The year just past – 2023 – marked fifty years since the official end of the Vietnam War for America. For many who served – including me – the Fifty-Year Commemoration invoked any number of memories. Please bear with me as I share a few.
My tour of duty in Vietnam was cut short when I failed to duck fast enough and low enough and was wounded in action. I prayed for help, but the Good Lord was ahead of me. He already had seventeen Guardian Angels on the ground with me – the very young Enlisted Soldiers of my platoon – all between seventeen and nineteen years old. They saved my life by enabling my safe medical evacuation. My respect and gratitude for Enlisted Soldiers is without limit.
After surgery and some recovery time at the Army hospital at Long Binh, I was shipped with other patients on the way home to the Army hospital at Camp Zama, Japan. The recovery period in Japan was an important transition time. Immediately following our surgeries in Vietnam, many of us were on heavy pain-killers – morphine or other narcotics. Our stay in Japan was the time to ease off those drugs in preparation for our return home.
At Camp Zama, I was in a mixed ward of about eight wounded Officers and Enlisted Soldiers.
About a week after I arrived, a young soldier – perhaps eighteen or nineteen years old – was carried in. He had stepped on a land mine. The booby trap had taken off his right foot.
Within a day after his arrival, his condition became extremely serious when an artery opened near the wound and he was losing blood quickly. An Army doctor and a nurse came to his bedside immediately to stop the bleeding. As they began to work, the soldier’s pain dramatically increased. He cried – and then screamed loudly. As I recall, they didn’t give him any painkillers. Perhaps it was because he was transitioning off narcotics – or perhaps the drugs would have aggravated the bleeding – or more likely because there wasn’t time given how much and how fast he was losing blood.
In the midst of the now very loud and continuous crying and screaming, the doctor and nurse remained focused, stopped the bleeding, and saved that soldier’s life. He could have died right before our eyes.
The next day, after he had rested and recovered from the pain of the day before, that young soldier did something I will never forget. He asked the nurse for a crutch, and he got out of his bed. Then he carefully hobbled around to each of us in the ward – to apologize – for not “keeping it together” – for not handling his pain in a better way. All of us were stunned. We were almost in tears when he went through his excruciatingly painful ordeal – and now, almost in tears again, at this soldier’s humility.
I learned two lessons from the events of those two days. First, I could never be a doctor (or nurse) – certainly not an emergency room physician (or assisting nurse). I understand, of course, these doctors and nurses train intensely to develop the skills needed to perform just such life-saving work. But to be able to perform those tasks under conditions of extreme pain for the patient remains a wonder to me. My respect and gratitude for such doctors and nurses also is without limit.
The second lesson I learned was from that young, seriously-wounded, soldier. I suppose he believed we may have thought less of him because – in his eyes – he didn’t bear up well under his pain. All of us in the ward knew, however, that had the situation been reversed, we would have screamed as loudly or more.
That soldier could have remained quietly in his bed for his remaining few days at Camp Zama without saying a word to any of us. He would have moved on quickly along with the rest of us – far from the memories of that time. Instead, he felt the need to come to each of us face-to-face – his fellow soldiers – to say, essentially, that he had “not measured-up” as a soldier and as a man. He left us speechless.
Courage comes in different forms. It’s not just battlefield courage. It took real courage for this young soldier to come to the rest of us in this way – in an extraordinary show of humility. His actions were unnecessary, of course – but not without deep meaning and effect. Would any of the rest of us have shown such humility and courage?
I’m certain the young soldier had no idea that anyone would remember – with respect and thanks for his humble and courageous actions – more than fifty years later.
I still pray for him and all the others who served so many years ago.
Thank you very much, Mike, for sharing this moving story. It brought back many memories; thank God we all made it. We can never be thankful enough or pray enough for those who didn’t. All the very best, Bob.
Wow! What a touching and memorable story.
Thank you, Mike, for a very moving and lesson-learned story. Given that it is Memorial Day, it helps me remember more about those who did not get out.
Thanks for sharing.
Mike, Though only short, it was great seeing you at the 55th.
This story is very tear-jerking. We don’t praise our young soldiers enough. You did it so well. Thanks.
An excellent story to remind us — on Memorial Day — of both the commitment and valor of the American soldier through all the years of our nation. Thanks for posting it.
