Post by Bonobo on May 31, 2018 17:50:12 GMT 1
It is so natural to admire and remember people who are able to save others in spite of harsh conditions.
Doc Hekking, Dutch, was one of them.
Here is a good description of his deeds during WW2:
theindoproject.org/doc-hekking/
extracts
I was drawn to the American prisoners because they joked a lot in spite of their situation – spoken by Doc Hekking at a reunion with former American POW’s to whom he was assigned. He was often referred to as the Jungle Doctor because of his knowledge of medicinal plants and their application. His unit had zero loss of limbs and also had the lowest death rate.
The men suffered from tropical ulcers, malaria, dysentery and beriberi. Festering tropical ulcers often ended up in amputation of the limb. To remove dead skin and stimulate new skin growth he lanced ulcers with a sharpened teaspoon or sometimes used maggots. He created remedies using herbs, fat and sometimes arsenic to treat painful diseases.
Besides his skills as a physician under the worst conditions, Doc Hekking had a great sense of humility and humanitarianism. He knew that his patients needed hope, something to live for, otherwise they simply gave up. In the depths of hell, he kept their spirits up and recognized the significance of psychology in the healing process. When the men praised and thanked him, he turned it around and praised them. Doc Hekking stated that it was” their” friendship that kept him going and made him feel worthy. Anyone who has been in the trenches of war together understands the depth of this kind of brotherhood. This bond lasted a lifetime.
In the Congressional Record, November 18, 1983 a tribute was made to Dr. Han Hekking for his heroic efforts in saving the lives of Americans prisoners of the Burma-Thai Railway. He is hailed by Americans as a hero, yet little is known of him in the Netherlands. His name is in the official U.S. Congressional Record, Proceedings and Debates of the 98th Congress, First Session, Vol. 129. In this record one of his patients, Otto Schwarz is quoted, “…..he is not a mere physician. His practice of medicine, under the worst conditions was not restricted to the attempt to heal the physical body; it also brought out his ability as a psychologist, to somehow treat the mind, spirit, soul of those prisoners of war who had little or no reason to be confident about the future.”
Since 1956, the “boys” from Texas have held reunions with fellow ex POW’s. Each time, they passed the hat around to make it possible for Doc Hekking to come from Holland with his wife. Each time, they embraced wholeheartedly at the airport as they saw “Doc”.
On January 28, 1994 Dr. Henri H. Hekking passed away in Holland after a long battle with cancer. His “boys” were at a loss for words of how much he meant to them. He was an expert jungle doctor who saved their lives and became an endearing father figure and great friend.
We salute you Doc Hekking and we honor your memory.
Doc Hekking, Dutch, was one of them.
Here is a good description of his deeds during WW2:
theindoproject.org/doc-hekking/
extracts
I was drawn to the American prisoners because they joked a lot in spite of their situation – spoken by Doc Hekking at a reunion with former American POW’s to whom he was assigned. He was often referred to as the Jungle Doctor because of his knowledge of medicinal plants and their application. His unit had zero loss of limbs and also had the lowest death rate.
The men suffered from tropical ulcers, malaria, dysentery and beriberi. Festering tropical ulcers often ended up in amputation of the limb. To remove dead skin and stimulate new skin growth he lanced ulcers with a sharpened teaspoon or sometimes used maggots. He created remedies using herbs, fat and sometimes arsenic to treat painful diseases.
Besides his skills as a physician under the worst conditions, Doc Hekking had a great sense of humility and humanitarianism. He knew that his patients needed hope, something to live for, otherwise they simply gave up. In the depths of hell, he kept their spirits up and recognized the significance of psychology in the healing process. When the men praised and thanked him, he turned it around and praised them. Doc Hekking stated that it was” their” friendship that kept him going and made him feel worthy. Anyone who has been in the trenches of war together understands the depth of this kind of brotherhood. This bond lasted a lifetime.
In the Congressional Record, November 18, 1983 a tribute was made to Dr. Han Hekking for his heroic efforts in saving the lives of Americans prisoners of the Burma-Thai Railway. He is hailed by Americans as a hero, yet little is known of him in the Netherlands. His name is in the official U.S. Congressional Record, Proceedings and Debates of the 98th Congress, First Session, Vol. 129. In this record one of his patients, Otto Schwarz is quoted, “…..he is not a mere physician. His practice of medicine, under the worst conditions was not restricted to the attempt to heal the physical body; it also brought out his ability as a psychologist, to somehow treat the mind, spirit, soul of those prisoners of war who had little or no reason to be confident about the future.”
Since 1956, the “boys” from Texas have held reunions with fellow ex POW’s. Each time, they passed the hat around to make it possible for Doc Hekking to come from Holland with his wife. Each time, they embraced wholeheartedly at the airport as they saw “Doc”.
On January 28, 1994 Dr. Henri H. Hekking passed away in Holland after a long battle with cancer. His “boys” were at a loss for words of how much he meant to them. He was an expert jungle doctor who saved their lives and became an endearing father figure and great friend.
We salute you Doc Hekking and we honor your memory.