"Thomas Jefferson said a democracy is dependent on an informed citizenry. I don't care whether it sounds corny or not. It's the truth." -Jim Lehrer
Carefree Truth
Issue #930, May 21, 2021
Issue #930, May 21, 2021
Vice Mayor John Crane introduced Captain Wanona (Winnie) Fritz. "Our keynote speaker, Captain Winnie Fritz, served in the U.S. Army from 1967 to 1972. Captain Fritz entered the Army Student Nurse program through which she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. She continued on to Officer Basic and Vietnam Jungle Training. She then completed a program which trained pilots and health care professionals to be able to administer care in flight or to fly the aircraft themselves. Captain Fritz went on to serve in nursing and leadership assignments in the U.S., Thailand, and Vietnam where she received several commendations, including the Bronze Star in 1970 for evac and med-cap missions. The award reads: ‘Meritorious achievement in ground operations against hostile forces’.
In her career Winnie has served as the Manager for the Presidential / Executive Suite where she and her team cared for the President, Chief Justices, Generals and Foreign Heads of State. She later moved to Jordan, serving in leadership roles in their military and civilian healthcare service, where King Hussein awarded Winnie his Medal of Honor.
During her career, Winnie served on the boards of several U.S. health care organizations; as the vice president of the Health Care Compliance Association supporting international hospitals and health systems around the world; and as the CEO of hospitals. Please welcome Captain Winnie Fritz."
“Memorial Day 2021 – Memories, Lessons, and Gifts” – Winnie Fritz
"Good Morning! I am honored to be with you at this important event.
On May 15th, we gathered to celebrate Armed Force Day - honoring those who are on active duty and serving our nation today. On November 11th, we will gather to celebrate those who HAVE served –------ we, veterans. On this last Monday in May, we gather to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to country AND to remember their loved ones who daily live their loss. We take time to think of the PAST…..AND to think of the PRESENT…..to reconsider that it is not enough to talk about those who died and about the love of country and about preserving our freedoms. Instead, it is time to consider: “What have I/we learned? And how can I/we still serve? What have I done or will I do today – as my part?”
As John F. Kennedy noted: “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter the words, but to live by them……” to model them.
History -
For a moment, let us remember the origins of Memorial Day. It began as Decoration Day in 1868 following the Civil War --- and was marked by decorating graves of soldiers from both sides of that conflict----with flowers and/or flags.
In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday.
Since that time, on this long weekend in May, some visit the National Mall; some solemnly show respect (as we are today) at one of the national, state, or local cemeteries; and some take flowers to mark military graves – even those of lost family members. Many others see the weekend as a time to celebrate the arrival of summer; to enjoy family picnics; to launch the boat at Lake Pleasant, and to have backyard BBQs.
How many of you here today have served? Thank YOU for your service. As I think of this weekend, I think of “Memories, Lessons Learned, and Finally, Gifts.”
Some Memories and Lessons Learned Along the Way
I am a former U.S. Army nurse who served in Vietnam, Thailand, Washington D.C. and then served in the Middle East 17 years – including the Desert Storm era. I still have a home in the Middle East. For me, a defining time of my life was the time spent in Vietnam.
I grew up a farm girl in Illinois (we have now owned and operated that farm for 7 generations). I became an Army Student Nurse at the University of Missouri, Columbia. From graduation as a new nurse, I was promptly sent to Officer Basic and Vietnam Jungle Training in Texas and then learned to fly at Ft. Rucker Alabama……here came One Lesson.
Lesson #1 – Plan Your Flight and Fly Your Plan……
Or maybe the lesson was the 5P’s (Prior Planning Prevents Piss-Poor Performance).
I was always taught to plan…… but the clear message of my flight instructor was: At some point, stop planning and TAKE OFF. He would say: “It’s OK to modify your flight plan when in the air…..maybe you have a strong headwind; maybe a good tailwind…….BUT TAKE OFF…..EXECUTE.” That has been an important lesson to me since that time: Plan, but Take Off.
Following my training, I was now to report to McGuire AFB for my departure flight to Vietnam. My orders said to travel in Class A uniform (skirt, jacket, pantyhose and 1-inch pumps). Really? I had been living in a flight suit and boots. But off I went…..traveled to McGuire. There was then a Second Lesson….it came in the Air Force hanger at McGuire.
Lesson # 2 - Life’s An Adventure, Ma’am. Step Up to the Plate
(Story of Infantry Colonel - I am Boarding #186 – I become ‘commander’ of 199 infantry)
His final comment was: “Life’s an adventure, Ma’am. Step us to the plate.”
