–Dr. Trunkey
in a blue work shirt, wearing
a bolo tie and black cowboy
boots. I had grown up in
eastern Washington, which
was cattle country with many
wheat fields. He reminded me
of my childhood and being
with people who were down
to earth. After my talk the
next morning, Norm invited
me to come to his home in
the French Quarter and spend
the evening. His home was a
true museum with mementoes
of the Civil War and Native
American culture. His
clothing was a reflection of his
personality. I don’t remember
him wearing a regular tie but
often a bolo tie, turquoise and
other colors, was de rigueur.
My wife Jane and I miss him
and his compassion for his
friends, family, and patients.
Donald D. Trunkey, MD, FACS
Portland, OR
Service members injured
in combat should not have
to seek volunteer care
I was surprised and angered
by the article about Timothy
A. Miller, MD, FACS, and
Operation Mend, which was
published in the December
2015 Bulletin (Bull Am Coll
Surg. 2015;100[ 12]: 28-30). Any
service member injured in
battle and requiring plastic
and reconstructive surgery
should not have to seek
surgical care from a volunteer
organization. This type of care
should be available from the
best plastic surgeons, such as
Dr. Miller, and paid for in full
by the federal government.
I’m sure Operation Mend
is a wonderful organization
and does surgery of the
highest quality, but there
should be no need for it. Men
and women injured in battle
deserve the best care possible
and should not have to rely
on a volunteer organization
to provide their care.
W. Slocum Howland, Jr., MD, FACS
Highlands, NC
To whom it may concern
or madam,
“My wife Jane and I miss
[Dr. McSwain] and his
compassion for his friends,
family, and patients.”
V101 No 2 BULLETIN American College of Surgeons
46 |
