In Remembrance....

On January 1989 I arrived at Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego California. The bus arrived on post under the cover of darkness and the minute we came to a stop, it was very clear that we were no longer in the civilian world. That first night was a blur as we ran from place to place picking up and labeling all our gear, getting our first haircuts, and beginning the transformation all Marines undergo during their training. As I woke the next morning, looking into the mirror at a bald face that was unrecognizable, I wondered quietly if I had made some kind of mistake. This quiet reflection was to be the first of many over the course of my time in San Diego. These moments seemed to occur regularly as we ran along the edge of the San Diego Airport, watching planes take off for unknown ports while we seemed to be stuck in time, stuck in training. The reflection occurred during the hours of endless drill on the parade deck, at the rifle range, as we stood guard in the mud and rain.

The time in ‘Boot Camp’ was over before I really knew it and once again I found myself standing in front of a mirror, getting my dress uniform arranged, and I did not recognize my own reflection. The time had stripped away the weight, but it had also changed something much more fundamental, the face in the mirror was one of resolve, of determination, of pride.

Change is a fundamental aspect of life in the military. The motto of the US Marine Corps is Sempre fidelis- always faithful. However, the unofficial motto wasSempre gumby- always flexible. Military service trains you to be adaptable, to change your course mid-stride, to roll with the variations that life offers. You are in one place, on a post, then orders come and you move, you deploy, or head to the field. Things are always in motion, and the only certainty that you ever entertain is that whatever you expect to be doing, it will change. The constancy of this change makes you a quick study of those around you. As you arrive on post, you meet the neighbors, get to know your unit, and quickly immerse yourself in the culture of your new duty station. It is the friendship borne of change that creates such a lasting bond. Your families suffer the same difficulties of deployment and training, learning to lean on each other while their loved ones are being warriors. They depend on each other for the arrival of babies, broken arms, lost puppies, and uncertainty. The depth of friendship forged in the military lasts well beyond the end of service, and is unlike any other.

In my life I have had the honor of serving in two branches of the US Military, the Marine Corps and the Army. I have had the privilege of serving with the best people I have ever met, ordinary, humble, steadfast, and honorable. As a physician, I have the honor of caring for those who came before, the veterans who have served. These men and women are part of my extended family. These veterans were the reason that I chose to serve, and the motivation to serve well. We all take a moment on Remembrance Day to pause and reflect on the vets who have provided our freedoms. For my part, I thank them daily for helping me to become the person I am today, without their service, their tradition, I would be left wanting. Sempre fidelis