The 14th issue of the J-9 "FOCAL POINT!" Newsletter

1. JOINT STAFF,
GEORGIA
DEPARTMENT
OF DEFENSE
A Newsletter Production of the
J-9 Joint and Family Services Directorate
Special points of
Volume 3, Issue 14 November 30, 2012
interest:
 THE APPROACH-
ING STORM
 PEARL HARBOR AGRESSION AND ship USS Arizona and landed in her
FEAR: THE ROAD TO forward ammunition magazine. The ship
 MEMORIES exploded and sank with more than 1,000
WAR men trapped inside. Next, torpedoes
 FOUNDING FA- pierced the shell of the battleship USS
Oklahoma. With 400 sailors aboard, the
THERS SERIES Oklahoma lost her balance, rolled onto
her side and slipped underwater. By the
 WINTER STORMS time the attack was over, every battle-
ship in Pearl Harbor–USS Arizona, USS sion, the American people in their
Oklahoma, USS California, USS West righteous might will win through to
 DOD INNOVA- Virginia, USS Utah, USS Maryland, USS absolute victory. I believe I interpret
TIONS Pennsylvania, USS Tennessee and USS the will of the Congress and of the
people when I assert that we will not
Nevada–had sustained significant dam-
By 1937 the U.S. and her allies were age. (All but USS Arizona and USS Utah only defend ourselves to the utter-
becoming increasingly disenfranchised with were eventually salvaged and repaired.) most, but will make very certain that
the Imperial Government of Japan. Japa- In all, the Japanese attack on Pearl Har- this form of treachery shall never
nese treatment of China was at an all time bor crippled or destroyed 18 American endanger us again.” After the Pearl
low. Lands from the Indian Sea to the coast ships and nearly 300 airplanes. Dry Harbor attack, and for the first time
of Alaska were feeling the fear and tension docks and airfields were likewise de- after years of discussion and debate,
created by the aggression of Japan. Dec- stroyed. Most important, almost 2,500 the American people were united in
ades of useless negotiations, petty conflicts men were killed and another 1,000 were their determination to go to war. The
Inside this issue: and maritime losses in the region were wounded. Japanese had wanted to goad the
taking their toll. The Japanese-Chinese war But the Japanese had failed to cripple the United States into an agreement to lift
began in earnest in 1937 with the advent of Pacific Fleet. By the 1940s, battleships the economic sanctions against them;
THE APPROACH- 1 the “Nanking Massacre.” were no longer the most important instead, they had pushed their adver-
ING STORM The U.S. was experiencing an upsurge in naval vessel: Aircraft carriers were, and sary into a global conflict that ulti-
patriotism with the upsurge in new economic as it happened, all of the Pacific Fleet’s mately resulted in Japan’s first occupa-
growth. The expanding war in Europe, lead carriers were away from the base on tion by a foreign power.
by Germany’s Nazi party, seemed reminis- December 7. (Some had returned to the On December 8, Congress approved
PEARL HARBOR 2-4 cent of the previous World War to some. In mainland and others were delivering Roosevelt’s declaration of war. Three
1940, the U.S. placed a trade embargo planes to troops on Midway and Wake days later, Japanese allies Germany and
against Japan for its mis-treatment of the Islands.) Moreover, the Pearl Harbor Italy declared war against the United
MEMORIES 4 Chinese and its poor management of its assault had left the base’s most vital States. For the second time, Congress
holdings in the region. onshore facilities–oil storage depots, reciprocated. More than two years
The time was ripe for global war. repair shops, shipyards and submarine after the start of the conflict, the
docks–intact. As a result, the U.S. Navy United States had entered World War
The following is an excerpt from the website: was able to rebound relatively quickly II.
FOUNDING FA- 4 http://www.history.com/topics/pearl-harbor from the attack.
THERS: PAT- Pearl Harbor
RICK HENRY "A Date Which Will Live in In- Awakens the
famy" "Sleeping Giant"
The Japanese plan was simple: Destroy “Yesterday,” Presi-
the Pacific Fleet. That way, the Ameri- dent Roosevelt said
DOD INNOVA- 5-6 cans would not be able to fight back as on December 8,
TIONS Japan’s armed forces spread across the “the United States
South Pacific. On December 7, after of America was
months of planning and practice, the suddenly and delib-
Japanese launched their attack. erately attacked.”