I have remembered this lesson for a lifetime….don’t be afraid to try new roles, locations, and assignments.
We took off from McGuire, were struck by another aircraft and made emergency exits. With other break-downs in Alaska…..and Guam, it took us three days to get to ‘Nam. A perfect prep for a war zone. Now we are approaching Tan Sanut Air Base in Vietnam for our landing.
Here came a 3rd lesson.
(Story - Pilots instructions for us to run to the hanger…..big target……on our way to units…drive to my sandbagged trailer quarters for the night - with the Infantry Colonel .)
Lesson #3 – You Have Two Priorities While You’re Here in Nam: Save Your Own Butt and Save As Many Other Butts As You Can. The rest is all crap…..don’t get distracted by the politics) (Or another way I have used the lesson is to know:
“A Team of people with Clear Focus/Clear Priorities Can Accomplish Much”)
I was transported to my unit and reality set in. As you may recall, about 2.7 million military served in Vietnam; and 58,200 died, including 8 nurses. Almost 304,000 were wounded.
Our unit in Vietnam was caring for an average of 144 casualties per day. We also went on Med-Cap missions to the villages after the North Viet Cong stormed villages to murder or mutilate its residents. I was a new nurse….a new manager. Huey MedEvac helicopters were landing with casualties 6-at-a-time …… American, Aussie, South Korean and South Vietnamese military…… South Vietnamese civilians….Yes, and even North Vietnamese POWs we were to treat and keep alive for interrogation.
Injuries included:
· AK47 gunshot rounds through the head and neck…..removing a part of the face & head
· Third-Degree burns covering bodies following a helicopter crash
· A rocket or explosive device hitting a jeep or Armed Personnel Carrier and completely or partially amputating legs and arms
There were also those arriving in critical condition with malaria (along with their traumas) and those who had experimented with heroine and were now arriving on respiratory support and nearly brain-dead. In the end, we could not save 58,200 of our colleagues, daughters, husbands, dads, sons, moms, or friends. And, in the end, 2583 did not come home; they were POWs or MIAs.
At this point, I learned another lesson.
Lesson #4 - Never forget the Caring while Care-giving - while providing exceptional technical care.
I learned:
· It’s OK to cry as we care for and with our patients
· Hold the dying; help the soldier and the family with that “final call”….including a prayer, if asked.
· Coach the family to ask for and accept help during this time of loss and major life change
I, myself, came back to the U.S. on a stretcher ten days before my year was up……….
Our Med-Evac flight brought us to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in D.C. As we traveled through the D.C. streets, protesters threw garbage cans at our transport bus – yelling “Baby Killers.” By then, I had developed a Plexi-glass plate under my skin. I was never going to form a relationship again; never have a loss again; therefore never feel that pain again.
Fortunately, I was part of a research project ----- studying and treating what became known as PTSD. I learned it is better to feel and cry…..than NOT to feel. My physical and emotional injuries healed and I was reassigned to manage the Presidential Suite at Walter Reed – caring for the President, VP, Congress, 3,4,5-star Generals and Foreign Heads of State.
Through this role, I met and cared for the late King Hussein of Jordan and transitioned to work in Jordan’s military and civilian healthcare systems for much of 17 years. From Jordan, I returned to work in 6 hospitals around the U.S. …….and am now (for the past ten years) back working internationally in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
Our Nation’s Lessons -
Along the way, I learned many more lessons, but we as a nation have learned lessons as well. We learned:
1) As a nation, no matter what our individual feelings about a war, we MUST support our military and our veterans……we must honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
I am forever grateful to see at Sky Harbor Airport the military in uniform being thanked for their service. We now experience more celebrations of Memorial Day, such as an event I recently attended at SRP HQ…..here in Phoenix…..where the organization took time to remember those who lost their lives in service.
2) As a nation, we learned to leave no one behind.
Whether through government or veteran organizations; whether our POWs/MIAs come from North Korea or Vietnam or Iraq or wherever they may come ---- today, we continue to bring our sisters and brothers home.
3) And finally, many who have served – who brought home our fallen – came home with our “lessons we have never forgotten”……..“perhaps we can say that these are lifelong gifts we have received from our time in service.” What might these be? Well, maybe…….
a The Gift of Lifelong Learning – comfort at adopting new technical skills; innovating; punting.
b The Gift of Leadership – being a better leader AND follower; delivering on commitments; being accountable to self and others.
c The Gift of Adventure – not fearing change; taking risks; asking what can I see, do, learn in this place
d The Gift of Calm – learning perspective; learning to sort drama from danger. Asking myself: “Is this as bad as Vietnam? “Heck No.”
e The Gift of Being a Patriot – crying with the Anthem and when I raise and lower my flag each day at my home in Surprise
The Gift of Lifelong Colleagues – having a shared experience with each person who serves or has served. We are forever bonded and say: “Thank You for Your Service.”
g And finally, The Gift of Service – As Sir Winston Churchill noted: “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”
Finally, then, on this special Memorial Day, how can we continue to serve?
