http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_4239388,00.htmlDr. Everett Spees, a cardiothoracic surgeon at several local hospitals who helped to develop the field of organ transplants, was a bit startled to find the Army calling, asking if he'd volunteer.
A retired colonel, he'd offered his services on the day after Sept. 11, 2001, but no one called back for more than two years - after the military was thoroughly embroiled in Iraq and needing more soldiers.
"I said, 'You know, I'm 71 years old?'" The Reserve officer replied, "Are you physically fit? Are you still practicing?" Spees said yes. And soon he was back in uniform - 27 years after he first retired. He served a year in a military hospital in Texas, from July 2004 to July 2005, just days before turning 72.
With a shortfall of 24,000 troops in the Army Reserve and Army National Guard, the military is trying new ways to fill the gap. Spees said he was told the Army Reserve called all 5,000 retirees from the Army medical corps, and he was the 101st to agree to return.