WINTER 5 At about 8 a.m., Japanese planes filled He went on to say,
STORMS the sky over Pearl Harbor. Bombs and “No matter now
bullets rained onto the vessels moored long it may take us
below. At 8:10, a 1,800-pound bomb to overcome this
smashed through the deck of the battle- premeditated inva-

2. Page 2
From http://www.dailypress.com/news/military/pearl-harbor/dp-nws-pearl-harbor-day2-story,0,2764406.story
Pearl Harbor Part 2: The height of the attack
70 Years From Infamy: Hampton Roads remembers
By Hugh Lessig, hlessig@dailypress.com | 247- here I try to write a story of the happenings of Reaching the shore, he was directed to a mess
7821 'The Attack' when I know I can't write. hall where the tables held wounded men. The
Part two of four. 19-year-old Ohio farm boy got his first taste of
"Here's a dive bomber" war.
Growing up in Allentown, Pa., Bill Muehleib
would visit his grandmother's house and listen Bill Temple, stationed well inland at Wheeler "Some of them had been burned, and there was
to Hawaiian music on the Victrola. A curious Field, probably wished the battle had been far- just flesh hanging off them," he said. "You've
kid by nature, he always wanted to visit the ther away. never seen nothing like that. I'd seen a guy cut
islands. his thumb once, and that was the limit of what
Japanese planes targeted Wheeler in a furious I'd seen before that. You can imagine. I'm a
He got his wish when he arrived in Hawaii in bid to destroy sitting American aircraft before country boy here that maybe sees a guy get his
November 1940 as a member of the Army they could take off. Tech Sgt. Temple, a member foot cut on a bottle or something."
Air Corps. A little more than one year later, of the Army Air Corps, had witnessed the first
he watched from Hickam Field as Japanese rush of the attack and gone to fetch ammunition. One confirmed kill
aircraft unleashed a lethal fury of bombs and But had grabbed .45-caliber rounds. He needed
torpedoes on Pearl Harbor. ordnance capable of bringing down aircraft. On the USS Phelps, ship's cook Frank Chebetar
of Virginia Beach was at the controls of a four-
As the attack escalated, Muehleib found him- As the attack intensified, he began a return trip barreled anti-aircraft gun that he operated with
self away from the flight line and with a good to the same hangar. a foot pedal. As members of the gun crew fed
view of the action. Enemy aircraft flew over, in rounds, Chebetar took aim at incoming Japa-
and he could see the bombs drop. He could "I didn't want to run down the street again be- nese fighters and bombers as the ship got un-
see the impact. cause I knew they were shooting past me," said der way. He saw the USS Utah, an old training
Temple, now 92 and a resident of Virginia Beach. battleship. It had capsized.
Strangely, Hawaii seemed like a far-off place all "I didn't get hit, but I didn't want to take that
over again. chance again." "The men were crawling over the side like
ants," he said. "And they were still strafing
"It was a rather disorganized experience," said He decided to run behind a row of buildings everybody, even the men in the water."
Muehleib, now 89 and living in Virginia Beach. where workers had begun to dig foundations for
"You actually felt like you were watching new structures. He figured to hide in the founda- Fighting through his fear, Chebetar and his gun
something that was happening somewhere tions and gradually work his way to the hangar. crew kept pounding away at low-flying Japanese
else." As he began his trek, he noticed two men com- planes. He shot down one plane, but he wasn't
ing toward him. celebrating.
"It just can't be true"
"One had on a white jacket," Temple said. "The "I was so scared that I even cried," he said.
Betty Campen, a civilian government worker, next thing I know, here's a dive bomber. I saw "That's how bad it was."
lived near Waikiki, some miles away from the him release his bomb and you could tell right
attack. Glued to the radio for news, she re- when he released the bomb where it was going Radio and typewriter
corded events in her diary as they occurred. to hit. And sure enough, it hit those two guys.
