Thursday, March 28, AD 2024 9:19am

Requiescat In Pace: Bob Dole

 

Bob Dole has died at age 98.  Republican standard bearer in 1996, I will leave for others to discuss his political career.  On his passing I will focus on his military service.  A Lieutenant in the 10th Mountain Division, he was a veteran of the vicious  mountain fighting that was so typical of the Italian campaign.  As a platoon commander on April 14, 1945 his unit was attempting to take Hill 913 when they came under withering German fire.  Dole was hit by machine gun fire, paralyzed from the neck down, his right arm shattered.  He lay where he fell for nine hours before his men were able to recover him.  Looking at his wounds his men gave him the largest morphine dose they could, assuming he was a goner.  Many doctors examining him in the weeks to come also thought he also would not survive long term, and that he would be a complete invalid for what little remained of his life.  With strong family support, especially from his mother Bina, he embarked on an eight year recovery, with many setbacks, to have a life outside of a hospital.  His hometown friends in Russell, Kansas raised funds for surgeries and special rehabilitation treatment for him.  An Armenian -American orthopedic surgeon from Chicago, Doctor  Hampar Kelikian, performed seven surgeries on Dole, refusing to accept a cent because his brother had died on the Italian front, Kelikian also serving in the Army during World War II as a surgeon.  He encouraged Dole, telling him that he would recover and lead a normal life.  Ever after Dole was a champion of the Armenians.

Dole’s service in World War II took a fair amount of courage, his recovery more so.  Let us pray that he is now in the Kingdom that knows no war or strife.

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Frank
Frank
Sunday, December 5, AD 2021 3:44pm

I, too, will pass on comments concerning his political career, other than to note that he never, to my knowledge at least, actively tried to capitalize on his military record, unlike some others in both parties. Unfortunately, his low-key style was destined for failure in his 1996 campaign against the Bill Clinton media juggernaut.
R.I.P. Would that today’s politicians had half the integrity and moral fiber of Bob Dole.

Pinky
Pinky
Sunday, December 5, AD 2021 8:45pm

He would have beaten that draft-dodger in 1992, but he just wasn’t the right candidate to run against an incumbent in 1996. It was a shame, too, because the American people knew what kind of a man Clinton was by that point, and there were a lot of I-told-you-sos over the next four years.

T. Shaw
T. Shaw
Monday, December 6, AD 2021 6:26am

God’s Gift.

Also, recently passed the last living officer of E Company, 506th PIR, 101st Airborne at 99 years – the Band of Brothers (2001 miniseries).

The Greatest Generation is passing to Glory.

May the souls of the faithful departed through the Mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.

I miss them.

Frank
Frank
Monday, December 6, AD 2021 7:26am

Amen to all.

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