Prof. George A. Farber, Sr., MD
Col. U.S.A. (R), U.S.A.F, M.C. (Ret)
Founder, President American Academy of Medical Detectives (AAOMD)
3708 N Loyola Dr, Kenner. LA. Apt 115.
Kenner, LA 70065
504-583-4593
The Cuban Expeditionary War
The Vietnam Expeditionary War
President Lyndon Johnson
President JFK
The US Government has established a Federal Holiday in honor of and in respect for military personnel that served our country honorably and with valor in times of war. Such a holiday also serves to recapture and stimulate memories of special events that can be shared with the public. For good reason, certain events need to be shared. In these instances there have been 55 years for one event, and 50 years for another. The delay was due to fear, personal safety concerns and timing.
The events occurred in The Cuban Expeditionary War (1962) and later a series of events in The Vietnam Expeditionary War (1966-1967). After 55 years of low–key profile on my military career….Reflection time!
Honors and Awards included Cuban Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Expeditionary Medal, Bronze Star, and Air Medal with two Clusters (Combat Medal).
A special memory involved a grateful handshake and some kind words from President Lyndon Johnson during his historic war-time visit to Cam Ranh Bay in 1966. The President showed personal attention for special services extemporaneously provided by me as a monsoon rapidly and suddenly appeared, while he was inspecting the inflatable hospital. I had the only single lens reflex, 35 mm, and automatic flash camera available at that moment. A photo-op was staged at the entrance of the inflatable ward, with a red-headed nurse, with a broken right leg in a white cast, and wearing blue hospital pajamas. The President agreed to sign the cast!
The security agents promptly seized the camera, politely, and promised to return it later. They did, six months later, with burnt out Kodachrome, which I still have!
Those photographs appeared on the Covers of ‘LIFE’ and ‘LOOK’ magazine within a week. The credits for the photographs and payments went to the Hospital Commander and security personnel of The President.
Explanation of this ‘theft’ was simply: R.H.I.P.*
I was the first Dermatologist/Syphilologist ever in the history of Vietnam, including militaries. Skin conditions comprised 35 % of all medical non-combat conditions in military war zones; Sexually Transited Diseases about 10 % . My mission was multiplex, and involved diagnosing and treating patients at Cam Ranh Bay referral hospital, consulting at approximately 30 other bases, all services, developing ‘cook book’ manuals for skin and venereal diseases for diagnosis and treatments at Medical posts, clinics, M.A.S.H. units and distributing the booklets to the doctors and medics and nurses along with instructions, rationales, and simple lectures, and 35 mm slide demonstrations. All of these booklets were approved by the Chief of Medicine (Dr. /L/ Col Frederick Conrad) and the Hospital Commander.
The booklet on Venereal diseases included 13 known diseases at that time. Each disease had typical incubation times. Gonorrhea, approximately 48 hours, was very common. G.C. tended to mask other VDs and / or treatments could mask other diseases with longer incubation time.
If a patient presented with other VD signs, there was a concern about other concurrent diseases. Many patients had more than one VD. If they had five or more, a special term evolved: BINGO! In such cases, laboratory specimens were obtained and sent to Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Saigon, and /or air delivered to Clark AFB, Philippine Islands. If and when lab results were returned timely, more appropriate treatment was instituted. The VD booklet became known as the Bingo booklet!
All missions in the combat zones are considered combat missions. Each mission has risk! In my own case, there were nine ‘near misses’. The explanation for my survival is basically three: God’s will, good luck, and survival of the fittest!
There was only one serious injury, a hair-line fracture of five thoracic spinous processes, for which three weeks of extension treatments at Cam Ranh Bay Hospital worked well.
The injury occurred outside of Bien Hoa Air Base. L/Col Conrad and I were on a Huey helicopter preparing to land in a field behind the base, when we came under enemy fire. The pilot told us to jump out the back immediately as he began lift off. We jumped out at 40 ft. above the ground into a heavy brush field and were able to get through the fence onto the base. We later flew back to Cam Ranh Bay by C-47, solo.
In mid 1967, now Col., Dr. Conrad was assigned to Wilford Hall Military Hospital, San Antonio TX. He later retired, and engaged at MD Anderson Hospital, as Chief of Oncology. In 1982 Dr. Conrad was assassinated by unknown perpetrator (s),in his office al the Hospital. FBI investigation, interviewed me by telecom about 30 times. Case never solved, yet. (See Google search: Dr. Frederick Conrad, Oncologist).
