Adrift
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The elderly homeless man had difficulty talking and
was suffering from mild dementia. But one day a young
doctor opened a door to his past and discovered that he
had been a pilot in the Pacific during World War II.
And that he had a compelling story to tell.
By Emily Reagle Transue, M.D
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"Anyway, they
were having
trouble with their
periscope and they
finally got it fixed.
And the guy says,
'I put the thing up,
twirl it around,
and the first thing
I see is your ugly
face!'" Mr. Smith
laughed heartily.
"Gave him quite a
start, I guess."
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"But the sergeant,
he says to the doc,
'No way. They're
gettin' their asses
back on that
carrier before
nightfall. No two
ways about it.
Men,' he says,
'you're comin'
with me.' And
that old doc, he
just looks at the
sergeant."
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Emily Transue is a 1996 graduate of DMS whose work has appeared
often in these pages—most recently in the Fall 2000 issue.
She is now a general internist in private practice in Seattle. This
is a true story that took place during her internship at the University
of Washington, but identifying details have been changed.
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