well as their spouses. I am the daughter of a tank commander in Patton’s army and the wife of a Vietnam veteran, the honor is always mine. The men and women who present for cancer therapy from age 30’s to 90’s have stared down amazing challenges. Many have come from foreign countries and then serve in the American military. They are proud to do their part. With the new directive to provide care in the community for veterans, it is a privilege to use our state of the art therapy to aid them at this new critical time in their lives.

When a patient presented a few months ago for care, the history reveals him to be a veteran as well. “Where are you from?” I asked. He quietly says, “Vietnam”. I tell him how my husband is a Vietnam veteran Combat Engineer. He brightened and the cancer therapy was forgotten in his excitement. “I was a Captain in the South Vietnamese Army and fought with the Americans!” He was profoundly excited to tell his story and also saw a chance to send a message. He clutched his heart then asked through tears, “Doctor, will you please, please do me a favor? Please tell your husband from my heart how grateful we are. My children have a better life because of the Americans. We owe everything to them. They came so far to help us. I can never thank them enough”. He says this with such conviction and passion. I am very moved. He sits quietly on the exam table shaking his head, “I know how the American Vietnam soldiers were treated when they came home, I read about it over there and it saddened me. Please tell your husband we all knew that Communism is very very bad and we needed America to save us”. I am speechless. This is so much to share. Later that day I gave his heartfelt message from out of the blue to my husband and he was moved as well. I ask what to reply to the Captain. Softly he said, “Tell him it was an honor”. The men have never met yet the bond is sacred. It is the first time in fifty years anyone has thanked my husband for his service.

Every week the brave veterans of many wars bring their hope and strength to this cancer battle. I never take their trials, pain and sacrifice for granted. I sense the weight of those who lost their lives as very young men on foreign lands and families who prayed and waited for them. I learned as a young child that military men and women are a special gift to our nation. I always thank them for their service. Guiding these patients toward healing helps me to extend that appreciation to those we will never see.

Thank you. To all those who lost a loved one in the service of our country. To all those who serve now and to the families who sacrifice with them. Know that a grateful America will never take you for granted again.