Jim
Mike, thanks for the lesson zone gratitude and humility. Was great to see you and Susan at our 55th..
Thanks for sharing this heartwarming, touching story!
This astonishing story moved me to tears. You’re an exceptional storyteller and an exceptional man, General. I’m glad you were there with that young man, and I’m sure he was, too. Thank you for your service.
Courage, humility, dignity- the act of that young soldier cannot but be admired and hopefully emulated by all of us in times of adversity. A poignant reminder this Memorial Day of the sacrifices of so many. Mike, thanks for sharing.
Mike, thank you for sharing such a moving story.
Mike, thank you for this recollection. Impactful indeed – I sent it to one of my granddaughters who is studying to be a PA with the admonition- ‘this could be you someday saving a life…’
Thanks, Mike. A perfect reflection for this special day. Saint
Mike, thanks for sharing this very moving story. Please send in more!
Mike,
Thank you for sharing this moving story of real courage.
Mike, thanks for reminding us of the courage of our young, enlisted soldiers and skilled medical personnel. We all have been protected by Angels…they are everywhere.
Mike, Thanks for sharing this story. I am sure that it contributed to shaping your life. Lasting imprint. Sorry I missed you and Susan at the 55th.
Doug J
Quite the impactful story, Mike. It presents another whole side of the RVN adventure that most of us, who were there, did not see, clearly the MASH TV series was not an accurate portrayal; but then again, that’s Hollywood.
Incredibly impactful remembrance, Mike, especially today, Memorial Day…and to think that young soldier still had to return home with such a wound…you told his story well for us all…regrets that Mercedes and I missed you and Susan at the reunion…take care, Rick
Mike, A timely and moving story that only serves to reinforce my reverence for you and the soldiers that served and sacrificed.
Thank you Mike, for the wonderful tribute on Memorial Day. It was so good, as always, to see you and Susan at the reunion. God bless you both.
Jim
Mike, your reflections made me realize how short is our time on Earth, to do our utmost to see the best in others, and to strive to be the best we can be.
A moving memory on a day of remembrance. Thanks for sharing that and for the time with you and Susan at the Reunion.
Thanks, Mike! Except for the story of “ Good Friday” your story of that soldier’s humility is the most impactful I have heard. You were good to share it with us. I consider myself fortunate to have lived all these years with one of those Vietnam Army nurses.
All the best….
Mike, thank you for sharing such a touching remembrance from Vietnam … and for sharing it so beautifully. Thank you, too, for all you did for the Memorial Service at our 55th reunion. May God bless you and Susan and all those you love.
Mike, I knew you and Susan were an exceptional couple when I met you both on the ’69 class Baltic Cruise. In fact, I remember sitting by you when we survived the heroic Tender ride back to the ship off Sweden, I believe. Reading your bio proved all the more how God had created you for a special purpose and your story is moving. But you and Susan became my greatest heroes when you unexpectedly showed up in St. Louis for one of Mike’s memorial services. You are a true patriot and wonderful friend.
Mike
Thanks for sharing a very moving story of courage. You wrote it beautifully
Hank
Such a powerful and haunting remembrance! That young man was the real deal and we were lucky to have him serving with us. Can’t thank you enough for sharing this story of courage and humility.
Mike,
What a timely and important lesson for all of us. We owe much to our young heroes on the battlefield and in the hospitals. It wasgreat to see you again at the 55th. Hope we all have many more opporunities like this again.
Thanks, Mike, for that beautiful story about the men in your unit and the humble troop in Japan. We nodded hello at the 55th, but wished I had stopped to talk. Your life has been one of faith and good works. Thank you for your life of service and for sharing that story.
Mike, thanks so much for sharing such a moving and impactful story! I’m confident that the character that young soldier displayed has carried him far and served him well! Your story also made me reflect upon some of the very special individuals that I served with and probably don’t think about as often as I should! Lots of memories – both happy and sad! Thanks for the push in the right direction!
Thank you Mike. This is a great perspective on the American soldier that all Americans should hear. My respect for my fellow pilots and crewmen in RVN is unlimited. Many of the warrant officers and enlisted crewmen were as young as those brave men in your platoon and the soldier whose character you highlight in this terrific piece. True heroes rise up in many circumstances that only their fellow soldiers see.
Mike — Thank you for writing such a remembrance that moved all who read your words and invoked such powerful emotions and memories.