Well, of course, they’re not that loose anymore and arthritis has taken its toll on their well-worn joints, and osteoporosis has dropped their height significantly causing a stoop when walking, but their brains are a wealth of information and historical warehouses of valuable legacy information.

The first one I met in my practice was Colonel Ollie Cellini, now deceased, but when I met him, he was 105 and I was caring for him in the hospital at the time, although he wasn’t that sick:  he just took too many blood pressure pills together and fell in the restaurant due to low blood pressure, but he did fine.  If you remember my blog called Thanksgiving 2018, Spending time with a forgotten 105-year-old American hero, you will recall that he flew fighters in WWII and the Korean war and flew for General Claire Chennault of the famous Flying Tigers, and he was awarded multiple distinguished flying crosses.  It was an honor to meet him, and he wrote notes down for me regarding his experiences in the war, and I was lucky to spend time with him.  In fact, his daughter gave me permission to write his story someday, but it never came to pass because he died before I could interview him again.

The second centenarian I met last week in my office, (no names allowed when still a patient), and he was there with his son for a pulmonary evaluation, referred by his primary provider.  He had quite a few medical problems, and recent procedures had taken their toll on his energy level, but his mind was sharp and memory intact, thankfully.   He is younger than Ollie, at 101 and will be 102 next month I believe. I reviewed his labs and tests and examined him and could not find anything immediately reversible that was not caused by old age.  I asked him what was the main thing bothering him now in his life.  He said, “fatigue and the fact that I cannot get around much anymore.” 

You see, he was having a hard time losing his independence and depended on his son to help him, and his pride was  difficult to release.   I asked him of course, what he did in his life and then his eyes brightened and he smiled for the first time. 

He said, “I flew fighters in WWII and the Korean war.”

This seems to be a recurring theme in my medical practice.  WWII and Korean fighter pilots who were part of America’s greatest generation.  Yes, I believe that descriptor is true, at least from my first-hand interviews with these heroes that I was blessed to meet.  He told me he flew a variety of fighters in the wars, including P-51s, P 40s, F-80 jets and many more.  He seemed to be energized when I showed my interest in his heroic stories from the 1940s and 50s. After our discussion, we came to an agreement that he was receiving too many tests and procedures at his age at this time, and that as a profession, we should simply keep him comfortable and safe, to enjoy his precious time remaining alive.  I asked him his rank, and he said “lieutenant colonel”. Then he added, “I would’ve had a higher rank but they made me stop flying due to my eyes and well, it seems that maybe I  shit in someone’s lunch box or something.”  I laughed loudly at that one, and so did his son.

As he walked slowly away from the exam room, unsteady, but supported gently by his son, I realized how lucky I was as a physician to meet these two war heroes, ages 105 and 101 and be honored to talk to them just a little about heir experiences and show them how much I appreciated their service to our country as the greatest generation.

I was able to learn first-hand, from people who were actually there, what the history books say happened but with much more flavor and danger from the risks they took on without complaint. And yet I wonder, how many more centenarians will I meet who can still walk in to my office and hold a conversation, without being completely disabled.  And even more interesting, is why are they both fighter pilots and war heroes?  Does that select them out, such that if they survive the hell of war, they will live long lives?

Stay tuned.  Maybe I will meet some more of the greatest generation, but, alas, time is taking them away from us.  Unfortunately, much of this history that shaped our country and freedoms today, I fear, is buried in a library somewhere, and not being taught to our children and young adults, however, gender dysphoria and critical race theory seems to take precedence.

I wonder if we would have defeated the Nazis if our soldiers and airmen were “Woke” back then?

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