Salute to Veterans: Skills learned as Air Force medic served him well

Ken Henn’s career as a medic in the Air Force shuffled him to and from bases all over the world. In his 22 years of service, Henn, or “Doc” as he is still often called by other veterans, was stationed in Spain, Florida, South Korea, England and eventually California.

His medical training in the Air Force, he said, fully prepared for a successful career as a nurse at the Merced County Jail and Juvenile Hall, where he worked for 21 years.

The Chicago native, now 65, joined the Air Force in 1968, at the age of 19. His original plans were to serve as a computer programmer, but because of the need for medical staff at the time, he was trained as a nurse. While doubtful at first, Henn is now thankful for the skills he learned as a medic, that to this day come in handy, he said.

“I told the drill instructor that I wasn’t sure if it would work out, ‘If I see someone throw up, I throw up,’ but I was told I’d get over it,” Henn said. “And within a few short years, I did.”

His first assignment was in Torrejón Air Base, just outside Madrid, Spain. There he met his wife, a native of England.

In 1970, Henn began working in emergency rooms, where he spent most of his time, sometimes working 24-hour shifts. By 1973, Henn was a registered emergency medical technician.

After almost four years in Spain, Henn relocated to Tyndall Air Force Base near Panama City, Fla., where he spent seven years. He worked for a year at a radar site in Mangil-san, South Korea, and then worked in England before finally moving to Castle Air Force Base in Atwater, where he decided to stay and raise his family.

Although Henn grew to love his job, he does recall tough times where a shortage of medical professionals forced him to take charge in serious situations.

During his yearlong stint in Korea, Henn was the only medic at the radar site. He received specialized training as an independent duty medical technician.

“I was by myself and all I had was a headset. So if someone needed an appendectomy, I had to do it,” Henn said. “And if you had 25 injured people, you had to look at all 25 real quickly and prioritize, (deciding) which one needs immediate attention.”

Henn explained that at the radar site, everyone referred to him as “Sgt. Henn,” and it wasn’t until he proved himself in his first emergency that others began calling him “Doc.”

After about two months of being on the radar site, Henn had to attend a man who was having seizures. “Once the gentleman was safe on his way to an army hospital in Seoul, Korea, the site commander got on the PA system and said, ‘Attention on site, doc’s had his first emergency, drinks are on me.’”

Although he was separated from his wife and two children during his time in Korea, Henn believes it turned out to be a well-invested year, as he credits that experience with being able to find a good-paying job as a registered nurse when he moved to Merced County.

Everything he’s learned as a medic has come in handy, even to this day, Henn said.

“I have three grandchildren, and my daughter and son will call me and say ‘so and so has an earache’… I have my own stethoscope, so I’ll give them a quick check,” Henn said. It’s not uncommon for other veterans to seek his advice when experiencing minor symptoms, he said.

These days Henn keeps himself busy with his family and as a life member of the local chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Merced County Honor Guard.

This story was originally published November 10, 2014 at 4:00 PM with the headline "Salute to Veterans: Skills learned as Air Force medic served him well."