“What’s the Best Case Scenario?” … “He Lives.”
Badgers Forward, engineer company CO in Iraq, delivers the blow-by-blow on what happens when they bring in someone who might not make it:
The next several hours are like any you have experienced at a hospital when a loved one is in surgery. It’s a big family, dirty and uniformed, but a family nonetheless. The “older” family members, whether by rank or age, move from group to group. The Soldiers have questions, but we have few satisfactory answers. At this point we know little, but the fact that surgery is still going on is a good sign. He’s fighting and the doctors and nurses are doing all they can.
Men fight back tears, they seek solace in each other’s company. As medical personnel come and go, we ask questions and receive the typical noncommittal answers. One can hardly fault them for that; no one wants false hope, only to have that dashed later. We are all adults here and we know what the stakes are.
Finally, the surgery is complete. The Soldier’s Commander and I are invited into the surgical suite, such as it is. Surgery was performed on an elevated stretcher, empty blood bags litter the floor, as do other remnants of the procedures. His wounds and the other incisions made to repair his wounds temporarily bound with antiseptic materials. The medics lift him gently into blankets and a specialized covering for his transport to the Combat Support Hospital (CSH pronounced “cash”).
They have bundled him up, the oxygen and portable respirator, the various blood products and IVs secure and attached for the trip to the CSH. A blanket surrounds his head. His chest rises and falls in cadence with the respirator’s clicks. Once he is set, he looks safe and secure, warm. Having just seen his injuries, I know that he has a long way to go if he is going to make it, not a sure bet at all at this point. Yet I am comforted by his appearance, now ready for the MEDEVAC flight.
My friend, his Commander, leans down and whispers to his Soldier for several minutes. I am deeply moved by this simple, kind act. I place my hand on my friend’s back and talk to one of the doctors at the same time.
“Doc, obviously we can tell what the worst case scenario is. What’s the best case scenario?”
“He lives.”
Posted by Jules Crittenden at 12:48 pm on Wednesday, February 7, 2007
7 Responses to ““What’s the Best Case Scenario?” … “He Lives.””
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February 7th, 2007 at 1:43 pm
All the William Arkins in the world will never be able to undermine this kind of gallantry; nor will their worm’s-eye view even begin to comprehend it.
February 7th, 2007 at 2:14 pm
No time for surgery at the aid station. We just tried to get any soldier who had a chance stable, manage his vitals and control his pain. Probably easier for us though, at least we had something to do.
When you show up at the aid station with a wounded troop there is going to be a big crowd-the squadron commander and CSM, the troop commander and 1SG, the Chaplain, plus S-1 types who have to send off the proper paperwork, members of his platoon if have made it back from patrol at that point and the doc doesn’t want all those guys in the way so they spend most of the time while we wait for the bird just standing around-SOP was that only the Chaplain and squadron commander are allowed in to see the wounded troop.
Also, if anyone was killed you have to keep the body (bodies) away from the wounded, but at the same time show proper respect-and then later you have to take on the melancholy task of helping the doc with the death certificate(s) and make arrangements for the remains to be evacuated.
Sometimes you won’t know for months whether or not the troop made it through the period where his life is in danger. And that’s just at the Squadron (Battalion) level, the guys who work in the evac hospitals or CSH units probably aren’t able to track the fate of any single troop as easily as we can.
Anyway, just thought I’d add in the perspective from the medical side of the house.
February 7th, 2007 at 5:21 pm
Damn. Just damn.
February 7th, 2007 at 5:35 pm
Bill’s Nibbles– 2007.02.07
Some Bill’s Bites posts, some things I excerpted and linked but I’m sending you to the original post. I may rearrange the order of the links within this post as I add new things that I think belong above the
February 7th, 2007 at 5:39 pm
“What’s the Best Case Scenario?” … “He Lives.”
“What’s the Best Case Scenario?” … “He Lives.”Jules CrittendenBadgers Forward, engineer company CO in Iraq, delivers the blow-by-blow on what happens when they bring in someone who might not make it: The next several hours are like any you …
February 7th, 2007 at 5:50 pm
Please forgive the lengthy comment. I hope you’ll agree it fits.
THE FINAL INSPECTION
The soldier stood and faced his God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass.
“Step forward now, you soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?”
The soldier squared his shoulders and said,
“No, Lord, I guess I ain’t.
Because those of us who carry guns,
Can’t always be a saint.
I’ve had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I’ve been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny,
That wasn’t mine to keep…
Though I worked a lot of overtime,
When the bills got just too steep.
And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God, forgive me,
I’ve wept unmanly tears.
I know I don’t deserve a place,
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around,
Except to calm their fears.
If you’ve a place for me here, Lord,
It needn’t be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don’t, I’ll understand.”
There was a silence all around the throne,
Where the saints had often trod.
As the soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.
“Step forward now, you soldier,
You’ve borne your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven’s streets,
You’ve done your time in Hell.”
Author unknown.
February 7th, 2007 at 6:13 pm
I’ve witnessed the other side of the coin, what happens to the family upon the death of a soldier. In our case, we were in Germany when a young friend of 27 years died of natural causes. His wife and children were immediately surrounded by the wives of other soldiers in his company, myself included, along with their commanding officer and the base chaplain. All paperwork was handled by the officers, and within 48 hours, the family was packed up (by others) and on their way home, accompanying their soldier, to be met at the other end by other officers would assist them with the funeral and settle them wherever they wished to go. The military takes care of its own, never doubt it.