Backdoor Draft Nabs 70 Year Old

“I wonder if there are any WWI vets they can corral before they die of old age. Or maybe our fearless Prez and VP might volunteer in place of this man.

"Retired Army colonel, 70, sent to Afghanistan

By R. NORMAN MOODY
Gannett News Service

Dr. John Caulfield thought it had to be a mistake when the Army asked him to return to active duty. After all, he's 70 years old and had already retired - twice. He left the Army in 1980 and private practice two years ago.

"My first reaction was disbelief," Caulfield said. "It never occurred to me that they would call a 70-year-old."

In fact, he was so sure it was an error that he ignored the postcards and telephone messages asking if he would be willing to volunteer for active duty to "backfill" somewhere on the East Coast, Europe or Hawaii. That would be OK, he thought. It would release active duty oral surgeons from those areas to go to combat zones in Iraq or Afghanistan.

But then the orders came for him to go to Afghanistan.

Today, Caulfield, a colonel from Satellite Beach, Fla., is an example of how the continuing demands of keeping ground troops in Afghanistan and Iraq are forcing the military to go to extraordinary measures to keep its ranks filled. He's attending to patients - U.S. troops, Afghan soldiers and civilians - at the Army's 325th Field Hospital in Bagram, Afghanistan.

He is one of about 100 over the age of 60 known to be serving. The Department of Defense couldn't provide exact figures.

Lt. Col. Bryan Hilferty, an Army spokesman, said the service has taken back some 350 soldiers who had already retired from the military. But some of those could have done 20 years of duty and still be only in their late 30s. He did not know how many of the returning retirees are 60 or older.

The reason, he said, is clear: "It's the continuing demand in the service."

The Navy has 36 medical personnel and 16 chaplains who are over 60.

There is one Marine between 60 and 65 currently serving.

The Air Force has 12 chaplains over 60 and 32 medical personnel between 60 and 65.

"The rules say it's at 60 years of age when people retire," said Dov Schwartz, an Army spokesman. The Army will issue waivers allowing people who are older to serve if they have needed skills. Returning, though, is "totally voluntary," Schwartz said.

Caulfield has much-needed experience in gunshot and fragmentation injuries.

"We salute his courage," Schwartz said. "We salute his bravery."

Caulfield lived and practiced oral surgery in Salisbury, N.C., before moving to Satellite Beach two years ago.

When the call came, he had no qualms about serving. He said that because the wars in Afghanistan and in Iraq were within such a close time, the military is exhausting some specialties. They have rotated some reservists in and out.

"Because there is no draft, they are using and maybe overusing the National Guard and Reserve," he said. "There is no obligatory method."

Caulfield said he is glad to be able to help.

"I've been a soldier for 25 years," he said. "When your country asks, you do it."

His wife of 47 years, Patricia, said she thought a cruise through the Panama Canal they took after he gave up his private practice would be the most adventurous experience they would have after retirement.

"I feel a lot more comfortable than when he was in Vietnam," she said. "This is a great way to finish his career."

Getting ready involved updating his medical credentials and re-establishing military security clearances. His pre-deployment preparation at Fort Benning, Ga., included making sure he was physically fit and could use a gun. Caulfield carries a gun in a holster strapped to his side, sometimes under his scrubs.

"Getting used to wearing boots and carrying a gun is a little unusual," he said.

But the habits of an old soldier didn't fade away.

"Readjusting to the Army was a lot like riding a bicycle again after 24 years: a little rocky at first, but you make adjustments and it comes back to you," he said."”

“Come on! This guy wasn't "corraled." He was contacted and asked; and he voluntarily said yes. He could have said no. He is doing this of his own volition. I applaud him.”

“He couldn't possibly be a WWI vet. Even WWII is hardly possible. He is too young.
Possibly Korea.”

“That is awesome that he still has a lot to contribute. It also kind of shows what I was trying to explain on another thread about duty, honor and partiatism. See, this guy "gets it". His generation will probably be the last of the great warriars.”

