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WESLEY THOMPSON, M.D.RECEPTION BEFORE MILITARY TOUR IN IRAQ - 2009-05-28

Fairfield Memorial Hospital will be hosting a come and go reception for Dr. Wesley Thompson on Saturday, May 30, from 4-6 p.m. at the Cumberland Presbyterian Fellowship Hall.  This reception will provide community members the opportunity to honor Dr. Thompson for not only his service to our medical community and his patients, but also his service to our Nation.  A special prayer will be held at 4:30 p.m.  Refreshments will be served.

 

Dr. Thompson last month was notified about an upcoming deployment scheduled for July, where he will be serving again in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Dr. Thompson previously served a seven month tour of duty in 2005.  Dr. Thompson will be deployed from sometime in July through November.

 

“I want all of my patients to know that they will be well taken care of during my absence by my colleagues at Horizon Healthcare, Dr. Christopher Ballard, Dr. Kyle Kakac, and Physician Assistants, Phil Blaich and Lois Dishman,” said Dr. Thompson.

 

When talking about the decision to serve his country Dr. Thompson shared that initially it was a family legacy, but watching the twin towers fall solidified his resolve to volunteer.  He explained that he has never been more fulfilled in a job; however, it requires sacrifice to feel that sense of accomplishment.  He encourages anyone who is interested in military service to talk with a veteran they know and trust.  Dr. Thompson said that he believes military service is one of the best things anyone can do for themselves and our beloved United States of America.

 

When asked if he was ever scared while in Iraq, Dr. Thompson stated, “There is always a healthy underlying fear, but one has to come to the conclusion that our lives belong to God.  The best description of a serviceman I have read is that at one point in a soldier’s life he/she wrote a blank check made payable to ‘The United States of America’ for an amount of “Up To And Including My Life.’”

 

Dr. Thompson shared that there is not much of a difference in taking care of patients when at war vs. in the U.S.   He said, “People are People no matter where you go.  You see many of the same diseases and injuries, although the mechanisms are different.  War is a spartan environment however, requiring more ingenuity and improvisation.” 

 

During this tour Dr. Thompson will be in a field setting as part of a combat arms unit.  His role will be vastly different from his last tour and will involve more administrative work.  He is currently a Major, although he has passed the promotion board and is awaiting federal recognition for the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. 

 

When asked about how he has prepared for this tour Dr. Thompson stated, “To mentally prepare for being away from my family and patients I have used prayer.  To prepare my family for my deployment we have spent more time together and keep conversation open so we are all on the same page.  Just as importantly, I have made sure that they are financially and legally covered. Lastly, paperwork, paperwork, and more paperwork has been a large part of my preparations.  Even though it is Iraq, I still have to be credentialed to practice medicine.” 

 

When asked if there was anything his patients, church, co-workers, friends, and community members could do for him or his family while he is deployed and Dr. Thompson stated, “Prayer is all that we ask.  At the same time, please continue to pray for all of our service members in harms way.”

 

Dr. Thompson shared that he will miss “Home!” the most.  “Dorothy Gale said it best, and upon my return home I desire time with my wife, Lachelle, and daughters, Paige and Claire.”