All,
I’ve heard many people say that the current crisis we’re all living through is this generation’s 9/11. Well, I’d like to share what my 9/11 experience was like, which might help folks gain some perspective on today’s emergency.
My family and I moved to Okinawa, Japan in August, 2000 where I assumed command of the Navy’s largest overseas hospital. Okinawa is home to the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force, our quick response force in the event something happens on the Korean peninsula, Taiwan or China. It’s also home to Kadena Airforce Base, considered the hub of airpower in the Pacific. There’s also a small Army garrison on the island to help with communications and other important support missions. Our hospital was the centerpiece of the community health network on the island as well as in the Western Pacific, where our primary mission was to ensure the readiness of the entire force in addition to caring for all the family members and retired military living on Okinawa and throughout the Western Pacific. All told, we were responsible for the care of about 47,000 people on Okinawa and over 185,000 Americans living or working in the Western Pacific region.
On September 11, 2001, I was at a meeting in Tokyo along with all the other senior medical personnel assigned to the Pacific theater to get updates on TRICARE, the military’s primary insurance program and to discuss ways of improving our operational medicine missions. After a late dinner I remember heading back to my room at about 10 p.m. on that evening. My cell phone rang and it was my Director for Administration asking me if I was watching TV. Not having the TV on, I immediately hit the remote just in time to see the second plane hit the south Tower of the World Trade Center. At that point, I think everyone immediately realized that this wasn’t an accident but rather an attack on our homeland. I immediately called back to my command and put them in what we called Condition Delta, the highest state of operational security, calling back essential personnel and increasing security around our facilities. I also called my wife back on Okinawa to let her know what was happening. We all watched in horror as the events unfolded that horrible morning in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. To make matters more stressful for those of us who needed to get back to Okinawa, Typhoon Nari was ravaging the island. We were actually able to get on a flight the next day, only to turn around and head back to Tokyo after attempting 2 landings in typhoon-force winds. Three days after the attacks, we finally got back to Okinawa to find life had changed. When I got back to my quarters, which was located on the same compound as the hospital, there was a Marine Corps Humvee equipped with a 50-caliber machine gun at the base of my driveway, just in case. All of the bases become armed camps because we simply didn’t know what might be coming at us next. In a short 24-hours we went from a peacetime posture to a wartime posture, resulting in people sheltering in place and essential services such as our commissary and childcare suspended for a short while. The next several weeks were consumed with security meetings, discussing operational plans and ensuring that everyone under our Area of Responsibility (AOR) remained safe. As you might imagine, it was an extremely stressful time for everyone, especially family members who didn’t know if their loved ones were going to be sent into harms way. I spent a good bit of time meeting with staff and family members to ensure that they had the most up-to-date information and to help keep everyone both informed and calm. We maintained this tempo of operations for a number of months. It seemed like it would never end, but eventually things started to loosen up and gradually, things got back to a new normal with increased security, additional travel restrictions and a much greater sense of purpose on the part of all of us in uniform.
I see several parallels with what we’re living through today and the terrorist attacks of 9/11. We don’t know as much as we’d like to about the coronavirus, similar to our situation back in 2001. Our lives certainly have been disrupted for our own protection. The more accurate and consistent information we’re able to get, the more comfortable we feel about the situation. We’re also waiting for a return to normal but now most of us understand that normal won’t be the same as it was about 2 months ago. The same was true back then.
It wasn’t more than a couple of weeks ago where people were talking about the importance of wearing masks outside. Now that we’ve seen some evidence that this might help to slow the spread of the virus, many of us adapted pretty quickly. I actually went on a long bike ride yesterday morning wearing a face mask. I’ll admit, it wasn’t very comfortable (and even a little gross) but I felt like it was protecting others and maybe even myself.
Like our situation in Okinawa and around the world following the attacks on 9/11, the COVID-19 pandemic will have a significant impact on all of our lives, more in the short-term, but nonetheless, it will change the way we do and see things. Meeting in large groups will happen again, but not for a long while and we might be wearing our masks more often than we’d like. We’ll adapt our behavior to these changes much like we’ve adapted to increased security at airports. We’ve already begun to adapt to virtual meetings, on-line classes and other changes in our normal routines. At times it will be inconvenient, uncomfortable and often feel like a real pain. It’s our new reality - we need to adjust and move forward.
I think we’re all very lucky to be in healthcare – whether you're teaching, learning, or in some support role – you all play a key role to ensure your patients, clients and loved ones remain safe, healthy and informed. We’re also very accustomed to adapting to new things, whether it be changes in clinical protocols or learning how apply new technologies to our practices.
Until we have a vaccine for COVID-19 we’ll need to keep our guard up and make some sacrifices. That could take between a year and eighteen months. No large-scale events should be permitted, social distancing at restaurants and other places will be essential, even wearing a face mask when around others and when we go outside may become commonplace. This too will pass – it’s just it will take some time.
I keep reminding you that we are SALUS STRONG – make no doubt about it, we are! Our armor is strong, but isn’t impenetrable. We have several support mechanisms to help us cope and get through all this. Whether you rely on your family and friends’ network or want to take advantage of our network of counselors at Salus, it’s healthy and important to talk about what scares you, what concerns you and what you might not understand. No one has all the answers right now, so you’re not alone. We will get through this together, you have my word on that!
That was my 9/11 story. The parallels to today are clear. As we’ve done in the past, we will come through this just fine. We will be smarter, having learned the lessons we’ve observed along the way, we will be more resilient and we will be better prepared the next time something like this happens.
Be safe, stay healthy by practicing social distancing, getting regular exercise and eating a healthy diet. Wash your hands frequently and please, keep in touch. I want to hear how you’re doing!
Mike
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