Well, we can all – beyond our service this morning….
1) Participate in today’s National Moment of Remembrance. At 3 p.m. local time, stop and observe a Moment of Silence to remember those who have died in service to our country…..and to think of those loved ones they left behind.
2) On Memorial Day, the Fourth of July or during the December holidays, visit cemeteries and help place flags or wreaths or flowers on graves of our fallen heroes.
3) Visit memorials, such as the actual Vietnam Veterans Memorial or the touring rendition, and (above all) teach our kids re. the Armed Forces services (the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and now, Space Force); their missions; and their loss.
4) Fly the U.S. flag each day at our homes
5) Fly the POW/MIA flag
6) Thank a service member for his or her service & fight for laws & organizations to fairly address in-service and post-service needs.
7) Help families of those who died – by supporting and/or working in organizations, such as:
Gold Star Mothers - founded in 1928. …..an organization whose members are those who have lost a son or daughter in combat.
TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors) – founded in 1992.…….providing comfort, care, and resources to all those who grieve the death of a military loved one. They provide adult, youth & children’s services.
8) AND, finally, we can support one of our sponsors today -The Veterans Heritage Project – which works every day connecting our local students with veterans.
AND SO…..we have spent some time reflecting upon some Memories, Lessons, Gifts and Ways in Which Can Serve.
We acknowledge that our country asks great things from our service men and women. Sometimes we ask for the ultimate sacrifice. And so, on this Memorial Day weekend -
· Let’s remember – the wife who lost her husband; the husband who lost his wife.
· Let’s remember – the mother and father who lost their child.
· Let’s remember – the child who lost a parent.
· Let’s remember – the men and women who gave their lives on our behalf.
· Let’s remember to pray…..to be grateful…..to never take our freedoms for granted.
· Let’s each commit to reflect upon ways we can serve……then, for God’s Sake……..let us ACT.
Thank You.
Honored to Serve!!!!"
Vice Mayor Crane said, "Thank you, Captain Fritz. That was very moving. Thank you for sharing those many lessons with us. It is an honor to have you here."
Lyn Hitchon
Prepared by Carefree Truth
Copyrighted
Visit our website at www.carefreetruth2.com If you know anyone who would like to be added to the Carefree Truth email list, please have them contact me. Feel free to share Carefree Truth with others on your list.
Visit www.carefreeazbusinesses.com to see more info about businesses in Carefree. Please support our merchants.
In her career Winnie has served as the Manager for the Presidential / Executive Suite where she and her team cared for the President, Chief Justices, Generals and Foreign Heads of State. She later moved to Jordan, serving in leadership roles in their military and civilian healthcare service, where King Hussein awarded Winnie his Medal of Honor.
During her career, Winnie served on the boards of several U.S. health care organizations; as the vice president of the Health Care Compliance Association supporting international hospitals and health systems around the world; and as the CEO of hospitals. Please welcome Captain Winnie Fritz."
“Memorial Day 2021 – Memories, Lessons, and Gifts” – Winnie Fritz
"Good Morning! I am honored to be with you at this important event.
On May 15th, we gathered to celebrate Armed Force Day - honoring those who are on active duty and serving our nation today. On November 11th, we will gather to celebrate those who HAVE served –------ we, veterans. On this last Monday in May, we gather to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to country AND to remember their loved ones who daily live their loss. We take time to think of the PAST…..AND to think of the PRESENT…..to reconsider that it is not enough to talk about those who died and about the love of country and about preserving our freedoms. Instead, it is time to consider: “What have I/we learned? And how can I/we still serve? What have I done or will I do today – as my part?”
As John F. Kennedy noted: “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter the words, but to live by them……” to model them.
History -
For a moment, let us remember the origins of Memorial Day. It began as Decoration Day in 1868 following the Civil War --- and was marked by decorating graves of soldiers from both sides of that conflict----with flowers and/or flags.
In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday.
Since that time, on this long weekend in May, some visit the National Mall; some solemnly show respect (as we are today) at one of the national, state, or local cemeteries; and some take flowers to mark military graves – even those of lost family members. Many others see the weekend as a time to celebrate the arrival of summer; to enjoy family picnics; to launch the boat at Lake Pleasant, and to have backyard BBQs.
