Well, 4 months ago they were out on a range and they were firing a .50 caliber machine gun (aka the 50 cal).  I am not sure what exactly happened, but this guy was firing the 50 cal with the weapon between his legs and a round did not load properly.  When he pulled the trigger the round essentially discharged right in his lap.  He literally had his ball blown off.  He was brought here and our surgeons took him to the operating room and stabilized him.  One testicle was essentially gone.  Unbelievably, the other testicle was not harmed.  He stayed with us for a few days and then was AIREVAC'd to Landstuhl for several other surgeries and rehabilitation.  Like mostly all of our patients, we received no feedback so we have no idea how he did.

Why am I telling you about this now?  Well, today I was doing a routine physical exam on a young soldier from the same MP unit.  As I was counseling this soldier on testicular self-exams, he mentioned that everyone in the unit had a heightened awareness of their gonads ever since their buddy returned with one testicle.  What?  I couldn't believe that this guy came back to theater.  Close to 100% of the soldiers that are evacuated for major trauma do not return to theater.  Well, apparently this guy was given the option not to return and he declined.  He wanted to return to his unit and his friends.  He wanted to be out there on the streets doing patrols with the guys in his unit.  That really struck me; an impressive display of bravery, courage, and loyalty.  It is because of soldiers like this, that the cowardly insurgents will never be able to defeat our Army.  It is because of soldiers like this, that I love being a military physician and that I will probably be a career military physician.