The next thing I know that white shirt was way If Pearl Harbor happened today, civilians would
“I hear a call for a number of doctors being up in the air." turn to their smart phones and dash off their
called to the Tripler General Hospital. It must thoughts. As the attack intensified, Betty
be there really was damage done. It just can't Dove into the water Campen was doing a fairly good imitation with
be that this is all happening. It just can't be a clunky typewriter. Listening to a short-wave
true and yet, when you hear these things over Russell Argabrite was trapped below decks on radio, she was tweeting without being able to
the radio and see the deserted streets, well, it the battleship USS California. A spring-loaded hit send:
really begins to sink in. This call for the doc- hatch blocked his way and above him came the
tors, really sounds bad.” sound of men yelling "Abandon ship!" Years No more lulls, here's some more. Flash! Keep
later, he recalled the moment with a chuckle. all fire engines going. Another flash: 3 enemy
A young woman with a sense of adventure, planes and 4 Jap transports sighted off Barber
Campen had moved to Hawaii from Oregon. "Of course," he said, "there wasn't nowhere to Point. The enemy is coming in toward the Point
She clearly thought women could hold their go." -- 90 miles off coast . . . I'm rather confused
own in the 1940s, an attitude destined to with these Japs hitting all these different places
become more fashionable as men moved to Then someone opened the hatch. A moment but I'll try to make it more systematic.
the battlefield and women moved to the later, he dove over the side of the ship, still
workplace. wearing his shoes, and swam toward Ford Island Later, she paused to reflect.
through a sea of black fuel oil.
Now they change one of their former state- Yes, I mustn't forget. We heard this morning
ments that civilian employees of Pearl Harbor "I think it took me a month to get it out of the around 12 that Japan had declared war on us.
are now permitted to report to Pearl Harbor roots of my hair," he said. "It's really gooey and So I guess we're in it now. After they hit they
-- except women. Darn, why can't they let the it's really uncomfortable, and slick. You can't declare war, nice of them, and they haven't
women (in) on a little excitement, instead of stand up. You got over there, and it's on the even declared war on China yet. Oh well, they
making us just sit here and 'wonder' what it's soles of your shoes and you can hardly stand have to treat U.S. with respect.
all about. I can't even take any exciting movie up."
shots. My chance to make myself famous and CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

3. Page 3
By CW2 Jennifer Long November is Alzheimer’s foods in your diet such
CO, A Co, 4/1, GSDF Awareness Month. There are as fish and fresh fruits
5.4 million Americans living and vegetables.
“Yesterday, December 7, I can remember a coffee mug with Alzheimer’s disease.  Engage in activities that
1941—a date which will live my grandparents had that This means 1 out of 8 older challenge your mind,
in infamy—the United States read, “Let me tell you about Americans has it. Alzheimer's such as crossword
of America was suddenly and my grandchildren.” To switch disease is the sixth-leading puzzles and strategy
deliberately attacked by it around just a bit, let me tell cause of death in the United games
naval and air forces of the you about my grandmother: States and the only cause of  Exercise regularly
Empire of Japan… No matter death among the top 10 in
how long it may take us to Granny celebrated her 85th the United States that cannot My mother has been the
overcome this premeditated birthday on Veterans Day. In be prevented, cured or even primary caregiver for my
invasion, the American these 85 years she has seen slowed. It was first described grandparents since last year
people will through their and done so many things that in 1906 by Dr. Alois Alz- when they were no longer
righteous might win through most of us only read about. heimer as a “peculiar disease” able to live alone. It has
to absolute victory… With She can recall Orson Wells’ in which the patient became been an emotional roller
confidence in our armed famous “War of the Worlds” progressively more confused, coaster for her. There are
forces-with the unbounded broadcast, and the people suspicious, and had difficulty tips that are suggestions and
determination of our people- panicking in the streets out- with everyday motor skills. resources for those caring
we will gain the inevitable side her home in 1938. She Since then many famous peo- for loved ones with the dis-
triumph-so help us God. I, remembers Pearl Harbor, and ple have been diagnosed with
wedding her handsome Sol- ease.
therefore, ask that the the disease including former  Try not to take the
Congress declare that since dier secretly 67 years ago so President Ronald Reagan,
behaviors personally.
the dastardly and unprovoked she would be allowed to boxer Sugar Ray Robinson,  Remain patient and
attack by Japan on Sunday, complete her senior year of actress Rita Hayworth, singer calm.
December seventh, a state of high school. She remembers Glen Campbell, and civil
V-mail and USO dances dur-  Don’t argue.
war has existed between the rights icon Rosa Parks.
ing WWII. She remembers  Know that pain and
United States and the
the births of her two chil- illness, such as urinary
Japanese Empire.” There are a number of treat-
dren, three grandchildren, tract infections, can
- Franklin D. Roosevelt on able conditions that mimic
and six great-grandsons. She dementia or the beginning make things worse.
