IN HIS OWN WORDS: 2016 Hall of Famer Gary Wagner shares his military experience and history
Early March 1969, three really good friends, Gary, Don and Charlie, volunteered for the draft during the height of the Vietnam war. They knew that they would be drafted soon, as neither held a draft deferment, so they enlisted in the Army, attended basic training at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, home to the 101st Airborne. Gary and Don were sent off to Infantry Training at Fort Polk Louisiana and Charlie was sent to Leavenworth, Kansas for Artillery Training.
Time passed and in August 1969, all three received orders for Vietnam. Just before departure, Charlie was reassigned to Germany for 18 months. Gary and Don had no such luck and landed in Cam Ranh Bay the next day. Don served with the Fourth Infantry Division, and Gary with 101st Airborne. Unknowingly, both Don and Gary were assigned Radio Telephone Operators (RTO) in the field for their length of service, both decorated with two Bronze Stars each, along with multiple other awards. Both were blessed and very fortunate to have incurred no wounds and lived to tell their stories. A story for Don developed when he experienced malaria and was hospitalized; he was temporarily "lost" by the Army until his Commander pursued a search of hospitals and located him. Gary, meanwhile, got to attend the Bob Hope Show Christmas Day after spending 42 consecutive days in the field. Being seated in the first row provided him an excellent view of The Golddiggers; of course, they were of more interest than Bob Hope!
During Gary's tour with the Army, he had risen from a Private to E-5 in two years and upon discharge after completing military commitments, Don and Gary returned to their Ohio homes in August 1970. Charlie, due to his non-combat status, was required to serve an additional six months before returning to Ohio. During this time, unemployment was at its peak; however, all three veterans were fortunate to find stable employment. Don was employed with a local hospital; Charlie got a job with Ohio Power; and Gary worked multiple different jobs until joining the hospital where Don was employed. Don eventually left to join Ohio Bell, which became part of AT&T.
Gary was bored working in the hospital warehouse, and while continuing to work full time, he attended college full-time, earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the College of Stubenville. After completing his duties of sterilizing instruments, he would study in the Doctor's Lounge. This often led to physicians calling him into the OR to assist in surgery! His medical knowledge grew by default and his experience in healthcare led him to promotions, which eventually resulted his first management position of Director of Supply Chain. Ten years later, he joined Bon Secours Healthcare System in Richmond, Virginia, as Assistant Vice President. In 1995, he was hired by Inova Healthcare System as Vice President, where he worked for another 10 years. The highlight of his career occurred when he was recruited to Houston Methodist Hospital System in 2005, where he worked until retirement in 2018.
Gary's military experience provided him with critical healthcare logistics exposure during his tour of Vietnam. As a Radio Telephone Operator, he carried the platoon radio and was responsible for many logistical functions, such as calling for artillery strikes, coordinating medevac helicopters to transport the wounded and deceased, coordinating or replenishing food and ammunition, coordinating replacement soldiers, directing air and artillery strikes, in which unbeknownst to him, he became the logistics person by default. This experience proved helpful in securing his position in healthcare in 1971. He had no idea that the experience of Vietnam would lead to a fabulous career in healthcare. The military not only taught him logistics but it also provided him with valuable skills and how to use them.
At the age of 19, Gary was fortunate to have been assigned to do what he did; he looks back in amazement that such heavy responsibilities he carried provided tremendous knowledge that led him into a wonderful healthcare experience.
After 45 years in healthcare, he retired. He then sailed away into the sunset with his wife, cruising his sailboat, Rambunctious, from Houston to Virginia, where they reside and continue to enjoy extensive travel around the world. Don still lives in Ohio with his wife after retirement in 2008 and maintains the most beautiful yard with colorful flowers everywhere; and Charlie, after retiring from Ohio Power in 2010, lived in Ohio with his wife restoring old cars. Charlie passed away this year; we miss him terribly.