Source :
E-Mail Recieved

From: Gary Hartt
To: gpope925@netscape.net
Sent: Thursday, June 06, 2002 2:53 PM
Subject: 45 Surg Hosp

Hi there 45th Surg Hospital,
I don't know what each of your roles were with the hospital. I was an infantry grunt WIA on March 19,1967. I was with the Triple Deuce Battallion (Alpha Co.,2nd Btn.(MECH),22ndInf.Rgmt.,3rd bde.25th Inf.Div.)based in Dau Tieng. I was wounded during Operation Junction City in Tay Ninh Province and medivaced to your Tay Ninh Hosp. and was on operating table within 45 minutes of being wounded.My unit and the 3rd Battalion of the 22nd, who landed in a hot LZ and had about 7 helicopters hit, kept you very busy that day. I guess it was a good warmup for you guys for the Battle of Soui Tre on March 21,1967.

Just recently, some of us Viet Vets have come out of our shell of some 35 years.Thanks to the news media and Jane Fonda, the general public treated Viet Vets as baby killers and(or) mentally deranged people to be avoided like the plague.We buried our Vietnam experience and tried best we could to get on with our lives, raise families and enjoy the America we all love.

In the process of locating old army buddies, one guy commented about how great the 45th Surg was.His comment was that if you made it to the 45th Surg, still breathing, somehow they patched you up. You people provided outstanding medical care. Over the years, I have bragged about the efficient medical care I received at that time to family and friends, but never have had the opportunity to thank those who provided the excellent care and treatment. I still remember the Nurse whose soft hands soothed an emotional soldier who had just seen several friends die an hour earlier.Yes it was your job and you were just doing it. But you did it with a caring and compassion that was not part of your MOS. You were professionals, overworked and underappreciated by everyone.

After 35 years, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the people in your unit for the excellent treatment all the smelly,dirty and bloody grunts received from you guys. The Generals,Colonels,and Majors received the lions share of phony medals for putting we soldiers in harms way and advancing their careers at our expense. You are the real people who get the respect and praise of the grunts for what you did for us.In my humble opinon, YOU WERE THE BEST MEDICAL UNIT IN VIETNAM!!!! I wish I could give you all a big hug and thank each one of you personally.

GARY HARTT
17964 S. WINDY CITY RD
MULINO,OR 97042-9750
503-632-6955

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