Ever met a doctor who retired but kept seeing his patients... for free? Well, I found one and what he continues to do for our veterans is impressive indeed.
His name is Dr. Winkler Bond. He's a psychiatrist and you'll like what he does.
We missed the cutting of the cake, but we're pretty sure it said, "Thank you Dr. Bond for many years of dedication."
"It's my honor to be able to treat you all and provide you with whatever services and assistance that I can provide you with,” Dr. Bond said. “I just want you all to know that."
Dr. Winkler Bond came to the Birmingham Veterans Hospital in 1975 and he retired in 2001. The good news is he never stopped coming, never stopped seeing these veterans... I don't think he could stop if he tried.
"I've been working with the veterans all this time,” Bond said. “I enjoy veterans, I like veterans, I'm proud of veterans and it's just something I just enjoy doing."
Today, the World War II and Korean War veterans that Dr. Bond has loved and counseled came together to just say thank you; thank you for coming here three days a week for no pay, for no special recognition.
These aren't just veterans; they saw it all. Take Attis Kidd, a Marine who got wounded at Iwo Jima. He recovered on a ship offshore and went back and got wounded again.
Or take Stumpy Watson. He escaped twice after being captured by the Germans. They tried to kill him, but he killed more than 60 of them.
Gordon Lewis was a pilot in World War II. He was shot down and taken prisoner by the Germans, then flew mission in Korea too... that's what war is.
"Everybody in this group had serious combat experience in either World War II or Korea,” Bond said. “They're long term veterans who have problems with these things… I have a great deal of pride in them and I feel honored to be able to try to help them and I try to do what I can to help them."
Rica Lewis-Payton is the director of the VA Medical Center.
"To have Dr. Bond willing to come back and do that is a tremendous benefit for us and also for the veterans we serve," Lewis-Payton said.
These tough men love Dr. Winkler Bond. I'm sure they'd tell you that, but I didn't have to ask and they didn't have to say so. It was obvious to everyone in the room.
"I think I really more help them help themselves, because I try to teach them some sort of basic things to help them spend less time dealing with the stuff that happened a long time ago, to keep their mind active and involved in things that are happening in their lives now," Bond said.
So, three days a week, Dr. Winkler Bond is here with these men. It's his way of serving; it's his way of saying thank you… something we all should do.
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