How many of you here today have served? Thank YOU for your service. As I think of this weekend, I think of “Memories, Lessons Learned, and Finally, Gifts.”
Some Memories and Lessons Learned Along the Way
I am a former U.S. Army nurse who served in Vietnam, Thailand, Washington D.C. and then served in the Middle East 17 years – including the Desert Storm era. I still have a home in the Middle East. For me, a defining time of my life was the time spent in Vietnam.
I grew up a farm girl in Illinois (we have now owned and operated that farm for 7 generations). I became an Army Student Nurse at the University of Missouri, Columbia. From graduation as a new nurse, I was promptly sent to Officer Basic and Vietnam Jungle Training in Texas and then learned to fly at Ft. Rucker Alabama……here came One Lesson.
Lesson #1 – Plan Your Flight and Fly Your Plan……
Or maybe the lesson was the 5P’s (Prior Planning Prevents Piss-Poor Performance).
I was always taught to plan…… but the clear message of my flight instructor was: At some point, stop planning and TAKE OFF. He would say: “It’s OK to modify your flight plan when in the air…..maybe you have a strong headwind; maybe a good tailwind…….BUT TAKE OFF…..EXECUTE.” That has been an important lesson to me since that time: Plan, but Take Off.
Following my training, I was now to report to McGuire AFB for my departure flight to Vietnam. My orders said to travel in Class A uniform (skirt, jacket, pantyhose and 1-inch pumps). Really? I had been living in a flight suit and boots. But off I went…..traveled to McGuire. There was then a Second Lesson….it came in the Air Force hanger at McGuire.
Lesson # 2 - Life’s An Adventure, Ma’am. Step Up to the Plate
(Story of Infantry Colonel - I am Boarding #186 – I become ‘commander’ of 199 infantry)
His final comment was: “Life’s an adventure, Ma’am. Step us to the plate.”
I have remembered this lesson for a lifetime….don’t be afraid to try new roles, locations, and assignments.
We took off from McGuire, were struck by another aircraft and made emergency exits. With other break-downs in Alaska…..and Guam, it took us three days to get to ‘Nam. A perfect prep for a war zone. Now we are approaching Tan Sanut Air Base in Vietnam for our landing.
Here came a 3rd lesson.
(Story - Pilots instructions for us to run to the hanger…..big target……on our way to units…drive to my sandbagged trailer quarters for the night - with the Infantry Colonel .)
Lesson #3 – You Have Two Priorities While You’re Here in Nam: Save Your Own Butt and Save As Many Other Butts As You Can. The rest is all crap…..don’t get distracted by the politics) (Or another way I have used the lesson is to know:
“A Team of people with Clear Focus/Clear Priorities Can Accomplish Much”)
I was transported to my unit and reality set in. As you may recall, about 2.7 million military served in Vietnam; and 58,200 died, including 8 nurses. Almost 304,000 were wounded.
Our unit in Vietnam was caring for an average of 144 casualties per day. We also went on Med-Cap missions to the villages after the North Viet Cong stormed villages to murder or mutilate its residents. I was a new nurse….a new manager. Huey MedEvac helicopters were landing with casualties 6-at-a-time …… American, Aussie, South Korean and South Vietnamese military…… South Vietnamese civilians….Yes, and even North Vietnamese POWs we were to treat and keep alive for interrogation.
Injuries included:
· AK47 gunshot rounds through the head and neck…..removing a part of the face & head
· Third-Degree burns covering bodies following a helicopter crash
· A rocket or explosive device hitting a jeep or Armed Personnel Carrier and completely or partially amputating legs and arms
There were also those arriving in critical condition with malaria (along with their traumas) and those who had experimented with heroine and were now arriving on respiratory support and nearly brain-dead. In the end, we could not save 58,200 of our colleagues, daughters, husbands, dads, sons, moms, or friends. And, in the end, 2583 did not come home; they were POWs or MIAs.
At this point, I learned another lesson.
Lesson #4 - Never forget the Caring while Care-giving - while providing exceptional technical care.
I learned:
· It’s OK to cry as we care for and with our patients
· Hold the dying; help the soldier and the family with that “final call”….including a prayer, if asked.
· Coach the family to ask for and accept help during this time of loss and major life change
I, myself, came back to the U.S. on a stretcher ten days before my year was up……….
Our Med-Evac flight brought us to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in D.C. As we traveled through the D.C. streets, protesters threw garbage cans at our transport bus – yelling “Baby Killers.” By then, I had developed a Plexi-glass plate under my skin. I was never going to form a relationship again; never have a loss again; therefore never feel that pain again.
