Norman J. Harris, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery
Off we go...
I loved aviation as a little kid. I wanted to be a
rocket engineer in the space program, but I couldn't do the math. I
remember tormenting WWII veterans for their stories.
I entered the U.S. Air Force as a sponsored senior medical student.
I then went on to do my internship as an active duty medical officer
at the USAF Hospital Wright-Patterson in Dayton, Ohio. My neighbors
in the base housing were, for the most part, graduate students at
the Air Force Institute of Technology. Listening to their
conversation taught me about how aircraft weapons systems come to
be. I couldn't resist volunteering for flight surgeon training at
Brooks Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, immediately after
internship. They said some bizarre things, and I met some strange
people. I still had no clue what was coming.
My first duty assignment was at Otis Air Force Base on Cape Cod. I was assigned to the 551st USAF Hospital. I was to become the head flight surgeon. I was the investigating medical officer for three aircraft accidents. I set up the hospital disaster response. I was responsible for base public health. I fought for better hospital participation in disaster drills. I cornered the market on long acting penicillin when I carried out my orders to stop a strep epidemic. I shut down the base theatre when it was overrun with rats. I cooperated with the inspector general when Congress sent them. I was sent to Viet Nam.
Danang, Vietnam is beautiful. My assignment was to the 366TFW Dispensary and 22nd CSF. I was Wing Flight Surgeon and Deputy Dispensary Commander. I had read 'Catch 22' at home and laughed a lot. In Danang I re-read it. It wasn't funny. I made friendships that last to this day. I saw things I never want to see or think about again. I encountered people who absolutely terrified me. They were on our side.
They gave me medals. NDSM, Viet Nam Service, Distinguished Unit Citation, Air Medal, Bronze Star. They gave me a MACV card. I left it at the Wall in Washington
I learned about air sickness...
I got to fly in EC121D's, B57', C141, F4Ds, C130's, C 47's, O 2's. and several helicopters. I have much right seat time, but never soloed. I have dived into the teeth of the enemy in dive bombers, seen the B 52 Arc light missions up close, ridden with the Ranch Hands and flown through a tree. I was shot at, rocketed and ignored. I loved every bit of it