Richard S. Wood

Jennie and her husband Rick, live in Michigan where they are near their three daughters, three sons-in-law and three grandchildren.
...
Richard S. Wood is the Manager of Biomedical Services for MidMichigan Health, a four hospital health system in Central Michigan.He consults regularly with medical relief organizations and individuals that provide medical support to hospitals and clinics around the world. Prior to his current position, he managed the technical support department at World Medical Mission, the medical arm of Samaritan's Purse in Boone, NC. Working at Samaritan's Purse provided Rick the opportunity to evaluate, install and service medical equipment in more than thirty countries throughout the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Europe. Rick began his biomed career with Bio-Sentry Engineering, a biomedical ISO in Southeastern Michigan.He also managed the biomed department at Muskegon General Hospital in West Michigan for nine years.Rick served seven years as President of TECH.

Rick majored in Philosophy and Religion at Spring Arbor University and graduated with a BA in Social Science.He is a Vietnam era veteran who served in the Navy as an electronic technician aboard the Nautilus, the first nuclear submarine.Rick is the grandfather of three, and lives with Jennie, his wife of 31 years, in Midland, Michigan.

TECH Members Jim Loeffler and Rick Wood are featured in an article in the November issue of 24/7 Magazine.

"The intentions of a lot of suppliers are good," says Rick Wood, manager of biomedical services for the four centers that form MidMichigan Health.Wood has seen both sides of the donation equation, having worked for 10 years with nonprofit medical relief where he saw the results of donated equipment firsthand.Unfortunately, Wood adds, "The thinking is that something is better than nothing."From there, he says, donors try to justify their contribution with some magical thinking.

Other panelists who will participate in this session include Rick Wood, MidMichigan Regional Medical Center,s manager of biomedical services; and Scott Mears, director of marketing at Intellamed, a company that facilitates the buying and selling of used medical equipment.

Richard Woodrwood@samaritan.org828 262-1980USA

Richard Wood wanted to be a Marine.But his colorblindness disqualified him.So he enlisted in the Navy.A year later, he was assigned to the Marines, anyway.

I hit the record button on the cassette player, and the camera is also rolling.And I begin the interview.

"I`m here in Mandan, North Dakota, to interview Richard Wood with the Veterans History Project, and find out about him and his experiences in World War Two."
...
Richard enlisted on his 18th birthday, even before he finished high school.

"We wanted to hurry up and join up because we was afraid the war would be over before we got into it," he recalls."That`s the gospel truth.It shows how stupid kids can be."

He won several medals, including the Purple Heart for being wounded in battle, and the Silver Star, for assisting others, even while he was wounded.He was recovering on a ship off the coast of Iwo Jima on February 23rd, 1945, when a group of Seabees carried him up on deck so he could witness in person what the world has seen in a famous picture.