10:44 PM
Major Marty
Longmeadow doctor Martin Lesser, 58, to leave for Iraq with Army National Guard
Published: Wednesday, October 13, 2010, 5:45 PM
Martin Lesser, of Longmeadow, a family doctor with a practice in Holyoke, is scheduled to leave with the Massachusetts Army National Guard Friday for a tour of duty in Iraq.
HOLYOKE – Pulling on combat fatigues for the first time after he turned 50 and heading to a war zone was never on the list of career goals of Martin Lesser.
But on Friday Lesser, 58, will go on active duty with the Massachusetts Army National Guard. After a week of training in Georgia, Lesser will head to Iraq for three months.
Lesser, a family physician who opened his own practice in Holyoke 18 years ago, said his father and uncles served during World War II and he was always interested in the military.
“I’ve always been a military wannabe,” he said.
Lesser was in college during the Vietnam War and received a draft deferment, but said he always felt it was wrong that those who could go to college avoided serving.
His interest was renewed years later at a medical conference. During a break, Lesser struck up a conversation with a retired Army lieutenant colonel who was working as a recruiter.
“He told me there was a shortage of medical doctors and it was uncomfortable for me to hear that we were not getting enough health care for soldiers,” he said. “It was embarrassing. It hurt.”
After wading through 10 months of paperwork and receiving an age waiver, Lesser joined for three years and was officially sworn in as a major of the Medical Corps of the Army National Guard in December, 2008.
Nearly all residents have to be under 42 to join the Army National Guard, but that age restriction goes to 60 for doctors, Lt. Col. John J. Driscoll, retention and recruitment commander for the guard.
Some do join in their mid 40s but it is rare for anyone to sign up for the National Guard after that, even for doctors and chaplains, who are also allowed to join past the 42-year-old age cap, he said.
“We will always have a need for doctors and here is someone who just wants to serve his country,” he said.
Lesser said he never would have or could have joined if the Army wanted him full time. Instead officers told him typically doctors are called to active duty for about 120 days during a three-year tour. They also have to attend four weeks of boot camp.
He actually served for months before boot camp. During that time he provided medical care for soldiers but admitted some of the medical corps didn’t know a lot about military protocol.
“We didn’t even know how to salute.”
While in Iraq, Lesser said he will be assigned as a Level 1 physician, who will treat day-to-day illnesses of troops as well as handling trauma.
As a family physician he is well-suited for the job because he handles a wide variety of medical problems and routine care for people of all ages.
But going away, even for four months, is no small feat for someone who practices alone. During his four-week basic training, Dr. Garry M. Bombardier, an internist for Holyoke Medical Center, agreed to cover for him. But this time he was not available.
“The main concern is first my family and the sacrifices they have to make and then the concern is for my patients,” he said.
Lesser, who lives in Longmeadow, is married to Joan Lesser, who is a mental health care provider in Holyoke. They have three children who are 25, 21 and 16.
When he learned he would be heading to Iraq, Lesser contacted friends and members of the group of private-practice physicians who work together and with him to cover after-hour emergencies on a rotating basis. He was surprised at how many people wanted to help.
He especially is grateful to Michael F. Houff, vice president of operations for Hampden County Physician Associates, and an Army veteran himself, who helped find two doctors, Gary Jacobson and Tala Khan, and a nurse practitioner, Elizabeth Anderson, who will help.
Houff said it wasn’t that difficult. He sent a message to all the members of the group and the three volunteered quickly.
“I saw this as such an unselfish act on his part,” Houff said. “His family has personified contributing above and beyond. He is not just talking about it, he is really going.”
The first two who agreed to cover for him were doctors Alan Lareau and Rehema Mwanga, who are married and have a practice in Springfield. Mwanga, who works fewer hours because the couple has four children, was the first to volunteer.
Through the four and Lesser’s six part-time office staff, the practice will run four days a week.
This experience has shown him people want to get involved. Several physicians who are covering for him were not born in the United States and that did not make any difference, he said.
“There is a war going on and you are not asked to do anything,” Lesser said.
But on Friday Lesser, 58, will go on active duty with the Massachusetts Army National Guard. After a week of training in Georgia, Lesser will head to Iraq for three months.
Lesser, a family physician who opened his own practice in Holyoke 18 years ago, said his father and uncles served during World War II and he was always interested in the military.
“I’ve always been a military wannabe,” he said.
Lesser was in college during the Vietnam War and received a draft deferment, but said he always felt it was wrong that those who could go to college avoided serving.
His interest was renewed years later at a medical conference. During a break, Lesser struck up a conversation with a retired Army lieutenant colonel who was working as a recruiter.
“He told me there was a shortage of medical doctors and it was uncomfortable for me to hear that we were not getting enough health care for soldiers,” he said. “It was embarrassing. It hurt.”
After wading through 10 months of paperwork and receiving an age waiver, Lesser joined for three years and was officially sworn in as a major of the Medical Corps of the Army National Guard in December, 2008.
Nearly all residents have to be under 42 to join the Army National Guard, but that age restriction goes to 60 for doctors, Lt. Col. John J. Driscoll, retention and recruitment commander for the guard.
Some do join in their mid 40s but it is rare for anyone to sign up for the National Guard after that, even for doctors and chaplains, who are also allowed to join past the 42-year-old age cap, he said.
“We will always have a need for doctors and here is someone who just wants to serve his country,” he said.
Lesser said he never would have or could have joined if the Army wanted him full time. Instead officers told him typically doctors are called to active duty for about 120 days during a three-year tour. They also have to attend four weeks of boot camp.
He actually served for months before boot camp. During that time he provided medical care for soldiers but admitted some of the medical corps didn’t know a lot about military protocol.
“We didn’t even know how to salute.”
While in Iraq, Lesser said he will be assigned as a Level 1 physician, who will treat day-to-day illnesses of troops as well as handling trauma.
As a family physician he is well-suited for the job because he handles a wide variety of medical problems and routine care for people of all ages.
But going away, even for four months, is no small feat for someone who practices alone. During his four-week basic training, Dr. Garry M. Bombardier, an internist for Holyoke Medical Center, agreed to cover for him. But this time he was not available.
“The main concern is first my family and the sacrifices they have to make and then the concern is for my patients,” he said.
Lesser, who lives in Longmeadow, is married to Joan Lesser, who is a mental health care provider in Holyoke. They have three children who are 25, 21 and 16.
When he learned he would be heading to Iraq, Lesser contacted friends and members of the group of private-practice physicians who work together and with him to cover after-hour emergencies on a rotating basis. He was surprised at how many people wanted to help.
He especially is grateful to Michael F. Houff, vice president of operations for Hampden County Physician Associates, and an Army veteran himself, who helped find two doctors, Gary Jacobson and Tala Khan, and a nurse practitioner, Elizabeth Anderson, who will help.
Houff said it wasn’t that difficult. He sent a message to all the members of the group and the three volunteered quickly.
“I saw this as such an unselfish act on his part,” Houff said. “His family has personified contributing above and beyond. He is not just talking about it, he is really going.”
The first two who agreed to cover for him were doctors Alan Lareau and Rehema Mwanga, who are married and have a practice in Springfield. Mwanga, who works fewer hours because the couple has four children, was the first to volunteer.
Through the four and Lesser’s six part-time office staff, the practice will run four days a week.
This experience has shown him people want to get involved. Several physicians who are covering for him were not born in the United States and that did not make any difference, he said.
“There is a war going on and you are not asked to do anything,” Lesser said.
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