“Read the article very carefully. The important paragraghs are:
>
"In fact, he was so sure it was an error that he ignored the postcards and telephone messages asking if he would be willing to volunteer for active duty to "backfill" somewhere on the East Coast, Europe or Hawaii. That would be OK, he thought. It would release active duty oral surgeons from those areas to go to combat zones in Iraq or Afghanistan.
>
But then the orders came for him to go to Afghanistan."
>
"BUT THEN THE ORDERS CAME." So what happened was the man volunteered to backfill a position in a non-combat theater of operation. Then once the Army had him by the short hairs they ORDERED him to Afghanistan!
>
My point is they have to do this to 70 year old retirees to keep the Army functioning as it should on a wartime basis. Does no one see the irony of this situation?
last edited: 12/14/04 11:36:38 AM”

“It sure didn't sound optional to me.”

“Ordering 70 year olds to active duty sounds improper if not desperate.”

“It's optional.

"The rules say it's at 60 years of age when people retire," said Dov Schwartz, an Army spokesman. The Army will issue waivers allowing people who are older to serve if they have needed skills. Returning, though, is "totally voluntary," Schwartz said."”

“He ignored the notices until he was ordered to go to Afghanistan, the article says. So, how is that voluntary?”

“He thought the notices were a mistake. Somehow it was brought to his attention that they weren't, in fact, a mistake and that his country was asking him to serve again. At that point, he could have said yes or he could have said no.

Seems to me that the point of the article is that an older gentleman who could have declined chose instead to offer his services with pride. I don't see that the spirit of the article is that this poor guy was roped into doing something that he didn't want to do.”

“Hey, isn't that the way wiseguys get someone to "volunteer" ??”

“or did you read the article? The man volunteered to backfill a position in a non-combat theater. After volunteering he was then ordered to Afghanistan. Not quite the same thing.
>
Give him credit. He went anyway. The point here is that the USA spends about 10 to 20 times on our defense budget as the other top four countries combined. After all this money they still have to resort to trickery to get a 70 year old man to go back into the service. That's how desparate they are. Hence my prediction that within 18 months, if we are not out of Iraq, there will be a draft.
last edited: 12/14/04 12:28:09 PM”

“In fact, he was so sure it was an error that he ignored the postcards and telephone messages asking if he would be willing to volunteer for active duty to "backfill" somewhere on the East Coast, Europe or Hawaii. That would be OK, he thought. It would release active duty oral surgeons from those areas to go to combat zones in Iraq or Afghanistan.

But then the orders came for him to go to Afghanistan

He was ok with the decision to go back here in the states. Then, it says, that he got ordered to Afghanistan. Once again. this does not seem to be voluntary...”

“I did some Googling and the only other piece I found besides the story done by Mr. Moody was this one on the ADA.org site. It\'s amazing what a difference the source can make...

70-year-old oral surgeon heeds Army\'s call to duty

By Craig Palmer

Satellite Beach, Fla. — Dr. John J. Caulfield was incredulous about the Army\'s \"unsolicited communication\" inviting his return to active duty toward easing increasing wartime demands on military medical treatment facilities.

He disregarded the first postcard last December and the second and subsequent phone messages on the answering machine, not from any unwillingness to serve — \"My government has never asked me to do anything I ever refused\" — but figuring they used the wrong mailing list, it\'s not really me they want.

The Army persisted. Would Dr. Caulfield, oral surgeon and Vietnam veteran, retired from military service in 1980 and civilian practice Jan. 1, be willing to return to active duty in, say, Iraq or Afghanistan? The negotiations began with Dr. Caulfield asking, \"Do you know how old I am?\" They did, and age doesn\'t matter, \"We want you.\"

Dr. Caulfield, who turned 70 Aug. 7, reports to Fort Benning, Ga., Oct. 17 for what he and the military describe as \"voluntary deployment\" with the 325th Combat Support Hospital in Bagram, Afghanistan.

\"I don\'t know at this time if there is anyone older,\" said Lt. Col. Bryan Hilferty, Army public affairs officer. \"But there are no age limitations for retired medical professionals. We sent cards to hundreds of people. It\'s a personnel policy. In certain specialties we are asking for retired professionals to return for a short tour on active duty. But it\'s purely voluntary. It\'s really for a volunteer in good shape. There\'s a lot of need for medical professionals over there.\"

How short the tour? Dr. Caulfield understands it to be a three-month assignment. \"I believe it\'s 120 days,\" said Lt. Col. Hilferty.

Dr. Caulfield sees himself as \"a kind of fatalist\" and Afghanistan as \"moderately busy for my specialty.\" He invokes harsher descriptions for the requisite reconstruction of professional and military careers just to get the assignment. \"Getting reactivated is a complicated, time consuming, frustrating and, yes, somewhat demeaning process,\" he said.

