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RonD1120

Follow up to Fort Hood Tragedy

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John Dale Dunn, MD JD
Diplomate ABEM, ABLM
Admitted but inactive, Texas and Louisiana Bars
Consultant Emergency Services, Peer Review Mediator

Today was beautiful warm blue, blue, make you happy, sky day in Texas. I was scheduled to work a shift at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort Hood, Texas, the busiest emergency department in the Army, at a base with always more than 50 thousand soldiers.

I have been a civilian contract emergency physician at Fort Hood since 2003. I teach Army Residents and students and mid level practitioners emergency medical practice, working along side the main group of remarkable and able Army Physician Faculty, who do what I do, and are regularly deployed “down range” to support the Army mission in the field.

I was one of many physicians from the central Texas area who filled in during the hot war in Iraq, and I stayed on. I can’t think of a better job than caring for and thanking thousands of soldiers and their families and teaching some of the finest specimens of American youth extant—people who haven’t forgotten the virtues and the concepts of duty, honor and country and make their parents and families proud. Somedays I am overcome by the good I see in these students and physicians in training. I am one lucky old doc.

Tragedy struck Fort Hood today, sudden, violent. I write of the best damn mass casualty drill that could be imagined, made so by extraordinary efforts in the face of a mountain of awful human carnage. Dozens of ambulances from everywhere, helicopters in the sky, soldiers and Army medics and paramedics working the scene with efficiency and competence and cooperation among area hospitals that allowed remarkable and effective evacuation, triage, use of resources and superlative resuscitation. I couldn’t help but note and admire their performance—and be happy they are my colleagues and friends in many cases.

I was very concerned after the first wave that we would be overwhelmed, but the regional ambulance and hospital physician help and dispersal of cases to surrounding hospitals made it possible for our hospital to achieve great success along with the successes of those other groups and facilities—pitching in to care for more than 30 wounded. During the peak easily more than 100 physicians, nurses, techs, aids, clerks housekeepers, security and so many soldiers and civilian workers worked feverishly at our hospital. They made a difference and saved lives.

Tonight I left that emergency department so proud of what I saw, so damn proud of the US Army and the people who kept their cool, worked hard, and saved lives the way their fellow soldiers and their grateful families would hope. Not a slacker to be seen today, a massive effort to save our precious people. Leadership and intelligent decision making that kept the work distributed. It was just they way they like to outline a mass casualty drill in the book—eye on the ball, manage resources, triage properly, focus on priorities for patient survival. It was good because there were so many there who were battle field experienced and able. They were ready, they performed. So many great specialists came down to help. Nurses galore, one big patient care machine, humming along.

I know these people, and could name them, put them up for accolades and such, but they would do this if no one was watching—the true measure of greatness and virtue. My wife Patty, who was at home worrying and didn’t know what was happening, was like those other wonderful spouses of soldiers who sacrifice, and worry, silently when all hell breaks loose. We shall not forget them and we grieve with the families who have lost their precious treasure, how horrific.

I wish I could be more eloquent describing what I do, why I love these people so much or why when I left the Department tonight I just had to write this in tribute to their effort today. I can say that what I do is as close as I’ll get to working with angels and heroes as a physician. Today was the kind of terrible day that makes us hope there are angels and heroes, and be pleasantly surprised to be touched by one. Not one cross word, today, nothing but tenderness and concern and peddle to the metal effort. Once in a while an announcement would be made to keep the noise down, there were so many people doing so many things at once.

So I had to write tonight about the angels and heroes. I teach one of the ethics lectures for the residents and remind them that they define themselves as virtuous and extraordinary when they volunteer to put on the uniform. I saw the great green-suiters and their support group working today. I had to tell you, so you could know that in some parts of America and in some segments of our people, there is such wonderful goodness. If you had been there you would have cried for joy and for how lucky we are as a people. I started this essay at 8:30 and its 10:00--Taps just sounded for Fort Hood. RIP, departed heroes and heroines. Thanks for your effort today—you, the living heroes and heroines.

John Dale Dunn MD JD is an emergency physician, resident of Brownwood, TX. His opinions are his own and not attributable to the US Army or Department of Defense.
http://www.chcchoices.org/Article/26319/A_Doctor_Reports_from_Fort_Hood.html
Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

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and your point is?



Sharing Dr. Dunn's admiration for the first responders.

???

He left out the part about,"once the terrorist was neutralized, his intended victims immediately began trying to save his life". Read that somewhere.
Do your part for global warming: ban beans and hold all popcorn farts.

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Sharing Dr. Dunn's admiration for the first responders.

???

He left out the part about,"once the terrorist was neutralized, his intended victims immediately began trying to save his life". Read that somewhere.



Good point. And, the radio news today is focused on him being a Muslim terrorist not mentally ill, as was previously discussed.

I am also receiving media conformation i.e., listening to talk news radio, of my assertion that political correctness severely hampered his superiors in dealing with his radical views.
Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

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That is a given after I spoke last week with someone from the community.

This guy had flags flying and yet anyone who took notice was most likely chastised.

They knew the guy was a turd and got their hands tied because of his religion.

I guess the people in charge would rather have asa massacre instead of offending someones politically correct sense of what is right.

This will continue to happen until those who set policy stop worrying about offending someone.

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Sharing Dr. Dunn's admiration for the first responders.

???

He left out the part about,"once the terrorist was neutralized, his intended victims immediately began trying to save his life". Read that somewhere.



Good point. And, the radio news today is focused on him being a Muslim terrorist not mentally ill, as was previously discussed.

I am also receiving media conformation i.e., listening to talk news radio, of my assertion that political correctness severely hampered his superiors in dealing with his radical views.

