John Worzniak
Major
Michigan Army National Guard
1971- 1977
Brook Army Hospital
In June of 1970, I graduated from the University of Virginia Medical School. On July 1 my Family Medicine Residency started at Oakwood Hospital in Dearborn, Michigan. In February of 1971, I received a notification to report for a physical exam at Fort Wayne and would be eligible for induction into the armed forces after I completed my year of Internship. At that time I was married and had an infant son and also wanted to complete two more years of residency in order to be board certified in Family Medicine. An orthopedic Resident encouraged me to consider enlisting in the Michigan Army National Guard. He felt this was a good opportunity to serve and yet continue his Residency. In July of 1971, I joined the 207 Mobile Army Surgical Hospital located in Detroit, Michigan. That summer I trained at Camp Grayling, Michigan. Our unit supported a field hospital and provided field support for injuries that occurred during training. We also performed field exercises at Fort Custer in Battle Creek, Michigan. In 1973 our unit was sent to Brooke Army Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. We trained in large inflatable hospitals that could be positioned on the front to provide acute critical care. My role was to provide triage, pre and post-operative care, and to assist at surgery. We were preparing to be deployed to Vietnam but the war effort was reduced and our role changed. For the next three years we trained at Camp Grayling supporting our Guard troops and also injured army veterans who were being interrogated into the Army Reserves before discharge. I was a member of the 207 MASH for six years and was able to practice Family Medicine in Adrian, Michigan. In 1994 my family and I moved to Ann Arbor. I joined the faculty at the University of Michigan as an Assistant Professor in the Family Medicine training program. In 1997 I had an opportunity to be the Program Director for the Family Medicine training program at Oakwood Hospital in Dearborn. In 2013 I retired and was able to spend more time with my wife, children, and grandchildren. In 2017, tragically, I lost my wife to brain cancer. Since then I have become more active in Church. I am a member of a senior retired group and serve in the youth ministry. Also, I hope to be active in the American Legion as we support veterans and youth groups.
