Navy doctor veteran reflects on 20 years of service

People throughout Longboat Key found a multitude of ways to pay tribute to the sacrifices those in the military have made to protect their country. On Memorial Day, that recognition included a place setting honoring the fallen soldier at Longboat Harbour Condominiums. 

A single red rose, adorned with a ribbon, sat at the empty table.

The table plaque read, "This table is reserved to honor our brave and selfless American military members who have perished on the battlefield, those who have not been returned to us after being taken prisoner on foreign soil, and for those who went missing and have not found their way back home."

Those in attendance took time to remember fellow service members and reflect on their own time working with the military.

Photo by Dana Kampa

Resident Bob Geraci served as a captain in the U.S. Navy as an anesthesiologist for 20 years. Accompanied by his wife, Grace, he attended the program at Longboat Harbour for the first time this year, whereas the couple would typically head north for the season.

"I had a very unusual service with the Navy," Geraci said. "When I got through with medical school and my residency and was ready to go out into the field, the Vietnam War was going on."

Geraci said he and his newly trained peers shared concerns about the timing of potentially being drafted. So, he signed on for two years of service, as long as he could finish his medical training.

"They put me right to work," he said. "I did what I was trained to do — see patients."

He worked primarily at a naval hospital in Virginia, but he also worked in a mobile operating unit, which included a small team of surgical experts in orthopedics, anesthesiology, nurses and more.

"They could go anywhere in a pinch," he added.

They traveled to an island off Cuba, where they set up an operating room aboard their ship to serve injured soldiers who otherwise would have to travel home for more extensive medical care.

Geraci remembers helping one young man who suffered a grenade injury to the hand when he struggled to throw the weapon after pulling the pin.

"I felt for this kid, because he almost lost his hand," he said.

In his second year, he remembers when a film crew joined the mobile unit for several weeks to document the war.

Grace said it was a challenging time for their family, considering they had three children under 3 years old, but they were glad to welcome him home.

Photo by Dana Kampa

After serving those two years, he entered civilian practice with his honorable discharge while his fellow interns, who questioned his choice, were drafted during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

"They all had plans and employments they had to cancel," Geraci said.

During his time of service, Geraci attained the rank of captain. 

He also worked in private practice for a decade in Rochester, New York. 

Geraci said he appreciated being able to recognize the holiday along with fellow veterans that day. Also in attendance were Army servicemen Brad Hoover, Tim Sheehy, and Capt. Bob Munoz, and fellow Navy serviceman John Troup.