Col. Ward Casscells prepares for a marksmanship test Jan. 26 while receiving last-minute advice from retired 1st Sgt. John Kearney, Officer Basic Course instructor, at Camp Bullis, Texas. Casscells graduated from OBC Feb. 3.
Posted on 02/08/2006 4:08:20 PM PST by SandRat
CAMP BULLIS, Texas (Army News Service, Feb. 8, 2006) – A world-renowned cardiologist and top-ranked university vice president, Dr. Ward Casscells joined the Army at age 53 and led the service’s research on avian flu before graduating Feb. 3 from his officer basic course.
Casscells is a teacher, doctor and champion of humanitarian relief, with countless hours spent tending to victims of hurricanes, tsunamis and terrorist acts. His studies have led to breakthroughs in cardiology, and his years of research on avian flu are now deemed cutting edge as a potential pandemic begins to loom.
With more than 30 years of accomplishments behind him, Casscels traded his lab coat for a uniform in June and joined the Army Reserve as a colonel.
“People told me I was too old, not physically fit enough or won’t be senior enough to be able to do anything interesting,” Casscells said. “None of that was true.”
While the decision may have seemed abrupt to many of his family and friends, it was a long time coming for Casscells.
Army tops bright career
The Delaware native has forged a career many peers respect and admire. He went to Yale University in Connecticut, then Harvard University in Boston, where he earned his medical degree. After his residency, he worked at the National Institutes of Health in Bethseda, Md., for six years. From there, he moved to Texas as chief of cardiology at the University of Texas-Houston Medical School, where he helped draw a connection between heart attacks and the flu, then branched out into avian flu research.
In his limited spare time, Casscells served on President Bush’s health care advisory committee, at the forefront of humanitarian relief efforts such as Hurricane Katrina and the 2004 Asian tsunami.
Battled cancer
With a full work and family schedule, Casscells was busier than ever. But, his life came to an abrupt halt one night in 2001, after he felt a growth in his abdomen. It was cancer.
“It was bad,” Casscells said. “I went through five years of chemotherapy and radiation. After I went through that, I wanted to do things I hadn’t done before.”
He decided on a path when cleaning out a closet.
“I saw my dad’s tattered old uniform. He served four years with (Gen. George S.) Patton in World War II. I figured if he could give four years of his life, I could give three months a year as a reservist.”
The idea became a reality after he was medically cleared to enter the Army Reserve. He joined last summer and was almost immediately activated as the Army had an urgent need for someone with avian flu expertise.
“Lt. Gen. Kevin Kiley (U.S. Army surgeon general) mobilized me to his command. He recognized the seriousness of the bird flu and wanted the Army to be prepared,” Casscells said. “I volunteered to go to the Middle and Far East to do surveillance.”
During a whirlwind tour, Cassells traveled alone to places like Cairo, Egypt; Beijing, China; and Bangkok, Thailand, to scope out the possibility for a widespread outbreak.
“Bird flu is poised to be an explosive problem,” Casscells said. “I give Gen. Kiley a lot of credit for wanting to be at the forefront of medical planning.”
Officer Basic Course at 53
After months abroad, Casscells made a much shorter trip from his Austin, Texas, home. In January, he traveled to San Antonio to attend the two-week Reserve Officer Basic Course at Fort Sam Houston. The course is geared toward medical professionals like Casscells, with attendees from all walks of medical life, from nurses and pharmacists to psychiatrists and surgeons.
Run ragged with training, a sleep-deprived and physically exhausted Casscells found OBC to be, surprisingly, one of the biggest challenges of his life.
“This course is ‘shock and awe’ for me,” he said. “I haven’t been this tired and intimidated since I was an intern. It’s scarier, more intense than I thought.”
The instructors plan it that way.
“Many of these officers come from privilege or worked their way through school, but still don’t know what it’s like to do without,” said Capt. Darren Teters, course instructor. “They’ve never been without a shower for two or three days or had their food limited.
“But we have to train them the same as privates,” he added. “Whether doctors or nurses, they will have responsibility and will have to rely what they learn here.”
The officer-students range from second lieutenants to colonels, with varying degrees of success in the civilian sector. Rank and job status, however, have a limited role at OBC, Casscells said.
“There are very talented people attending this course,” Casscells said. “They may not all have big, high-paying civilian jobs, but I’m struggling to keep up with them.”
Despite some trepidation, Casscells passed the course with flying colors and graduated Feb. 3.
“We (class members) are all so proud to have gotten through it,” he said.
“As a teacher, I’ve been enormously impressed with how seriously the instructors take training,” he added. “The Army attracts better people than you expect and trains better than you can believe.”
Finished with training, Casscells can now resume his esteemed career. But, his future plans are unlikely to garner fame or fortune.
“I volunteered to go to Iraq,” he said. “I don’t want to backfill; I want to go to where I’m most needed. And, doctors are needed in Iraq.”
(Editor’s note: Elaine Wilson serves with the Fort Sam Houston Public Information Office.)
Army Doctor PING
That man fits my definition of
A True Hero.
He put his Nation before big, BIG bucks.
His family is lucky to have him and so is our Nation.
God Bless You, Sir!!
I heard that they have had problems with Avaian flu in Iraq. Is this true?
All I've heard about is Turkey.
Iraq Tests for Bird Flu After One Dies in North (Turkoey - 8+ cases yesterday - one confirmed)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1560188/posts
WHO To Send Team to Iraq
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1568286/posts
Iraqi Authorities go on Bird Flu Alert
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1568562/posts
Iraq has Seven Suspected Bird Flu Cases
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1572633/posts
Bird Flu Suspected in Boy's death (Southern Iraq)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1573454/posts
Awesome man!
There are NOT many men like that around.
Some are too busy searching for their "sensitive side".
What an awesome man!
A real man!
Good to see they're still around!
Ya gotta like this story!
Why would he have to actually join the Army to do his stuff? They use civilian consultants for other things....
BTT
Amazing man. Godspeed!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.