2 miracles and a tragedy

Our flight surgeon is a very interesting guy. He is a former Green Beret medic who went to med school and became a doctor. His background gives him great credibility in this environment.

As I was talking to him the other day about where to place tourniquets, exsanguination, the clotting cascade and other things; he told me a story.

A little while back a unit was on patrol nearby when it was attacked and one of its armoured vehicles was hit. A soldier inside was sitting directly in line with the blast and suffered multiple, extremely severe wounds. His buddies worked a miracle and were able to keep him alive long enough to be evacuated to the CSH (Combat Support Hospital) here on base. The docs and nurses at the CSH worked another miracle and saved the soldier. They weren't able to save his limbs though. He lost all four, high up. His helmet and body armour kept his head and trunk intact but his arms and legs were too badly damaged to be saved.

The soldier is back in the States now. His father sent the staff at the CSH a letter thanking them for his son's life. The soldier is 19 years old.

So when you don't read about much happening to our troops over here, or not happening often; it's true, not much is happening right now. But when that occasional something does happen, it can be a very great tragedy borne by someone very young.