Then-SGT Steve Yevich, on the Special Forces Recon Team "Moccasin" (of Command and Control North) in Viet Nam.

May 1, 2001

I am ecstatic about CAPT Hughey’s truly magnificent and groundbreaking work, Operational Medicine.  It was written with the perspective required for the scope of practice in which Special Operations health care providers often must function. 

Military health care in the austere and geographically isolated setting is one of the most challenging and most rewarding experiences in a professional lifetime.  Indeed, decision-making in this environment, when alone and without the luxury of consultation, is the ultimate test of one’s knowledge, ingenuity and intuition. The material contained in this CD-ROM was designed to help you when facing those difficult decisions in that environment. Almost single-handedly, Hughey has captured the essence of medicine in the survival mode, and the Special Operations community salutes the worthy endeavor. 

Remember...while the situation will dictate the way you provide care, the principles of excellence in health care are always the same. Be Righteously Right!  Never exceed your capabilities, strive to improve yourself constantly, provide the best care possible under the circumstances, do no further harm, never abandon your patient, and always remember you are part of Humanity.

Unconventional Warfare, Unconventional Medicine!!

Steven J. Yevich
COL, MC, USA
Command Surgeon
US Special Operations Command

Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
Department of the Navy
2300 E Street NW
Washington, D.C
20372-5300

Operational Medicine
 Health Care in Military Settings
CAPT Michael John Hughey, MC, USNR
NAVMED P-5139
  January 1, 2001