A Special Kind of Person

This poem was written by one of my ICU technicians.  He has been in the Air Force for 10 years and this was her first deployment.  She's planning to separate in a few months.  Actually, she extended her enlistment so she could come here.  And as proof this is a small Air Force, I worked with her sister in Japan!  Her poem captures a sentiment shared by many.  She read it on rounds one morning and then again in front of the whole ICU during what I called a "signing ceremony".  I asked her to read it and then sign it and then we hung it on the wall in the ICU.  There were very few dry eyes in the room when she was finished.
They are all heroes.  What they do in our hospital is amazing... an overall 98% survival rate- about 70% of out patients are Afghan and have horrific wounds and would die if we were not here.  Americans have a 99% survival rate.  The fact that we are here enables them to go out and hunt bad guys every day, knowing will be here if they get hurt.  Their helicopter flies over the big red cross on our roof and they know they will most likely live.  Our nurses, techs and docs take care of the worst of the worst wounds every day and rarely complain.  Sometimes we have to make them take a break to take a day off.  They amaze me.

A Special Kind of Person…

(A special dedication to all who served w/ me @

Bagram AF, Afghanistan:  

Dec 2 - Apr 21, 2010)

It takes a special kind of person…to think of someone else,

It takes a special kind of person…to put SERVICE before SELF.

It takes a special kind of person…to wear our blues and greens,

It takes a special kind of person…to work together as a team.

It takes a special kind of person…to handle all the stress,

It takes a special kind of person…to put forth their very BEST.

It takes a special kind of person…to look our enemy in the face,

It takes a special kind of person…to medically take care of them, 

especially at this place.

It takes a special kind of person…to make the decisions that we do,

It takes a special kind of person…to follow through and through.

It takes a special kind of person…to give our medical attention and care,

It takes a special kind of person…even though life sometimes isn’t fair.

It takes a special kind of person…to work long hours every day,

It takes a special kind of person…to accept the challenge,

 even without the pay.

It takes a special kind of person…to deal with blood, guts, and tears,

It takes a special kind of person…to ease somebody’s pain & 

take away their fears.

It takes a special kind of person…to help our soldiers, sailors, 

and airman to get better,

It takes a special kind of person…one fight, one mission –

 we all work together.

I salute you fellow co-workers, for everything you’ve done…

You’ve helped me make a difference, in my deployment #1.

Written from the heart – SSgt Andrea’ Mosca