M*A*S*H

Alan Alda's M*A*S*H uniform

Dr. Ed Garrett's worn MASH jacket

                                                       The jacket on the left worn by Alan Alda is meant to mimic the jacket on the right worn by my grandfather Dr. Edward Garrett. The television show made famous by the Mobile Army Surgical Hospital units in the Korean war accurately depicts what my grandfather did on a daily basis. If you disregard the fact that the show M*A*S*H is a mediocre sitcom, the television show offers clarity about daily life in the war and for that matter my grandfather whom I never met.
     The Garrett family migrated to the U.S. in colonial times. My great ancestor participated in the revolutionary war, and my great grandfather fought in World War I. Of the heirlooms my family possesses, this jacket is the only item that serves as evidence that a Garrett has ever left this country for a lengthy period of time. While my grandfather might not be considered a traditional migrant, his years spent in Korea constitute the best reasons to leave your home for years at a time. Yet, he was fortunate to have a choice in the matter because many migrants are forced to leave their homes.
          The jacket itself is nothing without the man who wore it. Dr. Garrett saved many lives during his service, and the jacket's small blood stains underneath the lower pockets bear the proof of his work. The skills and experience my grandfather cultivated in Korea later inspired his medical research, and upon his return, he and the world-renowned pioneer in the medical field Michael E. Debakey along with other members of their team were the first to perform life saving heart surgery techniques that are common today.
          While truly the jacket is not imbued with knowledge or courage, the story it carries begets familial pride. Maybe, when my family does migrate to another country, this jacket will be the one item that remains with them along with the story of their ancestor.