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Dr. Harley Kelley today.
Episode 3166 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Vietnam Vet and Army Doctor Dr. Harley Kelley. The featured story is titled: Veteran Army surgeon served in Vietnam, Persian Gulf and tried to get another tour at 61. It appeared in the Century Oregon Daily News War Stories Section and was submitted by Jarod Gatley
Gatley reported that Retired U.S. Army surgeon Harley Kelley’s account highlights the extraordinary service and commitment of Army doctors during the Vietnam War and beyond. After graduating from the University of Oregon Medical School in 1959 and completing five years of surgical training, Kelley was quickly commissioned as an Army captain when the military called on physicians to meet wartime needs. Like many doctors of his generation, he answered without hesitation, even as the Vietnam War intensified and the demand for skilled medical professionals grew urgent.
Before deployment, Kelley trained at Fort Sam Houston, where Army doctors were introduced to jungle medicine and the realities of combat conditions. Once in Vietnam, he served at a large 400-bed hospital near Saigon during the 1968 Tet Offensive, a period marked by relentless casualties. Army doctors worked under extreme pressure, often around the clock, delivering lifesaving care amid chaos and uncertainty. Though issued sidearms for protection, their primary mission remained healing, not fighting—a testament to their courage and professionalism.
Kelley’s service continued in Danang, where experienced Army medical staff were relied upon to stabilize and treat wounded soldiers. His story reflects the broader excellence of Army doctors in Vietnam, who combined advanced medical skill with compassion under fire. After Vietnam, Kelley remained dedicated to military medicine, serving in Germany and later during the Persian Gulf War. His lifelong commitment underscores how Army doctors provided not only medical expertise but also hope and recovery for countless wounded soldiers, exemplifying outstanding service in some of the most challenging conditions imaginable.
Listen to Episode 3166 and discover more about Vietnam Vet and Army Doctor Dr. Harley Kelley.
