February 2005 Frontline - Commissioned Officers Association

Former Surgeon General Dr. C. Everett Koop
Speaks at Anchor and Caduceus Society Luncheon
Dr. C. Everett Koop, 13th Surgeon
General, joined with 200
Commissioned Corps officers and
friends of the Corps to celebrate the
116th anniversary of the founding of
the PHS Commissioned Corps on
January 4th in Rockville, Maryland.
Recovering from surgery in mid-
December to install two pacemakers to
regulate his heart, Dr. Koop appeared
fit and strong as he spoke at the annual
luncheon sponsored by the Anchor and
Caduceus Society.
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He spoke passionately about the
many important contributions made
by the Corps and its officers
that often go unnoticed and
unappreciated. Dr. Koop challenged
all in attendance to find ways
to promote the Corps –
both internally and externally.
❞
Following Dr. Koop’s remarks, the
main event of the luncheon, the C.
Everett Koop Honorary Lecture, was
delivered by Vice Admiral Mike Cowan,
MC, US Navy (Ret.), former Surgeon
General of the Navy and a friend and
admirer of the Commissioned Corps.
After Admiral Cowan spoke, Surgeon
General Richard Carmona presented
Dr. Koop the Surgeon General’s
Medallion – an award established by
Dr. Koop during his tenure as Surgeon
General. The Surgeon General’s
Medallion is given by the Surgeon
General in recognition of extraordinary
service in public health and to the
Commissioned Corps.
Dr. Koop’s remarks to the audience
focused on the need to increase the
visibility, knowledge about, and understanding
of the Corps among the
Dr. C. Everett Koop
general public and the Nation’s leadership.
He spoke passionately about the
many important contributions made by
the Corps and its officers that often go
unnoticed and unappreciated. Dr.
Koop challenged all in attendance to
find ways to promote the Corps – both
internally and externally.
Admiral Cowan spoke about the
issue of health literacy, one of the
Surgeon General’s top priorities.
Admiral Cowan described a project in
IN MEMORIAM
John Wessale
John Wessale, devoted husband of
CAPT Susanne Caviness, passed
away December 12, 2004.
Wessale was a mainstay of COA,
regularly attending the annual
conference, Anchor and Caduceus
outings, and local branch events. He
could be typically be found alongside
Susanne, selling USPHS paraphernalia
to raise money for the benefit
of the Corps.
A U.S. Army Air Force veteran,
Wessale was a pilot in World War II,
a sheriff’s deputy in Arizona, and an
executive in a number of private
corporations. He was a lover of
which he is now engaged that seeks to
harness information technology to
improve health literacy. His presentation
was informative and timely. It was
so well received, in fact, that Admiral
Cowan has been invited to speak and
expand on this topic at the June US
PHS Professional Conference.
The Anchor and Caduceus Society
was founded some 15 years ago to
preserve the history and heritage of the
Commissioned Corps. At the January
4th luncheon, Rear Admiral Ken
Mortisugu, Deputy Surgeon General
and President of the Anchor and
Caduceus Society announced that an
exploratory committee had been
formed to address the future of the
Society, especially as it relates to the
Commissioned Officers Association and
COA’s affiliated Foundation. The
Committee’s charter, approved by the
governing boards of all three groups,
has members representing each of the
groups and is chaired by retired Rear
Admiral Faye Abdellah. The
Committee’s findings and recommendations
are expected in March.
sports, an avid cyclist, and worked at
the Retired Activities Office of the
National Naval Medical Center until
his death. John was born August 30,
1917 in Carver, MN, to Frank and
Lyla Brunius Wessale. He is survived
by his wife, CAPT Caviness, his
former wife Lillian, and daughter
Kay Wessale Schnieber, both of
Phoenix, AZ. Wessale’s ashes will be
placed in the Arlington National
Cemetery during a military ceremony
to take place in the spring of
2005.
COA extends its condolences to
CAPT Caviness and acquaintances of
John Wessale. He will be missed by
all.
4 COMMISSIONED OFFICERS ASSOCIATION