Richard Jadick
Encyclopedia
Richard H. Jadick, D.O. is an American Naval surgeon
who was awarded the Bronze Star
with “Combat V”
device for heroic valor in January 2006. He was credited with saving the lives of 30 Marines
and sailors during the Second Battle of Fallujah. Jadick was a lieutenant commander
in the U.S. Navy Reserve
, assigned as a battalion
surgeon to the 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment
of the 2nd Marine Division from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
.
in Delmar
, New York
(just south of Albany
). He earned his B.S.
degree in biology
from Ithaca College
and his D.O.
degree in osteopathic medicine from New York College of Osteopathic Medicine
in Old Westbury, New York
. He served as communications officer in the Marine Corps
prior to joining the Navy. He is currently receiving his residency training in Urology
at the Medical College of Georgia
.
. He was an unlikely volunteer because he was 38 years old, significantly older than most combat surgeons, and his wife was nine months pregnant.
Early in his tour of duty, Jadick observed a Marine who died because he bled to death before he could be evacuated to a hospital. He decided to establish an emergency room on the battlefield, where wounded Marines could receive treatment within a few minutes of being injured. While there, Jadick and his crew of young Corpsmen improvised a number of life saving techniques.
During the 11-day battle Jadick's team treated hundreds of men. Only one of those men died after reaching the hospital. Fifty-three Marines and United States Navy SEALs
died during the battle. Jadick's commanding officer estimated that another 30 would have died if Jadick had not been working so close to the front.
cover story titled "Hero, M.D." (although Jadick is actually a D.O., not an M.D.). He later published his own account of his experiences in a book called "On Call in Hell: A Doctor's Iraq War Story."
After serving a year in Iraq, Jadick returned to the United States and accepted a position as a Urology resident at the Medical College of Georgia. He remains on active duty.
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
who was awarded the Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
with “Combat V”
Valor device
The Valor device is an award of the United States military which is a bronze attachment to certain medals to indicate that it was received for valor...
device for heroic valor in January 2006. He was credited with saving the lives of 30 Marines
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
and sailors during the Second Battle of Fallujah. Jadick was a lieutenant commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
in the U.S. Navy Reserve
United States Navy Reserve
The United States Navy Reserve, until 2005 known as the United States Naval Reserve, is the Reserve Component of the United States Navy...
, assigned as a battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
surgeon to the 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment
1st Battalion 8th Marines
1st Battalion, 8th Marines is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina...
of the 2nd Marine Division from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
.
Background
Jadick attended Bethlehem Central High SchoolBethlehem Central High School
Bethlehem Central High School is a high school in Delmar, New York, just south of Albany. Located at 700 Delaware Avenue, the school serves students in grades 9-12 from the towns of Bethlehem and New Scotland. The school was ranked 1048 on Newsweek's 2010 " Top US High Schools."The high school was...
in Delmar
Delmar, New York
Delmar is a hamlet in the town of Bethlehem, Albany County, New York. A census-designated place has been established since 1980 by the US Bureau of Census for tabulating the population of what the census has defined as the boundaries of the urbanized area in and around Delmar. The population was...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
(just south of Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
). He earned his B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
from Ithaca College
Ithaca College
Ithaca College is a private college located on the South Hill of Ithaca, New York. The school was founded by William Egbert in 1892 as a conservatory of music. The college has a strong liberal arts core, but also offers several pre-professional programs and some graduate programs. The college is...
and his D.O.
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine is a professional doctoral degree for physicians in the United States. Holders of the MD degree, Doctor of Medicine, have the same rights, privileges and responsibilities as osteopathic physicians in the United States.The American Osteopathic Association’s Commission...
degree in osteopathic medicine from New York College of Osteopathic Medicine
New York College of Osteopathic Medicine
New York College of Osteopathic Medicine is the osteopathic medical college of the New York Institute of Technology located in Old Westbury, Long Island, NY. Established in 1977, NYCOM is one of only two accredited medical institutions in Nassau County, New York...
in Old Westbury, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He served as communications officer in the Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
prior to joining the Navy. He is currently receiving his residency training in Urology
Urology
Urology is the medical and surgical specialty that focuses on the urinary tracts of males and females, and on the reproductive system of males. Medical professionals specializing in the field of urology are called urologists and are trained to diagnose, treat, and manage patients with urological...
at the Medical College of Georgia
Medical College of Georgia
Georgia Health Sciences University formerly known as, and now home of the, Medical College of Georgia , is a public academic health center, with its main campus located in the Medical District of Augusta, Georgia. It is the smallest of four research universities in the University System of Georgia...
.
Service in Iraq
Jadick was serving as a urologist at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina when he volunteered for duty in IraqIraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. He was an unlikely volunteer because he was 38 years old, significantly older than most combat surgeons, and his wife was nine months pregnant.
Early in his tour of duty, Jadick observed a Marine who died because he bled to death before he could be evacuated to a hospital. He decided to establish an emergency room on the battlefield, where wounded Marines could receive treatment within a few minutes of being injured. While there, Jadick and his crew of young Corpsmen improvised a number of life saving techniques.
During the 11-day battle Jadick's team treated hundreds of men. Only one of those men died after reaching the hospital. Fifty-three Marines and United States Navy SEALs
United States Navy SEALs
The United States Navy's Sea, Air and Land Teams, commonly known as Navy SEALs, are the U.S. Navy's principal special operations force and a part of the Naval Special Warfare Command as well as the maritime component of the United States Special Operations Command.The acronym is derived from their...
died during the battle. Jadick's commanding officer estimated that another 30 would have died if Jadick had not been working so close to the front.
After Iraq
Jadick's story was first documented in a NewsweekNewsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
cover story titled "Hero, M.D." (although Jadick is actually a D.O., not an M.D.). He later published his own account of his experiences in a book called "On Call in Hell: A Doctor's Iraq War Story."
After serving a year in Iraq, Jadick returned to the United States and accepted a position as a Urology resident at the Medical College of Georgia. He remains on active duty.