Born in Virginia, educated by US taxpayers, but he considered himself Palestinian? No problem here, but why not American? He (and his lawyer) will turn himself into a victim: PTSD from counseling sessions with his patients, felt persecuted and harassed for his religion, felt alone and confused.....
Do your part for global warming: ban beans and hold all popcorn farts.

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Good point. And, the radio news today is focused on him being a Muslim terrorist not mentally ill, as was previously discussed.

I am also receiving media conformation i.e., listening to talk news radio, of my assertion that political correctness severely hampered his superiors in dealing with his radical views.

Born in Virginia, educated by US taxpayers, but he considered himself Palestinian? No problem here, but why not American? He (and his lawyer) will turn himself into a victim: PTSD from counseling sessions with his patients, felt persecuted and harassed for his religion, felt alone and confused.....



Yep.
Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

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Sharing Dr. Dunn's admiration for the first responders.

???

He left out the part about,"once the terrorist was neutralized, his intended victims immediately began trying to save his life". Read that somewhere.



Good point. And, the radio news today is focused on him being a Muslim terrorist not mentally ill, as was previously discussed.

I am also receiving media conformation i.e., listening to talk news radio, of my assertion that political correctness severely hampered his superiors in dealing with his radical views.

Born in Virginia, educated by US taxpayers, but he considered himself Palestinian? No problem here, but why not American? He (and his lawyer) will turn himself into a victim: PTSD from counseling sessions with his patients, felt persecuted and harassed for his religion, felt alone and confused.....



Theres no way the guy is getting off even if he tries to play the persecuted victim card. But to just assume that he will and use that to try and justify being even less tolerant than you already are is just perpetuating this "us vs them" mentality; and this cycle of violence will never end like this.

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Sharing Dr. Dunn's admiration for the first responders.

???

He left out the part about,"once the terrorist was neutralized, his intended victims immediately began trying to save his life". Read that somewhere.



Good point. And, the radio news today is focused on him being a Muslim terrorist not mentally ill, as was previously discussed.

I am also receiving media conformation i.e., listening to talk news radio, of my assertion that political correctness severely hampered his superiors in dealing with his radical views.

Born in Virginia, educated by US taxpayers, but he considered himself Palestinian? No problem here, but why not American? He (and his lawyer) will turn himself into a victim: PTSD from counseling sessions with his patients, felt persecuted and harassed for his religion, felt alone and confused.....



Theres no way the guy is getting off even if he tries to play the persecuted victim card. But to just assume that he will and use that to try and justify being even less tolerant than you already are is just perpetuating this "us vs them" mentality; and this cycle of violence will never end like this.



You have no way of knowing if he will not get off.

Suggesting a possible defense strategy does not make me any less tolerant nor does it perpetuate the "us vs them" mentality. Would it better to say nothing, and just wait for more terrorism? Tell that to the families of the victims at Fort Hood.
Do your part for global warming: ban beans and hold all popcorn farts.

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Good point. And, the radio news today is focused on him being a Muslim terrorist not mentally ill, as was previously discussed.



So what? They play to their audience; they're not authoritative sources. They can have any slant they choose.

Quote

I am also receiving media conformation i.e., listening to talk news radio, of my assertion that political correctness severely hampered his superiors in dealing with his radical views.



Again, so what? I'd refer you to the previous stream of rebuttals to this nonsense, but that thread's in the Recycle Bin now. Take the message.

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Again, so what? I'd refer you to the previous stream of rebuttals to this nonsense, but that thread's in the Recycle Bin now. Take the message.



Yes, because a moderator putting a thread in the recycle bin is absolute proof that the information was false.

Weak, counselor...very weak.
Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

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Good point. And, the radio news today is focused on him being a Muslim terrorist not mentally ill, as was previously discussed.



So what? They play to their audience; they're not authoritative sources. They can have any slant they choose.

Quote

I am also receiving media conformation i.e., listening to talk news radio, of my assertion that political correctness severely hampered his superiors in dealing with his radical views.



Again, so what? I'd refer you to the previous stream of rebuttals to this nonsense, but that thread's in the Recycle Bin now. Take the message.

As I remember, you are a fan of those two old liberal hippies that provide a liberal slant to anything you want. Mr. and Mrs. Snopes?
Do your part for global warming: ban beans and hold all popcorn farts.

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Sharing Dr. Dunn's admiration for the first responders.

???

He left out the part about,"once the terrorist was neutralized, his intended victims immediately began trying to save his life". Read that somewhere.



Good point. And, the radio news today is focused on him being a Muslim terrorist not mentally ill, as was previously discussed.

I am also receiving media conformation i.e., listening to talk news radio, of my assertion that political correctness severely hampered his superiors in dealing with his radical views.

Born in Virginia, educated by US taxpayers, but he considered himself Palestinian? No problem here, but why not American? He (and his lawyer) will turn himself into a victim: PTSD from counseling sessions with his patients, felt persecuted and harassed for his religion, felt alone and confused.....



Theres no way the guy is getting off even if he tries to play the persecuted victim card. But to just assume that he will and use that to try and justify being even less tolerant than you already are is just perpetuating this "us vs them" mentality; and this cycle of violence will never end like this.



You have no way of knowing if he will not get off.

Suggesting a possible defense strategy does not make me any less tolerant nor does it perpetuate the "us vs them" mentality. Would it better to say nothing, and just wait for more terrorism? Tell that to the families of the victims at Fort Hood.



Whats funny is how all the rednecks in America are in such a rage about this. If he had been a christian this would have been a typical day in the US and no one would have given a shit.

Did you know the guy? Did you see any warning signs? Do you have any examples of when people didn't say anything because they were to afraid to be politically incorrect?

Remember the hysteria and over reactions after columbine? Going on a witch hunt for muslims won't help this either.

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