The most surprising response was to my question of how it felt when he heard the Japanese surrendered. His answer was “lonely.” Not what I expected to hear. He explained that he felt lonely because his job was done and “I just wanted to go home to be with my girlfriend.” Walter proposed, and they did get married, raising five children and living their lives in Cleveland together until he lost his wife several years ago.
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ACEP Now: Vol 37 – No 06 – June 2018I went to sleep that night feeling fortunate, humbled, and honored. I am fortunate to have met this former soldier, humbled by his service and selflessness in going to war for his country, and honored to be able to care for him. When I went to work that morning, I had no idea that I would meet this World War II veteran and hear his stories. What an amazing reminder that as emergency physicians not only do we have the greatest job in the world, but we often have opportunities to find hidden treasures like Walter as long as we take the time to look for them.
Dr. Queen is an emergency physician at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland and assistant residency program director for the Cleveland Clinic/MetroHealth emergency medicine residency program. He is the chapter President of Ohio ACEP and a former member of its Board of Directors.
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One Response to “92-Year-Old WWII Vet Brightens Emergency Department”
July 14, 2018
Brian Wipermann MDThank you for this article, John.
It is always appropriate, and appreciated, to say to a Vet of any time period, “Thank you for your service.”
We vets even say it to each other. Funny, but that is just as meaningful.
Do it now, for you will not have the opportunity for much longer.
Do the math: servicemen and women who were barely old enough to enlist at the end of WWII are now 91 or older.
I really enjoy thanking them for their service, recognizing them by the ball caps with WWII, or Korea and Viet Nam patches and embroidery thereupon. Our Iraq/Afghanistan vets are pretty young still, but it is never too early, and really, how much does it cost us to stop in the hallway or waiting room long enough to say, “Thank you for your service”?
I will often add to that, “and for giving my family the opportunity to grow up and thrive largely in peace.”
It might also come up that my PT daughter is currently on active duty in the Navy, but that is just bragging…
Not sorry.
Thank her for her service too if you happen to see her.
(I do.)
Thanks again,
Brian Wippermann MD FACEP
CDR MC(FS) USNR-Ret
Sacramento, CA area