Remembering Michael Cahill

Nov 11, 2011

“As a nation, we have set aside the day of November 11th to remember its community of veterans but, for most veterans, we have our own personal day we set aside to remember our brothers and sisters in arms.

On November 5th I took a moment of silence to remember Michael Cahill. He was one of two individuals I knew killed in the massacre on Fort Hood two years ago to the day.

Michael Cahill was truly a man who loved his job. He retired as a Chief Warrant Officer in the National Guard before continuing to serve those in uniform in the role as a Physician Assistant at Fort Hood. Prior to his death, he had suffered a heart attack yet, returned back to working with soldiers after just one week of re-cooperation.

I personally met Mr. Cahill during my medical rotations to Darnell as we first met in the Emergency Room. He was a patient an who taught me how to improve my skills as a medic as well as teaching me about the field of medicine in general. He helped to point out to me that my heart did not lie in the medical direct approach that medicine provided but the holistic approach the field of nursing followed. It was through him I received shadow rotations on the nursing wards which helped to inspire my life and direction in the nursing field.

Michael Cahill helped to touch my life and point me in a new direction. As a nurse, I have received praise from former patients through being their nurse providing care as well as from their family and loved ones by their bedside. Being able to improve the quality of a patients stay, even if it is for a few short moments, makes my job worth while. It is through the field of nursing I helped to come tother with other veterans, soldiers and staff to create Operation Ward 57 with a goal of improving the lives of our hero wounded soldiers.

His small actions change the course of my life which, in turn, affected the lives of others. These actions, through me, have affected the lives of countless others let alone the lives he changed through his own direction actions.

He lost his life doing something he loved in this world; help others and serving the military community.

Michael Cahill is gone but will not be forgotten nor will the countless millions of other veterans who have served this nation with such great pride and honor.

A debt to you all that can never be repaid.”

SSG (RET) Scott Cameron
Co-Founder, Operation Ward 57

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