Another near miss, occurred, on the ground, during a Med-Cap mission North West of Cam Ranh Bay while providing volunteer health care for Vietnam villagers . Our medical group, one doctor, eleven nurses, one corpsman, and only one rifle went into the jungle, along a narrow path to reach the village. About twelve elderly adults, four young children and a bunch of village animals like chickens, dogs, pigs, etc, welcomed us. A ‘clinic’ was set up in the only building structure there. After about 20 minutes, multiple V.C., with AK-47’s, surrounded us.
We all knew we were in trouble, when the pigs and dogs quietly disappeared, the waiting ‘patients’ and the children disappeared suddenly. The remaining elderly female patient that I was examining with the stethoscope became nervous, and several VC entered. I ordered the rest of my team to set on the dirt floor, remain absolutely still and quite. With mixed Vietnamese and English I stood up, waived the stethoscope, and spoke strongly to the VC leader in the door way, and told him I was treating his mother! Suddenly, he smiled, bowed, signaled to his soldiers, they all silently disappeared. The old lady got up, my crew got out, onto the six-by vehicle and made a hasty return, through the jungle , all the way to the South China Sea, along the beach, all the way back to Cam Ranh Bay.
To this day, I believe that the VC soldier actually spoke good English, and liked the ‘mother’ story!
A major impact of my active, regular Air Force career, occurred in 1962.
My rank, Captain, and my flight-surgeon training and experience in the Tactical Air Command resulted in special assignment for the Cuban Expeditionary War, about to erupt. My Hospital Commander had just been promoted to General, assigned to the Surgeon General’s office, and he sent me to a top-secret base in Florida, to prepare for the invasion of Cuba.He sent me in his stead!
The secret base was actually a closed, shuttered Naval Air Station, hidden from public view, located near Orlando (pre Disney) FL, and fifty miles beyond range of Cuban/Russian missiles. The mission was for logistic support, regarding supplies and very important medical support. The Medical Commander, according to the War Plan (which I submitted, and which was accepted and approved by the Senior Command) was supposed to deliver Multiple M.A.S.H. units, and personnel for instant use at a proposed site in Cuba, not yet acquired. For said purpose, 22 C-119 Flying Boxcars and crews were assigned.
On invasion day, the landing force began the invasion at dawn, and was being decimated. JFK canceled the invasion about 10 am. A new type of hell broke loose!
Between 10:30 am and noon, 13 high ranking General grade officers arrived by air at the Sanford Naval Air Station, Base Operations Office, many from the Carrier Enterprise. A high level secret meeting ensued. The tone was angry. After about 30 minutes, another multistar General arrived. He cased the room, inquiring openly about why a company grade captain was present (namely me). Then, he politely dismissed me and told me to proceed immediately back to Luke AFB.
What I can say now, is that those highest level War Command Officers, all services, were very upset with JFK for cancelling the invasion three hours, after it began, and the decimation of the mixed Cuban and American invasion landing force.
It was patently obvious that these commanders were already planning retribution against JFK. They mentioned three ‘double agent’ assets that they could trust, and two of those could later be found in New Orleans.
After 55 years, I am more comfortable in bearing witness. So many others have died, to inhibit the truth. Also, it is unlikely that any one else present at the secret SNAS meeting, on the day that the Cuban invasion began and ended, that is still alive.
However, there still remain concerns about the mystery of Dr. Conrad’s death, and one other ‘eye witness’ account to complete this chapter.
As it were, Dr Conrad and I traveled all over the South East Asia war theater for one year, during which time we each earned each other’s admiration, respect, friendship, loyalty, and strong professional bonding. During that year together we shared a lot of personal, professional, information and secrets. ‘Bud” and I were true friends. It may be, that Dr. Conrad, at his own discretion, revealed to the wrong people or persons, the above information regarding ….JFK- Cuban War-angry military Commanders-Retribution.
There is another close friend from Medical School, Internship, Residency and later private practice, 61 years, that trusted me and was aware of the Cuban War information. This doctor was on duty, in the E.R. at Parkland Hospital (DALLAS) when JFK’s body was brought there by two ‘agents’ in a body bag, and placed on a ‘gurney’. Another agent promptly entered, and placed two rifles and three shell casings in the bag on the right side of JFK’s body.
At that instance, the PA System called subject doctor to the Hospital Director office immediately! This doctor was told to leave the hospital immediately, not to go back to his locker to change clothes, or get anything except get out (for his own safety). and to just disappear.
He called me from a pay phone, explained as noted, and asks me to see to his family. He is alive and well at present and still keeping a low profile.
And so, at age 82 I am filling in a gap, while I still can, via Social Media.
R.H.I.P.* Rank Has Its Privileges
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