Dec. 8, 1941, asking
is still funny, witty, and has a  Don’t be afraid to get
Congress to declare war on stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
Japan capacity to love like no other. These include side effects help.
from some medications, de-
"A military man can scarcely Granny struggles to remem- Read more: http://
pression, vitamin B-12 defi-
pride himself on having ber some ordinary things. www.alz.org/care/alzheimers-
ciency, thyroid disease, meta- dementia-stages-
'smitten a sleeping enemy'; it Some days she cannot quite bolic and organ system disor- behaviors.asp#ixzz2Ck3blbgA
is more a matter of shame, remember which end of a ders, and alcohol abuse.
simply, for the one smitten. I fork to use. She will ask you While there is not yet a cure,
would rather you made your the same question or tell the there are things you can do
appraisal after seeing what same story over and over, or to improve your overall
the enemy does, since it is will search for the right health and reduce your risk
certain that, angered and words. Putting on a jacket of Alzheimer’s disease, as
outraged, he will soon launch always requires help. She can well as diabetes, heart dis-
a determined counterattack." only get in a car on the pas- ease, and stroke.
- The Reluctant Admiral by senger side because she can-  Don’t smoke. If you
Hiroyuki Agawa (from a reply not change the process in her are already a smoker,
by Admiral Yamamoto to mind to do it the other direc- stop now.
Ogata Taketora on January 9, tion. She no longer walks and  Avoid a high-fat diet
1941) requires assistance for almost and limit your salt
every activity of daily life. intake. Include more

4. Volume 3, Issue 14 Page 4
PEARL HARBOR: Continued from Page 2
Saving the car late night party on Saturday -- ran and changed into his
flight suit. Russell Argabrite: The career Navy man died in
Carl Ferreira, now living in Poquoson, was 11 years 1990 and lived much of his later life in Norfolk. His
old that morning, and his father worked for the Army Being the crew chief, Temple stood on the wing as the Pearl Harbor memories aboard the USS California
Corps of Engineers. He lived about 16 miles from pilot settled in. He hooked up his oxygen supply, his were documented in the North Texas State Univer-
Pearl Harbor on Wilhelmina Rise, basically on the side safety belt, and performed other checks. About that sity Oral History Project, excerpts of which were
of a mountain. He had a panoramic view. time, a line of Japanese fighters made another run at the provided to the Daily Press by his daughter, Martha
field. The pilot didn't wait for Temple to finish. Cassidy, also of Norfolk.
That morning, he and his family listened intently to the
radio as the first reports of the attack came in. His "He just reached out and pushed the throttle forward, Betty Campen: A wife and mother of two, Betty
uncle, a bachelor, had been living with the family in a and here we go down the runway," Temple said. "I'm Campen died in 2007 in Chesapeake. She left behind
basement apartment and working at Pearl Harbor as a hanging on the wing. I'm thinking, 'If I drop off now, that a diary that was shared with the Daily Press by her
civilian blacksmith. tail's gonna cut me in two." Once the plane gained daughter, Cindy Campen Graham of Smithfield.
enough speed for the tail to rise out of the way, he was
His uncle worked through the night on Dec. 6 and able to drop down. Frank Chebetar: The Virginia Beach resident served
planned to leave work the morning of the 7th. Once on the USS Phelps. He heads the Tidewater chapter
the attack broke out, his family didn't see him until 10 That pilot made it into the air and shot down three of the Pearl Harbor Survivors' Association.
a.m. He pulled into the driveway with his brand new Japanese fighters in succession, Temple said. Later, Tem-
car, a maroon Oldsmobile convertible with one of ple and other men would cobble together 13 P-40 fight- Frederick Crow: The son of a Navy chief, he wit-
those spiffy Hydra-Matic transmissions, a true auto- ers from spare parts scattered over the airfield. Thinking nessed the attack as a boy and now lives in Wil-
matic. He parked the car, got out, and said he needed back, he can't believe he made it through the day. liamsburg.
to hitch a ride back to Pearl.
