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

[NavyDoc]

Hey Y'all! It's midnight and I need to hit the rack. Response was amazing! I'll "ping" it to the top tomorrow for the morning crew and I'll try to answer al lyour posts an emails. I'm simply overwhelmed. Like the response on the street last month, the response tonight from you guys is amazing.
Feels like a ready made family!
G'Night and God Bless.

"Mellow"

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[WVNan]

God bless ye me boy. We are so glad that ye were taken into the fold. We thank ye for your service. ((((((((NavyDoc)))))

[jp3]

I have a good friend that refers to A2 as smelly feet town. You are right as far as restaurants and culture though - I miss Miki's, a sushi place. And The Earle. However, I don't miss the smelly people. And yes there is a quiet conservative movement. I just found that too many of my friends were stark-raving-mad-pea-soup-spewing-flaming-lefties. So I moved.

[Lurker]

Thanks, welcome, and Semper Fi bro.

As a PS, thanks for going into Pain Management. You guys are godsends.

L

[LarkNeelie]

THANK YOU for posting and reporting! I've been waiting for these and it was worth the wait.

Just can't wrap my brain around those people.

My own prayers and thanks as well for you and all our protectors, abroad and at home. I'm sure you will, but please pass them on.

[Taxman]

Taxman Bravo Zulu! Doc.

Welcome to FRee Republic!

Thank you for your service!

[miele man]

Thank you, NavyDoc, for your service and for this wonderful report. It is great to have this personal eyeball view along with the commentary. Music to our ears!!

You said you'd been in for 19 years. How much longer will you stay beyond 20?

May the Lord Bless and keep you and your colleagues where-ever you may be.

[Indy Pendance]

Welcome aboard! Thanks for the great report, and for serving our country.

[Mr. Silverback]

Fighter pilots may make movies, but bomber pilots make history!

As a former member of Strategic Air Command, I agree 100%! Of course, I was a tanker toad, so there's only so much glory I can claim.

You know, I think one of the reasons I ended up in military aviation was because of sitting on my lawn as a child watching P'3s in the Portland Jetport pattern.

[Pajamajan]

Great pics and report, thanks for posting them.
Thank you to you and your friends for your service.
Welcome to Free Republic ;-)

[I'm ALL Right!]

Welcome, NavyDoc! Thanks for the pics and for serving.

[blondee123]

Fox news reported about the things being thrown, but none of it was shown on camera by any of the media! Someone emailed Shepard Smith at Fox asking why the new Limo already had a dent in it & he said that the protestors were throwing things at it.

Glad you found the freepers & also our forum. Too bad the media doesn't tell it like you did!!

[NavyDoc]

That's true. The whole wooly socks with sandals in the wintertime really marked the libs in AA. I do miss Angelo's though.

[NavyDoc]

Ah, yes SAC. How do you spell airpower? B52!

[barker]

Welcome to FR. You will love it here. Great pictures. Many thanks to you for serving our great country.

[NavyDoc]

I'm staying in for 4 more years as I still owe Uncle Sam for medschool. Even though I considered a reservist while I was a Med School, it doesn't count for retirement and neither does the Naval Academy (even though I had an active duty ID). Don't ask me why, I still havent gotten my mind around those regs. The med school not counting is the only grad school that does not count. Had I gone to Law School directly from the fleet, those years would count! Who would of thunk it?
So, bottom line is I'll have credit for 15 when I'm done paying back my time. THAT will be a tough decision to stay in as the civilian by for my subspecialty is huge. I guess I need a finantial advisor that undertands medicine and military!

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

NavyDoc thanks for the report from a very unique pespective.

Hey DC Chapter, look what Race found! A gass passer to add to the medical team.

[Carolinamom]

Big thanks for the pics, the running commentary, and your service. (((Hug)))

[texasbluebell]

At every chance, they laid as much venom and hate upon us as possible.

Welcome to FR! Sorry you had to deal with those idiots at the Inaugural -- I'll bet they're sorry too...

Glad you found FR as a result though.

And thank you for all you do for this country.

(Btw, I'm stuck in that same town where you went to med school, aka Berkeley of the midwest -- the People's Republic of AA.)