Saturday, October 23, 2010

The Snake Bite

I was watching a program tonight and it centered around animal bites. It brought to mind one night at the 24th in Vietnam when the call came in. The Medivac was bringing in a soldier from the field with a snake bite. The chopper landed and we brought in the guy along with the dead snake. I remember the snake looking very odd, rather large and green and yellow. No one at the hospital knew what type of snake it was and the only thing they could do was admit this young man and watch for dangerous symptoms.

I know those of us on duty that night were really concerned. I can't imagine how he felt being bitten by a snake that no one knew what type it was nor could they really do anything. This young man survived but again, I cannot comprehend how he must have felt through the night, most likely thinking and expecting the worst.

This was the only instance of a snake bit I can remember and this night and soldier have never been forgotten by me.

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