And he saw more than he needed to see. Carl Ferreira: A resident of Poquoson, Ferreira was
So ... why did he come home? 11 years old on the morning of the attack. His per-
"A guy trying to run from one place to another, they just spective comes from living "up on the heights," what
"I don't want some Jap blowing up my new car!" shot him, cut him right in two. His legs kept -- and then his family called Wilhelmina Rise.
they fell over. Some of the things, I just don't like to tell
The family didn't see him for the next few days. other people." William Muehleib: A private in the Army Air Corps,
Muehleib was stationed at Hickam Field and assigned
Taking a tumble Tomorrow: As day turns into night, fear and paranoia to the 6th Pursuit Squadron in the 18th Pursuit
rule the island. Group, and is the president of the Pearl Harbor
Back at Wheeler Field, Tech Sgt. Bill Temple had run a About these stories Survivors Association. He lives in Virginia Beach.
gauntlet of enemy fire to reach a hangar, hoping to
retrieve right-size ammunition. He found none, but he Over the next four days, the Daily Press reflects on the Bill Temple: The Virginia Beach resident, now 92,
did come across an American pilot trying to get his P- 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor through was a flight chief in Army Air Corps, stationed at
40 into the air. Temple and another man loaded the the eyes of seven people who witnessed it from various Wheeler Field, a member of the 19th Pursuit Squad-
plane as the pilot -- still dressed in a tuxedo from a perspectives. Here, in alphabetical order, is the cast: ron in the same 18th Pursuit Group as Muehleib.
Born: May 29, 1736, academe. He would not apply himself to studies either. tution proposed in 1787. He was in favor of the
Hanover County At age 21 his father set him up in a business that he strongest possible government for the individual
Died: June 6, 1799, Red bankrupted shortly thereafter. Finally the general states, and a weak federal government. He was also
Hill Patrick Henry Na- public disgust in Hanover and pressure from his young very critical of the fact that the convention was
tional Memorial family (he had married at the age of eighteen) caused conducted in secret.
Children: Elizabeth him to study for six weeks and take the bar exam, President Washington appointed him Secretary of
Henry, Nathaniel Henry, which he passed, and begin work as a lawyer. State in 1795, but Henry declined the office. In 1799,
Anne Henry, Patrick In 1764 he moved to Louisa county, Virginia, where, as President Adams appointed him envoy to France,
Henry Jr., More a lawyer, he argued in defense of broad voting rights but failing health required him to decline this office
Spouse: Dorothea Dan- (suffrage) before the House of Burgesses. The follow- too. He died on June 6, 1799 at age of 63.
dridge (m. 1777–1799), ing year he was elected to the House and soon be-
Sarah Shelton (m. 1754– came its leading radical member. It was that year that Article provided by:
"Radical," is a title that few 1775) he proposed the Virginia Stamp Act Resolutions. Few
Siblings: Elizabeth http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/
men can wear with ease. members of the Burgesses, as aristocratic a group of
Henry Campbell Russell, henry.htm
The name Patrick Henry, legislators as existed in the colonies, would argue
during the revolution and William Henry
Parents: John Henry, openly for defiance of Gr. Britain. Henry argued with
for some time after, was remarkable eloquence and fervor in favor of the five "The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the
synonymous with that word Sarah Winston Syme acts, which by most accounts amounted to a treason vigilant, the active, the brave." - Speech to the
in the minds of colonists against the mother country. In 1774 he represented Virginia Convention at St. John's Church,
and Empire alike. Henry's reputation as a passionate Virginia in the First Continental Congress where he
and fiery orator exceeded even that of Samuel Adams. Richmond, Virginia, March 23, 1775
continued in the role of firebrand. At the outbreak of
His Stamp Act Resolutions were, arguably, the first the revolution, he returned to his native state and lead
shot fired in the Revolutionary War. militia in defense of Virginia's gunpowder store, when
Patrick Henry's personality was a curious antidote to the royal Governor spirited it aboard a British ship. "I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided,
the stern honor of Washington, the refined logic of Henry forced the Governor Lord Dunmore to pay for and that is the lamp of experience. I know no way of
Jefferson, and the well-tempered industry of Franklin. the powder at fair price.
Young Henry was an idler and by many accounts a judging of the future but by the past." -Speech to
In 1776, Henry was elected Governor of Virginia. He
derelict; though everyone knew he was bright, he the Virginia Convention at St. John's
was re-elected for three terms and then succeeded by
simply would not lift a finger except to his own pleas- Thomas Jefferson. He was again elected to the office in Church, Richmond, Virginia, March 25,
ure. By the age of 10, his family knew that he would 1784. Patrick Henry was a strong critic of the consti- 1775
not be a farmer, and tried instead to train him toward

5. Volume 3, Issue 14 Page 5
avoid these extreme dangers. You also need
to know what to do if you see symptoms of
these threats.
• A major winter storm can last for several
Message 1 days and be accompanied by high winds,
freezing rain or sleet, heavy snowfall and cold
From: FEMA (Federal Emergency temperatures.
