'History has a funny way of repeating itself'

By Greg Laffitte
THE VALDOSTA DAILY TIMES (VALDOSTA, Ga.)

April 14, 2008 02:14 pm

— Yellow ribbons on trees or flags hanging from windows adorned with stars are symbols American families have used for years to communicate their support of a family member or loved one away at war.
Two e-mails I recently received offered support to those now serving in Afgahnistan and Iraq. The e-mails came from individuals, who were actually patriots themselves. The list of places these men and women have served could fill volumes.
Most of them go about their daily business never sharing the personal sacrifices they made in defense of our great nation. They fought in places like Normandy, Iwo Jima, Inchon, Nakom Phenom, Da Nang, Que, Beirut, Kuwait, Baghdad and the Oruzgan Province.
I am a fan of old black and white movies and remember a particular movie telling the true account of a family who had five sons serving simultaneously during World War II. The title of the movie escapes me for the moment, but the impact of the story does not. There are some families that give to their country in more ways than one.
Many years ago the man I was named for served in World War I as an Army artillery officer. I met him once or twice as a very young child and only remember him today through photographs my mother keeps in a bookcase.
His brothers and sisters used to affectionately refer to him as “Bubba.” About five years ago I was given “Bubba’s” pistol, the one he carried in France as a young Second Lieutenant. I am certain many families could easily produce a weapon or memento a family relative carried in some far-away land. These are now prized possessions that serve as a reminder of that man or woman’s gallant service.
Some liberated France from the Nazis, some liberated the Philippines from the Japanese Empire and others fought for liberty on the Korean peninsula. In recent years a monument has been constructed in our nation’s capital honoring those who served and died in Vietnam.
I have read stories told by veterans who have been reunited with many of the servicemen with whom they served. A few years ago a reunion was held in France commemorating the anniversary of the Normandy invasion. The images of American GIs reuniting with their old buddies and some of the surviving members of the French resistance are compelling.
Last night the men and women I serve with responded to a call to report to the clinic. A helicopter was inbound carrying three Afghan National Army soldiers who had been wounded in a firefight with the Taliban.
My patient suffered a neck wound, but fortunately for him, he received only minor injuries requiring very little in the way of emergency care. I gave him a thorough examination and soon concluded he had suffered only minor “grazing” wounds.
After a thorough scrubbing of the wound, a tetanus vaccination and a couple sterile bandages applied to his wound, he was ready to return to duty. This guy was absolutely the luckiest “moledecker” I have seen since arriving in theater. I was certain he should run to the nearest convenience store and purchase a lottery ticket if they had them here!
The other two wounded Afghan soldiers had much more serious wounds and were taken directly to surgery. The surgeon who leads our team is a soft spoken giant in the operating room. He brings over 35 years of surgical expertise to the operating table and performs his procedures with the grace and confidence only seen in those who have been given a true gift.
I marvel at his capabilities and the manner in which he performs lifesaving operations and can only hope that I will retain at least half what he has taught me. If that happens I will have become a better practitioner and human being. This fine surgeon has led this team through some very stressful events and has been the very foundation that has enabled many wounded soldiers to return home to their loved ones, without disabilities.
The surgeon, our team chief, also has a son in the Army serving in Iraq. History has a funny way of repeating itself. Some families give to their country in more ways than one.

Greg Laffitte is a Moody Air Force Base airman deployed to Afghanistan. He shares his experiences in Afghanistan weekly with The Valdosta (Ga.) Daily Times. Laffitte would love to hear from you. E-mail him at greg.laffitte@gmail.com.

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