Medical Students To Go To Vietnam

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31841, 20 November 1968, Page 18

Medical Students To Go To Vietnam

Seven students of Otago University will work as medical assistants to the Army in South Vietnam in their summer vacation.

Six student doctors and one • student dentist are now at Burnham camp preparing for their work. They will leave for South Vietnam by air from Auckland on Sunday. During their four months in

South Vietnam they will treat; civilian victims of the war; at field stations and a base; hospital at Qui Nhon. They will eat army rations, and draw a soldier’s regular pay. The students, all from! the North Island, are members of the Otago University! Medical Corps and were selee-l ted on seniority About 20 [students applied to go on the mission. The party comprises Messrs E. W. Willoughby (Huntly),, L. J. Talbot (New Plymouth), D J. McHaffie (Levin), C, P.i Ring (Auckland), S. G. Dearing (Auckland), J. C. Opie (Auckland) and J. D. Gillies (Levin). If they had not been going to Vietnam the students would! have spent their vacations working in hospitals or at' labouring jobs where the money is good enough to see them through their studies. At Burnham they have been doing courses in the Viet-; namese language, self de-; fence and physical fitness. The average age is 22. They, said they would not be treating military casualties but civilians. The photograph shows four of the students learning the use of an E.M.O. anaesthetic machine used in the field. With them is Dr E. McKenzie, of Timaru. who is going to Vietnam as the surgeon with the combined services medical unit. From left are Messrs Opie, Dearing. McKenzie, Ring, and McHaffie (acting as patient).