Management Agency)
<fema@service.govdelivery.com> • People can become trapped at home or in a
Date: 11/29/2012 car, without utilities or other assistance.
Subject: FEMA (Federal Emergency
• Attempting to walk for help in a winter
Management Agency) FEMA on Face- storm can be a deadly decision.
book Update
Timeline Photos • The aftermath of a winter storm can have
Subscribe to FEMA on Facebook for Are You Prepared for Winter Weather? an impact on a community or region for days,
weeks or even months.
FEMA (Federal Emergency Manage- • Each year, dozens of Americans die due to
ment Agency). This information has exposure to cold. Add to that number, vehicle • Extremely cold temperatures, heavy snow
recently been updated, and is now accidents and fatalities, fires due to dangerous and coastal flooding can cause hazardous
use of heaters and other winter weather fatali- conditions and hidden problems.
available.
http://www.facebook.com/ ties and you have a significant threat.
For more information, please refer to the
FEMA/posts/377706965646959 • Threats, such as hypothermia and frostbite, NWS Publication: Winter Storms...The De-
11/28/2012 12:32 PM EST can lead to loss of fingers and toes or cause ceptive Killers at http://www.nws.noaa.gov/
permanent kidney, pancreas and liver injury and om/winter/resources/
even death. You must prepare properly to Winter_Storms2008.pdf
dren. Cannon and his ECMO team members had one
The case marked the first time the medical center thought after assessing Jane: "She's going to die if
has treated an adult with extracorporeal membrane we don't use ECMO."
oxygenation, or ECMO, a heart-lung bypass system Cannon and a select team of specialists had been
that circulates blood through an external artificial lung training for this moment for more than a year,
and sends it back into the patient's bloodstream. thanks to a Defense Department grant that pro-
"This is a true success story," said Air Force Lt. vided ECMO supplies, training funds and equipment
Col. (Dr.) Jeremy Cannon, the hospital's trauma chief to explore the use of ECMO on adults.
and a key player in the case. "I firmly believe this ECMO is commonly used in neonatal intensive
patient would not be here if it wasn't for ECMO and a care units around the world on newborns with lung
tremendous team effort." issues such as meconium aspiration, a medical con-
Cannon first heard of the case a few months ago, dition that occurs when infants ingest their first
while he was in the midst of a surgery. He had asked stool before or during delivery. However, adult
to be paged whenever patients in the hospital devel- applications are much less common, mainly due to a
Air Force Lt. Col. (Dr.) Jeremy Cannon, right, and Dr. oped severe lung injury so he could assess them for lack of recent patient data.
Jeremy Pamplin place a patient on extracorporeal Cannon, however, had been observing ECMO suc-
ECMO treatment.
membrane oxygenation, or ECMO, in September 2012 The patient -- referred to as "Jane" in this article cesses since his residency and strongly believed in
at San Antonio Military Medical Center in Texas. to protect her privacy -- woke up several days earlier its outcomes for adults, particularly for patients on
ECMO is a heart-lung bypass system that circulates with itchy, irritated eyes, but she and her doctor the brink of death. He had transferred to SAMMC
blood through an external artificial lung and sends it chalked it up to an infection or a virus. It wasn't until from the Air Force's Wilford Hall Medical Center,
her symptoms spread and worsened that she decided which had the military's only infant and child ECMO
back into the patient's bloodstream. Photo courtesy of
an emergency room visit was in order. center, so he had ongoing exposure to the technol-
U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research A few hours later, Jane was diagnosed with severe ogy. Along with its experts, the neonatal ECMO
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high- toxic epidermal necrolysis, or TENS, an autoimmune center transferred to SAMMC last year.
resolution image available. reaction to medication. She was flown by helicopter Cannon said he brought his strong convictions
Military Docs Use Cutting-edge Device to from her south Texas hometown to the U.S. Army about the lifesaving potential of the technology to
Institute of Surgical Research's Burn Center, the De- his leadership and requested for Jane to be
Save Patient
fense Department's only burn center, which is located SAMMC's first adult ECMO patient. "I've been
11/29/2012 12:57 PM CST
By Elaine Sanchez in the medical center here. involved in ECMO cases for 15 years," he said. "I
The TENS progressed quickly, and by the time she saw the benefit and felt confident we had the team
Brooke Army Medical Center
reached the hospital, Jane's skin was sloughing off, her structure and protocols in place."
