NavyDoc's Inaugural Adventure W Pics

[NavyDoc]

Hi! For those that don't know me, I met some Freepers on the side of Penn ave. during the inaugeral parade. They were very nice and were in sharp contrast to the unwashed protestors. A brief bio: Enlisted in the USMC as a 0311 back in 1986. Was a rifleman for a year then got an appointment to the Naval Academy. B.S. in English Lit. Naval Flight Officer (re: "Goose") for 5 years then a military scholarship to U. of Michigan in Ann Arbor for medical school. Now a staff anesthesiologist and pain management fellow at NNMC Bethesda and WRAMC here in DC area. I volunteered to provide medical support to the military mission to the inaugeral parade. I was medical officer in charge of Aide station #4, the first military aide station on the parade route. I was filling in for an Air Force Doc who came down ill so actually all my troops were Air Force Personell: 8 medics, 2 nurses, 1 senior NCO, and one admin type. We were stationed on the street, and had a small heated "shack" (for better words) to keeps supplies, put patients, and warm up once in a while. Mustered at WRAMC at 0100 and was posted on Penn Ave at zero-dark-thirty. Got to watch the sun rise just off the Capitol's left shoulder. Pretty early on the cops started to arrive. They were VOLUNTEERS from as far away as Oregon and Florida, and had come to support this inaugeration. They were fun to talk to and were very professional. They JOKED about being there to smash hippy heads!

They marched on line in a very professional manner... I weigh about 225, am 6' 1" and bench 315#. This guy made me feel small and HE was one of the smaller cops!!!!! Some of Virginia's finest ready for some fun! I liked the above image so I had to get a shot of me in the forground.. Ok, and now a pic of most of my posse: Having lots of fun, then enter the nasty, smelly protestors. THis one was actually fairly attractive and her sign reads,"The only Bush I trust is my own." She was behind alot of regular folks, but her sign struck me as funny...besides I am a sailor after all... There really weren't that many of them, but the ones that were there were a pain in the rear. Shouting epithets at me and my medics, spitting, throwing snowballs/fruit. Since I was there to be a doc, not a photographer, I was too busy to get pics of the really rowdy ones. That blather about "spporting the troops, but hating the war," is pure B.S.. At every chance, they laid as much venom and hate upon us as possible. After the CIC rode by they actually tride to rush the barricades, but were repelled by the police with batons and pepper spray. Of course lil ol' me was right in the middle. I treated a couple of cops for eye irritation and bruises. A few of the honor guard that lined the route for bruises (hit in the back of the head with an apple). Next few shots are of the CIC passing. They are bad shots, but I took them with my left hand as he approached, dropped my left and snapped up my right in a sharp and crisp salute as he drew abreast, and was unable to get any followup shots after he passed due to the above bruhaha.

Oh, did I forget THESE guys with their funny, long "suitcases?" Oh yes, the reason I am now a member of this site: there I was; tired, cold, hungry, my feet hurst, harrased by B.O. and patchatouli wearing idiots...walking up and down when I see some more fools waving signs...except on closer exam, THESE signs are supportive and instead of spitting, they are smiling. Instead of shouting obscenaties at me and my guys, these people are saying, thank you. ?????? I needed to have a closer look, and was thus taken into the fold! JCS marched by...very cool. My boys! Semper Fi!!!!

Well after running around all day, dealing with protestors, cold, and a wild horse. (Bucked his rider, got off the route, and was kicking people one block over), cold, sore feet, and one bruised hand (don't ask...facial piercings can hurt if ya smack 'em!). It's time to call it a day. After the last military person was cleared, we got to stand down, about 2100 that night. We retreated to a local watering hole, and I bought my posse many beers. Goodnight and God bless, Zack Kitchen, M.D. LCDR, MC, USN

[secret garden]

I love PCAs. They beat getting called every 5 minutes. ;)

[CholeraJoe]

Aw give me a few weeks and I'll be wrecking my train in Casey Jones' whorehouse ditch.

Grizzfan, where y'att, dahlin'?

[CholeraJoe]

PCAs are for wimps. I had a long bone fracture and used 9 mg of morphine in 36 hours and took 24 percocets in a month after discharge.

Of course I must admire Terrell Owens who played in the Super Bowl with 5 screws in his ankle. His injury and mine happened about the same time. I still can't walk to the mailbox without a cane.

[secret garden]

Yes, but he has his own private chiro/massage therapist. Think of how you'd be line dancing with that kind of attention.

[CholeraJoe]

I have my own Ortho (John,) Chiro (Gary,) Massage Therapist (Janae,) and Physical Therapist (Jennifer,) but don't have that kind of mobility yet.

[Lucy Lake]

Hi CJ, glad you're better.

[CholeraJoe]

Good to see you. We need to have lunch again. Freep mail me for dates.

[buffyt]

Beautiful, thanks for posting!

[oldbrowser]

thanks for the pics and welcome to FR Doc.

[campfollower]

I forgot to mention both my husbands were D.I.s (San Diego)

But something tells me you didn't need any D.I. to make you who you are!

[NavyDoc]

I wouldn't say that. Went from a 17 year old boy to a 17 year old man at Parris Island.

[SaltyJoe]

Us Devil Dogs love our corpsmen. But to have a Navy Doc that's a former Marine? Why that ranks higher than Catherine Bell in dress blues. No offense, but too bad you're not better looking then she. She's my cup of tea, but you still earn my salute.

God bless and welcome aboard!

[holyscroller]

Welcome aboard Doc. You're right. FreeRepublic IS like a second family,...sometimes more like a first family. Lots of USNA aboard here too, in fact we could easily have a USNA wing of FR.

[Swede Girl]

Wow! Thanks so much for posting your pictures and giving us your report. This Army Brat salutes you for your service!

[NavyDoc]

Thanks! Swede Girl!

[NavyDoc]

Hey Holyscroler: a USNA wing of FR would be great! I could pull in someof my buds!

[Fidgit]

ping

[Tennessee_Bob]

What is it with Marines becoming pastors?

One of the pastors that retired from my mom and dad's church was a Marine - was in the Korean War, and then involved in the open air nuke tests. Said he saw the fireball going up and that was his Calling.

He substitute teaches in our school system now - when he goes into the high school classes he tells them "My name is Mr. Bradshaw. I'm a combat veteran Marine and a retired pastor - so this class can be heaven or it can be hell. It's your choice."

He's never had a problem with his students.

[mrs tiggywinkle]

Excellent thread, NavyDoc! Welcome to Free Republic and thank you for your service to this great country. :o)

And thanks to *you*, fidgit, for the ping - and for having served in our military as well. Smoochies.

[NavyDoc]

Actually you are right about that one. When I was growing up our paster, Father Eugene Gramoka, was a marine in WWII. Was in the front: Okinawa, Tarawa. Good man (RIP), loved to laugh.