Photo By Senior Chief Petty Officer Joshua Treadwell | Lt. Cmdr. William Smith gives a tour of the detainee hospital to distinguished guests...... read more read more
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GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - "I asked him to serve his country, something I had not done - but it felt like something I needed to do."
Lt. Cmdr. William Smith, a self-proclaimed small town, country physician, changed his life, and his retirement, to join the Navy as Medical Doctor at age 54 after his son, Navy Lt. Thaddeus Smith, recovered from serious injuries when his helicopter went down in Sigonella, Italy.
"It felt like it was something I needed to do, and the Navy doctors, they took such good care of his wounds that he was able to fly again for deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan," said Smith, senior medical officer, for the Joint Task Force, Joint Medical Group.
Smith checked out the Army and the Air Force before deciding to join the Navy.
"I talked with the Army; they said I was too old," joked Smith. "The Air Force said I was dead and cold, but the Navy was willing to give me a few waivers and that was it."
Smith was stationed at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Fla., before being deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to be the Senior Medical Officer for the Joint Medical Group.
His day-to-day activities include coordinating the medical care for the detainee population as well interacting with the Nurse and Medical Corps and reviewing medical charts for the Staff Judge Advocate Office.
"I've really enjoyed working with all of the different components of the JTF," said Smith. "My story pales in comparison to the servicemen at Gitmo who have spent their whole lives serving. It is more my privilege to be serving with them."
"The best thing about JTF-GTMO has been the way everyone accepted me as an equal even though I am quite a novice in the military," he continued. "Everyone from flag officers to E-1s have shown me kindness and respect."
Culture shock was how Smith described joining the military late in life, but he attributes the support from his son with helping him adjust.
"At first (Lt. Smith) was very concerned that I wouldn't like (the Navy)," Smith said. "But he was very supportive, and I am not sure I would have made it without him."
Smith said two things have impressed him most with working in the detention hospital here on Gitmo
"First, the professionalism of the guard forces and the corpsmen," he said. "These young people are doing a tremendous job in an intense environment under tremendous psychological stress and I am in awe of them."
"Secondly, the leadership from the top down through all the components of the JTF has been outstanding. I am really honored if I have been able to contribute any small part to this mission."
www.jtfgtmo.southcom.mil
| Date Taken: | 05.23.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 05.30.2008 13:48 |
| Story ID: | 19955 |
| Location: | GUANTANAMO BAY, CU |
| Web Views: | 203 |
| Downloads: | 171 |
This work, Like Son, Like Father, by MAJ Gretel Weiskopf, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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