What it meant was \"vetting\" the past by running down all the transcripts, personal recommendations and documentation from high school, college, professional school, internship, residency, licensure boards, hospitals with privilege, professional liability history and appointments \"from everywhere I had ever practiced or been licensed.\" That meant affirmation from a classmate at a high school that no longer exists who said upon their reacquaintance, \"John, I heard you were dead.\"

So it came to this. \"After clearing it with my wife of 47 years, I agreed to go anyplace where she could join me.\" The Army suggested Iraq. \"Only if I\'m really needed,\" Dr. Caulfield demurred. Then how about Afghanistan? the Army responded.

\"Let\'s put it this way, I have orders,\" said Dr. Caulfield. \"So much for going somewhere my wife could accompany me.\"

\"We appreciate people like Dr. Caulfield,\" said Lt. Col. Hilferty. \"He\'s a patriot. I have great respect for him.\"

Dr. Caulfield, father of four, grandfather of eight, figures he\'s in \"reasonable good health with the exception of meds for hypertension, acid reflux and a little osteoarthritis,\" and good to go. But he wonders if the Army Medical Service isn\'t \"stretched thin\" in having to reach for retired oral surgeons, ophthalmologists, psychiatrists, nurse anesthetists and other specialists for combat duty.”

“Let's see if he comes home before his 72nd birthday...”

“Thank you, Nigal. :)”

“That's ok. Three months? Tell that to the National Guardsmen that are complaining over there because they are already six months past their discharge dates, with no end in sight.

Oh, sorry. The army brass says it? Hey, it has to be true!!!”

“Tree, seriousely dude, you're looking for a fight and I'm not biting. I just wanted to see if there were any other sources saying anything about the story. I'm just offering balance.”

“Not looking for a fight, Nigal. But, you just googled until you found what you wanted and then discarded the other source. Which is more credible? I couldn't tell you. Just my observation. Don't take it as confrontational...

Now, go eat some ethnic food. And not that Taco Bell crap, either! :)”

“"Ruby Are You Particularly Dense" - sh

First to call someone 'stupid' loses!
Ruby wins!”

“Now, listen you stupid redneck....



Do I get a consolation prize, Stovie? :)”

“Thanks, Stovey! I love ya!”

“dense and stupid isn't the same

stu·pid
adj. stu·pid·er, stu·pid·est
Slow to learn or understand; obtuse.
Tending to make poor decisions or careless mistakes.
Marked by a lack of intelligence or care; foolish or careless: a stupid mistake.
Dazed, stunned, or stupefied.
Pointless; worthless: a stupid job.



dense
Having relatively high density.
Crowded closely together; compact: a dense population.
Hard to penetrate; thick: a dense jungle.

Permitting little light to pass through, because of compactness of matter: dense glass; a dense fog.
Opaque, with good contrast between light and dark areas. Used of a photographic negative.
Difficult to understand because of complexity or obscurity: a dense novel.
Slow to apprehend; thickheaded.”

“cool, ewk! i win...”

““Not looking for a fight, Nigal. But, you just googled until you found what you wanted and then discarded the other source."

No, as I clearly stated I googled the 70 year old's name and the ONLY two stories were repeats of Moody's story and the one at American Dental Associates. These were the ONLY two I found. I hardly would the ADA a political outlet either.”

“dense and stupid isn't the same

shouldn't that be "aren't"?


LOL

Just kidding, Ewker.





I may not be the smartest person on TT, but I don't know anyone who knows me who thinks I'm stupid (or dense for that matter).”

“Whatever, Nig. Not looking to nitpick here. If this guy wants to go, then God bless him and I hope he stays safe.”

“dense and stupid isn't the same

shouldn't that be "aren't"?


LOL

Just kidding, Ewker.





I may not be the smartest person on TT, but I don't know anyone who knows me who thinks I'm stupid (or dense for that matter).”
Ruby
4:27:56 PM
12/14/04

aren't, isn't..whatever!! Are you an English teacher also??

then you haven't heard wk talking behind your back”

“Don't try to start a fight between friends, Ewker. Or I might leave the board in a huff. ;)

And no. I'm not an English teacher. But English rules of grammar are one of my areas of expertise that I utilize in my work.