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUS- lungs were filling with fluid and tissue, and her vital
TON, Texas, Nov. 29, 2012 - Doctors from San organs were failing. She was admitted to the Burn CONTINUED ON PAGE 6...
Antonio Military Medical Center here saved a young Center on Sept. 15 and initially was stabilized. How-
mother's life last month using cutting-edge technol- ever, when her condition worsened, Cannon was
ogy historically reserved for infants and young chil- alerted.

6. Serving the Georgia DoD, The U.S. Military, and our Veterans, One Family at a Time.
The J-9 Joint and Family Services Directorate and The Georgia Guard Family
Program:
J-9 JOINT AND
FAMILY SERVICES
DIRECTORATE
Georgia Department of Defense Our directorate services the military community of Georgia, providing those
1388 First Street, Bldg 840 (Finch Bldg) services, support and information that are vital to their care. Our staff is com-
1000 Halsey Avenue, Bldg 447, mitted to providing the best care, in a timely manner, and followed-thru to a
Mailroom
Marietta, GA 30060 successful conclusion so that Military Personnel, their families, and Veterans in
Georgia will have the resources, help, and information they need to thrive.
Point of Contact:
CW2 Barry D. Long
Human Resources/Systems/ATSO/
Safety Officer
barry.long@us.army.mil
We are on the web:
“Military Personnel, www.georgiaguardfamilyprogram.org
Families, and Veterans First!”
NATIONAL GUARD BUREAU
Family Programs (NGB-FP)
Mission: To establish and facilitate
ongoing communication, involvement,
support, and recognition between Na- Continued from page 5... ceived here." patients, and I'm very optimistic we'll
tional Guard families and the National Jane's lungs and skin are still healing, be able to offer these services to
Guard in a partnership that promotes
the best in both. The same day she checked in, Jane was but Cannon said he has high hopes for wounded warriors throughout their
put on ECMO, and stayed on it for 23 his patient, as well as for other SAMMC continuum of care," he said.
Family Programs Web Sites
days. patients who can be helped through Based on recent successes around
GuardFamily.org - The National Guard the nation, Cannon said, he expects
Family Program
It was touch-and-go at first, Can- ECMO.
non noted. "It was agonizing for 22 of Cannon also said he hopes to see an to see a resurgence in ECMO re-
GuardFamilyYouth.org - The National those 23 days," he recalled. increased use of adult ECMO in the war search around the world, which will
Guard Family Youth Program Finally, on Day 21, Jane's lungs zone, where it's already proved lifesav- help to build confidence in the tech-
started to clear, and two days later, ing for several troops. In 2010, an nology for adults. A trial with strict
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Air National Guard Family Guide [PDF] staff transitioned her from ECMO to a ECMO-trained team picked up a soldier research protocols based in France is
standard ventilator. "Within a day and in Kandahar, Afghanistan, who had been now under way and promises to
a half, she went from profoundly ill to shot in the chest. His right lung had to answer some of the unknowns that
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Phone: (888)777-7731 greatly improved," Cannon said, noting be removed, a procedure that typically remain about the use of ECMO in
Fax: 703-607-0762 the team effort of experts across the carries a 100 percent mortality rate. adults, he noted.
Email: ngb.J1.fp@ng.army.mil
hospital. However, the lung team placed him on Whatever the future holds, Can-
"It was exhilarating to see her get ECMO and he quickly recovered in a non said, he'll never forget the lifesav-
better, thanks to a concerted effort," hospital in Germany. ing impact of ECMO for Jane. "All of
he added. Cannon recalled meeting this patient this came together beautifully, and it
Maria Serio-Melvin, ISR nurse re- a few weeks after he arrived at worked," he said. "She's alive because
search consultant, also credited the SAMMC. "He's married now and enjoy- of an amazing team effort."
procedure's success to an "intense, ing life," he said. Since then, there have The day she improved, he added,
collaborative, cooperative effort" be- been five ECMO transports from the "was the pinnacle day in my medical
tween the ISR and ECMO teams. battlefield to Germany, he added. career."
A few weeks later, Jane is now an Cannon said his long-term vision is
outpatient, staying with her mother in to see ECMO patients transported
town until she gains enough strength directly from the battlefield to a state-
to return home. "It's been tough, but side location, such as the medical cen-
I'm not going to give up," Jane said in a ter here, for their recovery.
recent interview at the hospital. "I can't "We've proven we can very safely
say enough about the care I've re- take care of even most critically ill