Why did he join the Navy at 61? 🎖️

Good morning,

I hope you all had a great day yesterday and spent time with your loved ones. I thought I would share a tragic but powerful story today, but first a new segment.

On this day - 1944

Breaking the encirclement in Bastogne - 2nd Armoured division broke through and the 101st were isolated no longer. It was said the temperature was 20 degrees Fahrenheit, which the men had to endure. True heroes.

In todays newsletter we salute.....

Bill Krissoff

Bill was 61 when he was enlisted in the Navy in 2007, he was an Orthopaedic surgeon, ran his own practice but gave it all up. Why? Read below to find out.  ⬇️ 

Bill Krissoff, MD, was a proud father to his son Nathan who joined the Marine Corps and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 2004. To Bill, memorial day never meant that much to him until he received the news than any parent dreads. On the 9th of December 2006 Nathan was serving as a counterintelligence officer, and was returning to his base outside Falluja when his Humvee drove over a roadside bomb. He didn't survive, and became the 2,924th American service member killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

After hearing the news, Bill wanted to call their other son called Austin who followed in his big brothers steps, and was at the time in the Marine Corps Officer Candidates School.

Austin was given the chance to walk away from the Marine Corps, as he was his parents only surviving child, he declined. Austin said "Nate would have wanted nothing more than for me to carry on the mission."

Some time past when Bill was hiking with Nates previous commanding officer in Iraq, Lt Col William Seely, when he asked him about the medical care Marines received whilst deployed. Having already wanted to do volunteer work, this sparked an idea with Bill. "I thought that was what I wanted to do – a Navy doc caring for Marines in combat"

He spoke with a Navy recruiter who told him he was over the age limit and he would need a waiver to enlist as he was aged 60. Undeterred he seized his moment when his family were invited to the white house.

At the end of the meeting the President asked if he could do anything for the families?

Bill responded with "I was the last to speak and I told him I wanted to join the Navy Medical Corps, but I had been told I was too old. He looked right at my wife and asked what she thought. He clearly did not want to get into the middle of this. He also asked Austin, who was visiting from Camp Pendleton. Austin was a little sceptical but he thought his dad would probably do fine.” said Bill.

Two days after seeing the President the Navy recruiter told him he had been granted a waiver and a little under a year after Nates fatality, Bill was commissioned a Lt Commander in the Navy Medical Corps. He closed his Orthopaedic practice and moved the family home to San Diego.

In one 7 month Afghanistan tour in 2010, Bill was primary surgeon or assistant on 225 trauma surgeries in Camp Bastion. The lives he saved are countless and was all in dedication to his sons sacrifice.

Incredible story and thank you Bill for your service.

Did you know?

There have only been Five Five-Star Generals in the Army

The rank of five-star general didn't exist until 1944, and it was only given to five men, including former president Dwight D. Eisenhower. The ranks were retired in 1981, when the last surviving five-star general - Omar Bradley - died.

Let us know your thoughts on this email by hitting reply and enjoy the remainder of the holidays.