Page 26 - Delaware Medical Journal - November/December 2018
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Force. Personnel were directly transferred into corresponding positions. The Medical Services underwent a similar transition in 1949. The Air Force Medical Service adopted the sign of Aesculapius, with a single snake entwined around a staff.
Reorganization moved at a more rapid pace during the
responsibilities between the Army, Navy and Air Force. Such responsibilities included evacuation of combat casualties, air transport in country and beyond, and much more. These decisions carried over in more sophisticated form to Vietnam. The specialty of Aviation Medicine was well established and implemented in post-doctoral studies.
Beginning in Thailand, as well as Vietnam, medical facilities of all types and sizes were established at all Air Force Bases after their rudimentary beginnings in steel boxes, 10 feet x 40 feet in
The cooperative chain of evacuation between the Army, Navy and Air Force showed dramatic life-saving improvement from the days of Korea. The creation of air-transportable hospitals and pre-positioning of medical supplies and equipment further improved readiness for the United States military.
There is no record of a Delaware physician in the Air Force serving in Vietnam.
with Wing Commander. However, I served two years, received high evaluations for my professional duties but received mid-level evaluations for “military bearing.” Was discharged honorably and on schedule. I continued as a Captain in inactive reserve for six years — emphasis on the word “inactive.”
Lou Bartoshesky
Vincent F. Carr
(Also served in the USPHS)
Colonel Vincent F. Carr began his medical career after
graduating from The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic
Cardiology. He practiced in the Philadelphia area in a group practice for 10 years and also served in the United States Air Force Reserve program during that time. Dr. Carr entered active duty in the United States Public Health Service, assigned to the United States Coast Guard. He was granted an inter-service transfer to the active duty Air Force, and served in leadership positions as Chief of the Medical Staff and Squadron Commander at the hospitals of Robins AFB, Edwards AFB, Altus AFB, and Maxwell AFB. He went on to be Department Chair of Medicine at Dover AFB and Malcolm Grow Medical Center, MD. Dr. Carr was then appointed the Chief Consultant for Internal Medicine Service for the Air Force Medical Service and Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Uniformed Services University Hebert School Biological Defense at the Pentagon.
Vince Carr
Arlo J. Courter
Graduated medical school in 1963. I had always wanted to
at Grinnell College. I couldn’t pass the vision requirement. How was I able to work as a USAF Flight Surgeon at a Strategic Air Command (SAC) base in New England? How was I able to get (plus earn the USAF Commendation Medal), when I couldn’t see? After my internship at the Philadelphia General Hospital,
I was able to receive an appointment to the USAF as a General
the School of Aerospace Medicine in San Antonio, TX, which I
my assigned base where my CO (a psychiatrist) told me to get another physical. Sgt. Soliere checked my vision. “Sir, which way does the large arrow point?” I squinted and guessed to the right. And he said, “Doesn’t it point to the left?” I said yes, and he said, “you pass.” End of story. And I served the rest of my two-year commitment and was discharged honorably (with my glasses).
Arlo Courter
OTHER VENUES
Louis E. Bartoshesky
Bill Duncan
I graduated from medical school
in June 1970 and began a pediatric
residency. In May of that internship
year (1971), I received a draft notice.
I was offered the choice to report
for basic training as a private in the
Army or accept an appointment as a
First Lieutenant in the Air Force as a
Class D (only one year of residency)
Pediatrician. I chose the latter and was
promptly promoted to Captain. Basic
training was two weeks at Sheppard
AFB, Wichita Falls, TX, where we learned how to salute and whom to salute. I served two years at Fairchild AFB in Spokane, WA, as a Pediatrician. Fairchild was an SAC base with a wing
also housed the USAF Survival School. For most of my time, the
of the most important medical practice was working with these docs and docs’ wives and I publically expressed concern about
Louis E. Bartoshesky
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Del Med J | November/December 2018 | Vol. 90 | No. 8
