All,
Dr. James "Red" Duke died this week in Houston! He was an Intern doing his Surgery Internship at Parkland Hospital on November 22, 1963!
I have had the fortune of being treated by Dr Red Dude twice, when I was injured on duty with Houston Fire Department! It was very reassuring to see Dr "Red" Duke standing on the Herman Hospital E.R. ramp when the back doors of the ambulance were opened, and stepping inside to asses me and lead the stretcher into the Shock Room! He delivered "State of the Art" Emergency Care mixed with his Deep-Rooted Texas - "Twang" and Folksy Mannerisms! He always wore faded bluejeans and worn-out cowboy boots that (Possibly was last worn in the barn!) I have witnessed Dr. Duke dress down new Interns several times because they disregarded the information the Houston Fire Paramedics (As the New Interns "Knew More Than The Paramedics"!) Dr. Duke would set the record straight-and tell the Interns to listen to the Paramedics, as they have more practical Emergency knowledge than the Interns!
I walked the halls of Hermann Hospital and visited with Dr. Duke several times, one time, he told me about Parkland E.R. and the Kennedy Assassination: Dr. Duke said he was summoned to the E.R. "Stat" and entered Trauma Room One to see so many Medical Personnel, Cops, Secret Service Agents, he could hardly get to the Patient! Several other Doctors were there already! He saw Kennedy on the table, with his grievous injury, and saw Jackie nearby! His first thought was "They are working on a dead man!" and turned to leave the Shock room, as he entered the hallway, A Nurse grabbed him, and asked him to help her in another Shock room. Dr. Duke entered to see Governor Connolly by himself with the "Fist-Sized" Chest Wound (The Nurse was trying by herself to save him!) They put in a chest tube and saved him, and sent him to the O.R.!
My indirect contact with "Nov 22, 1963" and "Camelot" occurred in early June, 1993, I received a desperate phone call while working in the Medical Telemetry Communications at Ben Taub Hospital. The women on the phone told me "This is Nelly Connolly! John is having trouble breathing, and refusing to go to the Hospital with the ambulance (HFD #1103) Please call Dr. Pepe (HFD Medical Director) for me, and have him call me! Approximately 30 minutes later, I handled the medical communications as Gov. John Connolly was transported to the Hospital! He died about a week later! Listed as his cause of Death "Homicide-Gunshot Wound causing Pulmonary Fibrosis to lung tissue!" 30 years after the fact!
Dr. Duke formed the "Level 1" Trauma Center at Hermann Hospital, coordinated a Trauma hospital network for Texas, and also put together The first Hospital based Helicopter Air Ambulance "Hermann Life Flight" Pretty good for an Ordained Minister and Former Army Tank Commander!
God Bless You, Dr. James "Red" Duke! Your contribution to Emergency care will never be forgotten!
Robert L. Koryciak
PCS Houston 2015