I'm trying to keep this light. Don't make it ugly.”

“Don't try to start a fight between friends, Ewker. Or I might leave the board in a huff. ;)

oh NO!! another I'm leaving thread..lol

And no. I'm not an English teacher. But English rules of grammar are one of my areas of expertise that I utilize in my work.

good, this isn't work, this is play

I'm trying to keep this light. Don't make it ugly.”
Ruby
4:39:17 PM
12/14/04

trying to keep what light the thread? ugly as in what??”

“Damn, this conversation is getting petty and exhausting. I'm done with it.”

“"No, as I clearly stated I googled the 70 year old's name and the ONLY two stories were repeats of Moody's story and the one at American Dental Associates. These were the ONLY two I found. I hardly would the ADA a political outlet either.”
>
Well who's to say that the editor of the ADA.org article is apolitical? He could have been putting spin on the article to make oral surgeons look patriotic. Your source is no better or worse than mine.
>
Nevertheless, my point was not that a 70 year was forced or volunteered to go to Afghanistan. MY POINT IS that the Army is desperate for qualified personnel and this should not be the case. We spend way more on defense than the other top four countries combined. IMO the draft is coming back in city or town near you!
>
Ruby,
I'm sorry. I shouldn't have implied you were dense. It's just that I don't suffer fools very well these days. Maybe it would be better if you stayed over in the chatter threads. People are nicer there. Afterall, this is Fuego.
last edited: 12/14/04 6:01:24 PM”

“Today I was walking towards the coffee machine when I got sucked to the floor by a gravity-well.

My density shot through the roof! Luckily, before I was mashed into the floor a wormhole opened up and the gravity well was gone.”

“Condescension anyone?
Who's to decide which is the Fool? ;-)”

“The Fool is the one who dies with the most money.”

“BM, my post was not directed toward you, but I think you know that.”

“Is this now a thread about Ruby? This is fuego! No quarter expected or given. If you have no counterpoint to my premise maybe you should step away from the conversation.”

“I know, SS. just helping out in my usual way. ;)”

“Oh my.
True intelligent debate doesn't have to degenerate into turd throwing and name calling, as most of the far left on TT seems to believe.
If one decends into this, you have lost before you started.”

“Don't lump the whole left into one slur, you #&%!$ing Nazi!”

“LOL, I said the FAR LEFT, BM!”

“Oh. Never mind.”

“SH, you will find out that SS just copies and paste's. No comments from him. He likes to troll people into debates then says nothing.

Other than that he is a good guy.”

“LOL! Turd throwing and name calling indeed! Well then, I guess you have no answers as to why the Army would need to ask some old man to go back into the Army? I guess this was all part of the Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld/Perle/Wolfowitz/Feith/
Bolton/Franks gameplan?
>
SS do yourself a favor and stay out these types of threads. Nothing personal but you haven\'t said one pertinent thing since you came in. In threads I start I want to hear serious rebuttals. If you don\'t have good arguments I\'m going to toast you.”

“Old Guys are suckers and Barbara said George wasn't available.”

“Oh my goodness!
Just please don't call me a name! ;-)”

“I generally stay away from fuego threads. And there's a very good reason for it. Sometimes, some force takes over me and forces my fingers to type a response. Just kidding of course.

It's just that this particular subject can really rile me as it hits very close to home. The man I love more than any other is an officer in the Army NG currently serving over in Afghanistan. Through him I hear about how things really are over there concerning troop morale, the soldiers' willingness to serve and to be there, and so forth as opposed to the picture that the media often paints. He and the other soldiers are aware of the spin that is often presented to the generally unknowing public. And it leaves him just shaking his head sometimes.

So when I read a post on this topic, sometimes I just can't help myself. I will do my best to refrain from now on. Fuego just doesn't fit my personality anyway.

Having said all that, I'd still hike with most of you. ;-)”

“aren't, isn't..whatever!! Are you an English teacher also??

then you haven't heard wk talking behind your back”
Ewker
4:35:58 PM
12/14/04
ignore this user

Is this refering to me?
I don't think I have talked behind anyone's back here.”

“wk, it was a joke because of a comment vicsaw said”

“...for trying to incite the hint of some baseless suspicion or distrust between friends (WoundedKnee and me).

Enough already.

Ruby”