FORT BENNING, Ga. –
Nearly a dozen of the selfless men and women who answered the Army’s call for volunteers to combat COVID-19 are going home from Fort Benning’s Martin Army Community Hospital. When the coronavirus pandemic response stretched medical resources to their breaking point nationwide, retired soldiers all over the United States dropped everything from their everyday lives and strapped on boots or pulled on scrubs.
Col. Lacey Homan made the extremely difficult decision to leave her elderly mother to help at BMACH six months ago. The Chief of Logistics is the primary caregiver to her mom in Merritt Island, Florida. The “gray area” reservist is one of the many non-medical respondents who felt compelled to answer the call of duty. During her time at Martin, Homan overhauled the logistics department by hiring more staff, redistributing workloads and improving morale. Homan spent 30 years in the service. But she said the separation from her mother this time was the hardest.
It was a homecoming of sorts for Col. Lorie Brown. The active duty retired nurse served as head nurse at Ft. Benning’s old hospital from 1997-2000. Brown is one of the thousands of volunteers sacrificing more than just time away from family. She is sacrificing well deserved retirement pay, earned after serving 25 years. Still, it was not even a question as she watched news coverage of New York City officials scrambling to set up tent hospitals. Brown knew her up to date nursing certifications would help in the fight against COVID-19. At Martin, Brown served as a consultant to The Joint Commission ensuring the hospital meets the highest standards for quality care.
As a licensed practical nurse, Sgt. 1st Class Rudy Villareal filled the crucial need for key medical personnel such as critical care officers, various nursing specialties and former medics. The active duty retired LPN left his wife and GS position in San Antonio, Texas to work at Martin’s Consolidated Troop Medical Clinic. Covering sick call at the CTMC allowed some relief to current staff deployed elsewhere. Villareal said leaving his wife was the hardest part of joining the pandemic response. But he felt the need to help battle COVID. Villareal said lots of skyping helped bridge the distance, until he goes home at the end of October.
Donning his uniform was bittersweet for certified registered nurse anesthetist Col. Roger Myers. The reserve retired CRNA said he volunteered because he felt compelled to help due to his love for the military. Coronavirus shut down all but non-elective surgeries at Martin. Myers administered anesthesia during those life-saving surgeries that could not be delayed. The Erie, Pennsylvania native said he will leave BMACH with mixed emotions since this will probably be his last time in uniform, after 30 years of service.