Fortunately, I was part of a research project ----- studying and treating what became known as PTSD. I learned it is better to feel and cry…..than NOT to feel. My physical and emotional injuries healed and I was reassigned to manage the Presidential Suite at Walter Reed – caring for the President, VP, Congress, 3,4,5-star Generals and Foreign Heads of State.
Through this role, I met and cared for the late King Hussein of Jordan and transitioned to work in Jordan’s military and civilian healthcare systems for much of 17 years. From Jordan, I returned to work in 6 hospitals around the U.S. …….and am now (for the past ten years) back working internationally in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
Our Nation’s Lessons -
Along the way, I learned many more lessons, but we as a nation have learned lessons as well. We learned:
1) As a nation, no matter what our individual feelings about a war, we MUST support our military and our veterans……we must honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
I am forever grateful to see at Sky Harbor Airport the military in uniform being thanked for their service. We now experience more celebrations of Memorial Day, such as an event I recently attended at SRP HQ…..here in Phoenix…..where the organization took time to remember those who lost their lives in service.
2) As a nation, we learned to leave no one behind.
Whether through government or veteran organizations; whether our POWs/MIAs come from North Korea or Vietnam or Iraq or wherever they may come ---- today, we continue to bring our sisters and brothers home.
3) And finally, many who have served – who brought home our fallen – came home with our “lessons we have never forgotten”……..“perhaps we can say that these are lifelong gifts we have received from our time in service.” What might these be? Well, maybe…….
a The Gift of Lifelong Learning – comfort at adopting new technical skills; innovating; punting.
b The Gift of Leadership – being a better leader AND follower; delivering on commitments; being accountable to self and others.
c The Gift of Adventure – not fearing change; taking risks; asking what can I see, do, learn in this place
d The Gift of Calm – learning perspective; learning to sort drama from danger. Asking myself: “Is this as bad as Vietnam? “Heck No.”
e The Gift of Being a Patriot – crying with the Anthem and when I raise and lower my flag each day at my home in Surprise
The Gift of Lifelong Colleagues – having a shared experience with each person who serves or has served. We are forever bonded and say: “Thank You for Your Service.”
g And finally, The Gift of Service – As Sir Winston Churchill noted: “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”
Finally, then, on this special Memorial Day, how can we continue to serve?
Well, we can all – beyond our service this morning….
1) Participate in today’s National Moment of Remembrance. At 3 p.m. local time, stop and observe a Moment of Silence to remember those who have died in service to our country…..and to think of those loved ones they left behind.
2) On Memorial Day, the Fourth of July or during the December holidays, visit cemeteries and help place flags or wreaths or flowers on graves of our fallen heroes.
3) Visit memorials, such as the actual Vietnam Veterans Memorial or the touring rendition, and (above all) teach our kids re. the Armed Forces services (the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and now, Space Force); their missions; and their loss.
4) Fly the U.S. flag each day at our homes
5) Fly the POW/MIA flag
6) Thank a service member for his or her service & fight for laws & organizations to fairly address in-service and post-service needs.
7) Help families of those who died – by supporting and/or working in organizations, such as:
Gold Star Mothers - founded in 1928. …..an organization whose members are those who have lost a son or daughter in combat.
TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors) – founded in 1992.…….providing comfort, care, and resources to all those who grieve the death of a military loved one. They provide adult, youth & children’s services.
8) AND, finally, we can support one of our sponsors today -The Veterans Heritage Project – which works every day connecting our local students with veterans.
AND SO…..we have spent some time reflecting upon some Memories, Lessons, Gifts and Ways in Which Can Serve.
We acknowledge that our country asks great things from our service men and women. Sometimes we ask for the ultimate sacrifice. And so, on this Memorial Day weekend -
· Let’s remember – the wife who lost her husband; the husband who lost his wife.
· Let’s remember – the mother and father who lost their child.
· Let’s remember – the child who lost a parent.
· Let’s remember – the men and women who gave their lives on our behalf.
· Let’s remember to pray…..to be grateful…..to never take our freedoms for granted.
· Let’s each commit to reflect upon ways we can serve……then, for God’s Sake……..let us ACT.
Thank You.
Honored to Serve!!!!"
Vice Mayor Crane said, "Thank you, Captain Fritz. That was very moving. Thank you for sharing those many lessons with us. It is an honor to have you here."
Lyn Hitchon
Prepared by Carefree Truth
Copyrighted
Visit our website at www.carefreetruth2.com If you know anyone who would like to be added to the Carefree Truth email list, please have them contact me. Feel free to share Carefree Truth with others on your list.
Visit www.carefreeazbusinesses.com to see more info about businesses in Carefree. Please support our merchants.