Fresh out of training, I had no idea what I was doing. I was still in my first year of service as a medic, and I had just been dropped into one of the most prestigious units in the military. The First Combat Team, Eighty Second Airborne Division was my new unit, I was in Iraq. My name had been replaced with F.N.G. (___ New Guy), because everyone still had too much transition in their minds to care about my name yet. I was the F.N.G. so far. I had no idea what I had delved into. I had to find a way to get over my feeling of ignorance, face my fears, prove, and make a name for myself.
Since I was the new guy, I was assigned all of the missions no one wanted to take. I had a lot of anxiety over what I would do in case I had a trauma on the road. Not just any trauma though, my first. I had practiced every scenario in my head, what seemed like a million times. The only difference was I had a team beside me. I was currently working at a made-up hospital, out of an old morgue called "T.Q. Surgical" in Al Taqaddum - we called it T.Q. for short. It seemed like every time I left T.Q. a small trauma would come in that I knew I could handle with a blind fold on. I got lucky though and kept a good "no explode" streak.
It was still in my early weeks of deployment. I had been on a mission that stretched from three hours, to thirty-six. I returned to my little excuse for a room (a shipping container with a makeshift door), took a cold water bottle shower, and laid down in my bed. I was interrupted as quickly as I fell asleep. My squad leader woke me up, and started spouting off details. "Two to three, no surgical needed. Just a small v.bid (bomb) went off." I was acting like this was no big deal, but I was screaming in my head, "Now's my chance!" As the information strung through my still asleep mind, I felt a little guilty. Who gets excited over someone getting hurt?
I was still in my P.T. uniform. When you get word of a trauma, there's no getting ready, it's "get up, and go!" I have my hair tangled to the side of my head from digging into my pillow, shirt half tucked in, half out. A supply sergeant looked at me and made a sarcastic smirk and giggled. "What are you doing up here, looking all raggedy, it's only 2-3, and we have 3 trauma teams, we don't need you F.N.G." My first sergeant busted through the door "change in plans folks. Seven to nine casualties... All potentially surgical evacuations." He said with a stern, and utmost concerning look on his face. My heart sunk into my toes, I turned to my supply sergeant and replied with a stubborn "That's why, sergeant."
It wasn't two seconds after I said that, the casualties hit the trauma door. I was assigned to trauma team one, as left medic. I felt a little lucky because team one always had the most crucial patient. Everyone scattered like cockroaches after you turn on the lights. We were in mixed up teams, and shouting was coming from every direction.
I ended up with a man who was in some serious trouble... alone. My mind went absolutely blank; I just kept looking down at my casualty and at everyone else. I thought, "What am I doing?" It felt like an hour had passed when I looked up at the clock and realized these patients hadn't even come in more than a minute ago.
I started checking for pulses, twiddling around, looking up every once in a while trying to figure out what to do next. Still standing there with a bleeding man on the verge of death, I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes, from embarrassment. I felt hands on my shoulder and got flipped around. I'll never forget the words Sergeant Wright said to me that day. "Common sense, now a deep breath... Move."
I don't know what kind of magic those words used to stir my head. Suddenly I knew exactly what I had to do, "You, come here, take that sheet and record everything that comes out of my mouth. Doc, can I have the order, no allergy tags." The doctor hollered back, "You got it" with a sweep of the arm, and the vials of morphine landed perfectly in my hands. "X-ray, I need lab, G.C.S. 7 doc, can I intubate?" Orders and information just started rolling out of me like I had done this a thousand times before. I heard our patient administration sergeant yell, "bird 5 out." I started packaging my patient, by preparing him to be evacuated. I ran one more set of vitals, when my patient crashed. I quickly unpackaged and called code, so any doctor could come over to give me the "O.K" to revive him. A quick bleep moved across my screen. His heart had started again.
I got him out to the helicopter to evacuate; I transferred all of my information to the flight medic. He looked at me and gazed into my eyes, and it was as if we were having a conversation without words. I knew exactly what he was asking me. I put my head down a little bit and shook my head "no". It wasn't looking good for this guy, but I know I did everything in my power to help. A few days later we found out that Sergeant First Class McClellan was the only one who lived. My patient escaped the bowels of death.
My name changed the day we found out that my patient lived, to "Score." That name stuck until the day I got out. My platoon mates deemed it perfect, because my maiden name was Schorr, but pronounced Shore. They said that it just made more sense, in more ways than one. Within a month of the first casualty I treated, I was promoted to the rank of Specialist, and head medic of trauma team one. Whenever I would get a new soldier from that point on, I felt reluctant to tell them about my first trauma when they asked. I hope that my story gives them a sense of legacy in leadership. I had finally made a name for myself, and proved myself worthy, not only to everyone I worked with, but myself. The fear was gone, "Score" had it all under control.
It is anticipated that Ohio will be a key state in the upcoming election. Remember that people have died for your right to vote! Voting is only a dream for many people in the world. Ask yourself this question: if I do not use my right to vote, do I have a right to complain? Remember to vote on November 6th!
On Tuesday October 30, 2012 from 7-9 p.m., the Student Center will host the annual Community Halloween. This is a great event for kids and families so feel free to invite yours!
You can go to the annual Block Party in Athens on the evening of October 27, 2012. Many students do and each year a number of Hocking College and Ohio University students get drunk, arrested and make decisions that can effect the rest of their lives. Or, you could come to the Athens Alternative at the Student Center. This will include a Zombie Walk at 7 p.m., zombie movies and lots of free food! This is event is sponsored by the Student Center and the DAAP Team.
Campus Ministry will be at the Perry Campus from 9 - 11 a.m. and Logan Campus from 12 - 2 p.m.
Flag football league:
Would you like to participate in Hocking College decisions? Would you like to let Hocking administrators and faculty know how you feel about different issues on campus? Would you like to be involved in the planning of events and activities? Check out Student Government on November 5 at 12 p.m. in the Student Center lobby.
Want a Success Coach to Help You Achieve Your Goals?
Looking for an affordable way to earn your bachelor's degree? Learn more about the 3+1 programs available through the partnership between Hocking College and Franklin University. Franklin representatives will be on campus throughout the semester. Students should contact the University Center at 740.753.6160 to schedule appointments.
Upcoming Events
