You are the first person with the same last name I have met who is a member of the LDS Church. My oldest son and I are baptized and my youngest will be baptized in Feb. No one else from my immediate family is a member. If you have any family history, I would greatly appreciate any information you may have. May Heavenly Father bless you and keep your family.

Timberlyn Rupard

Thanks for taking the time to write. I, too, would not change my USUHS experience (and subsequent ones) for anything (though you’ll find those on this blog who do not feel that way if you read through the discussions). Having said that, I am indeed ready to get out in about 22 months, after service since 1994.

I hope that your son seriously considers it. The military generally treats us well, and knowing that my mom and dad would not be footing my med school bill was very important to me…

Take care,

Erik

Tonight I stumbled across your blog while surfing contemporary discussions of pros and cons of military medicine. While I only have digested selected snippets of this brilliantly composed epic, I am especially moved by your dedication, discipline, wit and humanity. I wish you a belated welcome home from Iraq and reunion with your loved ones, thanking you for your service and sacrifices, and continued success at DDEAMC and all future endeavors. This blog should be incorporated into the USUHS archives– wonderful, refreshing and poignant. Congratulations on your valuable project.

My son has been accepted to USUHS for 2009. He, however, is uncertain of the commitment and has a big decision to make–I’m trying to stay out of his way.
I was class of 1983 (Army), retired in 2000, continuing since in private practice/teaching (UNC-CH) in Charlotte as a urologist. Other than my 6 months in the Persian Gulf, I would have not traded any of my residency/fellowship and subsequent assignments for “what might have been”. My wife and I have no regrets and are very grateful for extremely rich and unique opportunities and experiences. I have found the bureaucracy of a major civilian medical center and private practice to be more stifling than I ever recall in the military. Stay tuned… Mr. Obama wants to use the DOD as a paradigm for future civilian EMR models. Who’d a thunk it?

All the best,

Pierce Irby

The draft is only three hours. You can get by with the light box set…..

You can go to your pretend world for the night E, and I’ll buy that as yet unspecified DVD box set for my personal viewing.

As long as we’re ignoring each other under the same roof.

Great to hear from my perpetual competition for fourth place in the Rooski. It was a pleasant surprise for me to find out I’d actually be (barely) home for the draft. Typical fantasy football junkie: “Hey Lorri, I know I have been gone for the last six months, but now that I am home, I really need to spend 5 hours on Friday night with my fantasy buddies.” That’ll go over well.

I appreciate you thinking of me. Hope all is well with you, and we’ll be talking soon.

Erik

The second most important evening of your summer (second only to you touching back down on US soil) is rapidly approaching. Get home soon and safe.

You’re in my thoughts & prayers my friend.

-W-

Aaron: You have been a great help to me out here, with your frequent e-mails of encouragement and very generous care packages. I will be praying for your safe return and the comfort of your family while you are gone. E-mail once you have an APO address so that I can send you some good stuff.

Godspeed, brother.