CAMDENTON, Mo. — War leaves its participants with wounds: sometimes visible, others invisible. And across history, military medics have played a special role that takes a special kind of courage—entering the battle not to harm, but to heal.
Lake-area resident Keith “Doc” Lucas was the lead medic assigned to A Company, 1140th Engineer Company during its deployment to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom II, Feb. 2004–Feb. 2005.
Lucas’ company commander during the deployment was Captain James Phillips. Here are his words about “Doc’s” willingness to plunge into a horrific scene:
1st Platoon was conducting route clearance operations southwest of Baghdad while being supported by C Battery 4/27 FA and a contingent Engineers from the 40th Engineer Brigade in the lead up to Operation Phantom Fury. It was the day Keith “Doc” Lucas not only performed his duties as Medic, he was faced with a mass causality event that would have broken most people. A suicide bomber with a large quantity of artillery rounds loaded into his car drove into a squad of soldiers and detonated. Doc was the on the site and dismounted before his vehicle had even came to a full halt. He rushed into the “Hell” of combat without hesitation. He went from one American Soldier laying on the battlefield to the other, triaging them as a good Medic should. He passed the soldiers that were either already dead or so close to death that he would be unlikely be able to save them. He focused on treating the soldiers he could provide for. He did this while surrounded in what was worse than I described in the first paragraph. Smells, sounds, emotions, unknown enemy locations, Apache attack helicopters circling just meters overhead as the medevac Blackhawks were coming in. He made life and death decisions that day and he made the right decisions. His first experience as Medic would have broken many, to include active duty medics. After 2 hours or so on the site, Keith reclaimed his position in the vehicle and the unit continued on with the mission finding IEDs and didn’t return to the Forward Operation Base until later that evening. The enemy would not deter us or Keith “Doc” Lucas. Keith received the Army’s Combat Medic Badge for his actions that fateful day.
Since returning to civilian life, Lucas works as a web designer for MSW Interactive Designs—a web marketing company at the Lake. But his service to his brothers-in-arms has not come to an end: Lucas is the Post Surgeon (Community Relations) at Camdenton VFW Post 5923. At the post and by keeping close contact with his old unit, Lucas is still helping veterans heal. As he sees it, Lucas is commissioned with connecting veterans across generations—helping recent war vets deal with potentially debilitating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Those who served in Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm and other conflicts bring unique wisdom to veterans of America’s 21st-century wars, and can show them the way through the invisible wounds that tend to linger.
Lucas has a history of going beyond the call of duty. Phillips wrote, “Doc went out on more missions than the Combat Engineers in the company since his skills as a Medic were always needed. Doc confided in me early in the deployment that wasn’t sure he could do what needed to be done in the event his skills where called upon. Doc said his concern was due to his non-medic background in his civilian life. I told him his training would carry him through.”
Now, with the local VFW post in a fight for its life, Lucas is still "doc" to the entire group. Contractor troubles and unexpected costs have left the post hemorrhaging in the midst of its most ambitious project to-date: the construction of a new post building with a restaurant, bar, and event center.
CAMDENTON, Mo. — Camdenton’s VFW has put out a call for help, as the post faces the daunting…
Leadership sees the center as a place where veterans can connect and also where the community can be served, through a restaurant, bar, and event center. But the building is only partly finished, and the post needs a critical infusion of cash. Without that, not only would the restaurant, lounge, and community center project crumble, but the post itself could be shut down.
“Doc” Lucas and the post’s leadership face an uphill battle, but with the community behind them, they are confidently advancing, and not looking back.
To donate to the VFW Post 5923, visit helplakeveterans.org. Donations can also be mailed to PO Box 407, Camdenton, MO 65020. The VFW post is a 501(c)19 and donations are tax deductible. All donations stay in the local community and benefit the local post. Donation receipts are available upon request.
