This distortion infuriates her. Only last
week her ward cared for an eight-year old Vietnamese girl - named 'Gloria'
by the nurses - who was injured by a Viet Cong grenade. And she
knows Gloria is just one of thousands of VC victims receiving U. S.
medical care.
Susan then goes by to see PFC James Allen, Co.
B, 3d Bn., 47th Inf.
He was point man on a 9th Div. operation in the
Mekong Delta. An enemy rocket exploded rocket exploded to his
front and jagged pieces of metal tore into his head, left eye, chest and
legs. Minutes later a "dust-off" medical helicopter rushed
him to the 24th Evacuation Hospital emergency room where doctors
skillfully removed the fragments and bone splinters. Today he is
recovering well and is one of Susan's most ardent admirers.
He asks Susan if she would write a letter from
him to his wife in Chincoteaque (sic), Va. "Address it to Faye
- my wife, and Pepper - my daughter," he dictates. "Tell
her where I am and when I'm going to the hospital in Japan. That
I'll be there maybe one day or three weeks - don't know for sure."
"Tell her I got hit in the head," he
grins, "and then she'll know I'm O.K. And tell her I hope to be
home soon, so go out and pick up plenty of beer."
He pauses, his voice softens and he adds,
"And please don't worry, I'm doing fine. Be sure to tell Pepper
I love her."
At 5 P.M., PFC Patrick Lawrence , of San Diego,
enters the ward bubbling over with news to tell Susan about her former
patients in Japan. Patrick's brother was wounded and Patrick's
commanding officer of the 1st Eng. Bn., 1st Inf. Div., had given him seven
days' emergency temporary duty to accompany his brother to the hospital in
Japan.
Susan listens eagerly as he tells how Wayne,
Gary and Jim are all doing so well that all they do is play cards.
the doctor has Robert lifting weights and Jim 'hit it off real good with a
pretty Red Cross girl.' And Larry made it home O.K.
Mail call brings many letters for the
Neuro-Surgery ward patients. Susan enjoys reading letters to those
who ask her to. Their families are just wonderful and always write
such happy letters.
Susan recalls that she had a lifelong ambition
to become a nurse. Her parents once told her that responsibility
must be earned. Today in Vietnam she has a wealth of responsibility,
and she enjoys the way she is earning it.
Just before going off shift, Susan says goodbye
to six soldiers being air-evacuated to Japan early in the morning.
She leans over and gently kisses the "expressive aphasia"
soldier's cheek. He smiles, struggles to speak, then grasps her
hand. In this way, he is saying "Goodbye Susan - and
thanks." |