Dr. Donnelly Wilkes Part 1: Navy Commendation Medal of Valor Recipient, Author of Code Red Fallujah, and Founder of Summit Health Group

Team Never Quit

Marcus Luttrell

Personal Journals, Society & Culture, Education, Health & Fitness, Mental Health, Self-improvement

4.9 • 6K Ratings

🗓️ 18 August 2021

⏱️ 64 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

With 2 combat tours in Iraq under his belt, Dr. Donnely Wilkes shares his first-hand experiences with refreshing transparency. While one would think someone with that kind of experience would be tough as nails, Wilkes describes his true feelings and fears of being in a real-life battle with people wanting to kill him while serving as a medic in battlefield conditions.

Wilkes is the founder, president, and medical director of Summit Health Group in Thousand Oaks, CA, and authored Code Red Fallujah, his first-hand narrative of his role in the Battle of Fallujah. He served seven years on active duty and was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal with Valor for his actions in the battle of Fallujah in April of 2004. Upon completion of his naval service, Dr. Wilkes was honorably discharged as a Lieutenant. He is a devoted husband, father, and Christian.

Part 1 of 2.

In this episode you will hear:

I never thought I would join the military, much less do two tours in Iraq.
My grandfather was a P-38 pilot in WWII and was shot down over North Africa, and survived.
My dad always pushed me to seek higher levels.
I wasn’t the smartest kid in the class. I would just outwork.
A key question for a battlefield medic: Can you operate under pressure, be sleep-deprived, and yet do procedures well?
Going on simulated night raids was like being in a movie- but I didn’t know I wasn’t quite ready for this movie.
As much as I trained, I thought I was prepared, but I wasn’t.
When the “S” hits the fan, you have a file drawer of skills, and you have to access it.
Fallujah was like the Wild West.
It was unbelievable what the United States military could mobilize and put on wheels.
The Marine Corps motto is to do more with less.
I came to the point where I realized I just needed to finish the mission so I could go home.
When mortar attacks began, that’s when I knew there was somebody out there wanting to kill me.
I couldn’t accept being there and being in harm’s way. I really struggled to keep it together.
When I experienced my first surgical casualty, it was a horrible moment, but after the team gathered around and prayed, it was a beautiful moment.

Transcript

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0:00.0	So, will it be skiing?
0:03.0	Or Christmas markets on a city break?
0:06.5	Skiing? Or a city break?
0:09.0	Some problems are good problems to have.
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0:21.0	Get the King at EasyJet.com.
0:24.0	Selected dates, Holidays at all protected based on two adults for three nights,
0:28.0	restrictions and season C supply.
0:30.0	The Team Never Quick Podcast is sponsored by Navy Federal Credit Union.
0:34.0	You can finance, buy, protect, and enjoy your auto purchase all through one convenient place.
0:38.0	Learn more at NavyFederal.org.
0:41.0	I want to try and have this power here.
0:56.0	Alright everybody, welcome back to the TNG Podcast. I'm your host, Marcus Mattrell.
0:59.0	Every week it's my job to fire you up to ignite the legend inside of you
1:03.0	and to push you to your greatness.
1:05.0	Join me every week and I take you into my Breaker room with some of the most
1:08.0	our charge and people on the planet.
1:11.0	They're going to show you how to embrace the stuff of life, teach you the values
1:14.0	of working your ass off and charge through whatever life throws at you.
1:18.0	This is the Team Never Quick Podcast.
1:21.0	Don't buckle up, buttercup.
	...

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