Sun, May 24, 2009 Third Med Redux
From: Al Naar
Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 12:38 PM
To: Pekary, Ariana
Subject: This weekend
Al Naar and producer Ariana Pekary
Hi Ariana,
Hope all is well with you. We’re back in Newport and getting ready for another great summer. Hard to believe our reunion was one year ago. Just out of curiosity, we were wondering if you’re planning on rebroadcasting our program? This time you can proudly announce that it received an award from the Society of Professional Journalists. Cool.
In any case, give us a call when you get a break. Take good care.
All the best,
Al
True story. One year later on the exact day that I’m preparing the audio files to rebroadcast our documentary, Stories from Third Med: Surviving a Jungle ER, the man who approached us with the story originally wrote to me to find out its status. The world works in funny ways. And yes, the reason we’re airing the hour-long feature again is because it was recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists with a Sigma Delta Chi Award. Bob says he’s been a member since 1972 and this is his first one.
I think last year I wrote in this blog something to the effect that I developed a special bond with these men – one that would last a very long time. Here’s proof. Al’s not only a dedicated fan of the show, but we’ve become friends as well. My father and I traveled to Newport stay with Al and his wife Judy last September. It was a great weekend – we toured the Newport mansions (what they call “cottages”), went sailing in a schooner, and Judy guided us on a lovely bicycle ride while Al zoomed past on his Harley. I have to say, making new friends like that makes my experience with this documentary that much more special.
Every time I hear Third Med, it weighs on me all over again – maybe it affects me so because I met the men in person, but I think it has to do more with the emotion you can hear in their voices. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: I think that emotion is something you can only achieve with the intimacy of radio. Either way, if this is the first time you are hearing these stories, I hope they are meaningful to you – or a loved one here or overseas – in some way. If it’s the second time for you listening these stories….well, thanks for honoring the men with your time. This weekend, let’s not forget the sacrifice they gave for the country decades ago, a sacrifice some are still paying today.
-Ariana
To view photos, a map and to download the program, click HERE.
For a list of music heard in Third Med, click HERE.
Reader Comments (4)
I'm glad this exceptional article was aired again this Memorial Weekend--I hadn't heard it before and found it moving and informative. The more we all know about medical emergencies in extreme situations--war first among them--the better we can appreciate doctors and all who work together to keep us all alive.
As a footnote, nurses too were courageous actors in Vietnam; there is an excellent book of their oral history: Nurses in Vietnam: The Forgotten Veterans, edited by Dan Freedman and Jacqueline Rhoads.
W. Roberts Powers
I'm glad this exceptional documentary was aired again, as it was the first time I'd heard it and I found it moving, interesting, informative. The more we know about doctors and all who assist them working under extreme conditions, the more we can appreciate what they do. There are many kinds of emergencies, and many unsung heros and heroines--nurses among them.
On this note, there is an excellent book of oral histories of the nurses who worked in Vietnam, edited by Dan Freedman and Jacqueline Rhoads -- Nurses in Vietnam: The Forgotten Veterans.
Thanks for this excellent documentary.
I would love to hear from any men that I treated at Dong Ha and Quang Tri.
John Munna, M.D.
Third Med Bn.
1968-1969
I am also a newcomer to this documentary and very happy to have caught it. Always glad to catch the multiple airings of The Bob Edwards show via XM, but particularly today.
Thank you.