Pre-Deployment Training

In September Major Marty training at Army Medical Headquarters at Fort Huston in San Antonio attending a five day course called Tactical Combat Medical Care.

Separation from my Family and Absence from my Practice

I have never been away from my family for more than a week. I will miss my family enormously and my absence from them has already started and it is profound.

Looking Back at 9/11

There has never been a date that has meant so much to every one of us as September 11, 2001 but for obvious reasons (which I won't go into) in recent years it seemed as though public participation in commemorative events was floundering.

Deployment 6 Weeks Away

Next week is the 9th "anniversary" of the 09/11/2001 attack and in about six weeks I will report to Fort Benning, Georgia for 120 days of active duty in the United States Army on behalf of "Operation Iraqi Freedom". During my own "run-up" to this deployment people have made a big fuss over my decision to volunteer but it's not at all that simple.

Major Marty in The Republican

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.

Major Marty's National Guard Article

The Adjutant General of Massachusetts, Maj. Gen. Joseph C. Carter (left) and Maj. Martin Lesser of Holyoke Mass., pose for photographs following Lesser’s appointment as a medical officer in the Massachusetts Army National Guard, Jan. 11, 2009. Lesser, aged 57 years, received a waiver so that he could join the Guard. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Eric Kolesnikovas)

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Thank You

8:14 PM Major Marty

AS I ENTER THE LAST 30 DAYS OF MY DEPLOYMENT I WANT TO THANK THE ARMY OF PEOPLE IT TOOK TO HELP ME GET ME DEPOLYED AND KEEP ME DEPLOYED.

MY WIFE, JOAN WAS LEFT TO ALONE TO FEND FOR HERSELF AND KEEP OUR HOUSEHOLD FUNCTIONING. MY THREE CHILDREN ERIC, REBECCA & ESPECIALLY JULIA, MY YOUNGEST WHO STILL RELIES ON ME FOR SO MUCH YET MANAGED TO PASS HER DRIVING TEST WITHOUT ME. MY EXTENDED FAMILY WHO CAME OUT OF THE WOODWORK FOR THIS ONE AND CONTINUED TO ENCOURAGE ME THROUGH THE ORDEAL.


Read more »

Contine Reading Chapter >>

Monday, December 27, 2010

Gospel Bluenotes Bring the Spirit to COB Adder

6:24 PM Major Marty


They couldn't of come at a better time.  It was between Christmas & New Years, December 27, 2010 to be exact, and people's spirits were getting kind of low.  Most of the soldiers were thinking of their families and friends that they weren't go to see this year.   Nobody really expected salvation but salvation did arrive and it came from the most unlikely source.

Another entertainment group called "THE GOSPELL BLUENOTES" was going to be performing that night and they were going to be joined by a group of soldiers who sing at church services here at Adder.  I am embarrassed to say
that the crowd wasn't nearly as big as the ones that showed up to see the Ultimate Fighting, Heavy Metal or Country & Western. Although fewer in numbers there was simply no comparison to the joy, spirit and meaning they were able to bring to all of us who attended. Here you are stuck in this army camp in the middle of a wilderness during the holiday season and professional gospel singers are singing to you about lives that have known pain, loneliness & despair yet their voices are filled with hope, joy, and redemption. The lead singer claimed that he knew that the soldiers spirit had been sagging and he intended to fill our spirits with hope.

Please take a good look at these pictures and the brief video of this performance and it will give you an idea of what music can do for your spirit.

 
Because of internet issues it's very difficult to transmit video from Iraq. These brief clips cannot even begin to describe the emotions of this gospel performance held at Adder, Iraq on 12/27/2010.






Read more »

See the latest pictures!

2:35 AM Major Marty

Major Marty and Physician Assistants, Susan Harcke and Vijay Soprey receive their 'Combat Patches' in a ceremony held in front of the assembled brigade. Colonel Lisa Costanza is seen placing patches on their right shoulders.











Read more »

Happy Holidays!

2:19 AM Zach Schiffman


This is almost my entire Medical Staff. To my right are my two physician assistants: Susan Harcke and Vijay Soprey. Next (in sunglasses) is captain Gabriel Fabian, the Commander of the unit. All the others are medics: Sean, Annmarie, Erika, Nolan, and Glenn. Several others are missing from the picture.
Read more »

Twitter Delicious Facebook Digg Stumbleupon Favorites More