Today I received very shocking news — I lost a dear friend and fellow shipmate to enemy fire in Afghanistan.
For nearly two years, we worked together at Bethesda. Florence was a Medical Service Corps officer who worked as a health care administrator for Medical and Surgical Services at the National Naval Medical Center. Although, I didn’t know her well, I was very familiar with her calm demeanor and radiant smile that left an indelible and lasting impression on you.
Florence was always taking the initiative and giving of herself whether or not it was her responsibility to do so. She was very supportive of the corpsmen assigned to the Medical Evaluation (MEDEVAC) teams who made regular runs to Andrews Air Force Base to bring our Wounded Warriors home.
For the MEDEVAC operations and throughout the hospital, Florence was always offering of her services. She took pride in her work and worked hard to support her Chiefs and Corpsmen whether or not they worked for her or not.
Florence grew up in San Diego and earned a bachelor’s degree in biology at UC San Diego and a master’s degree in public health and healthcare administration at San Diego State. Just days after the Sept 11 attack, she visited the Navy recruiter and got her commission five months later.
After transferring from Bethesda, Florence and her husband, Jay, were stationed in Okinawa. In Japan, Florence gave birth to their daughter, Kristen. Shortly after Kristen was born, the Choes were co-located to Naval Medical Center San Diego. Last May, Florence volunteered to deploy to Afghanistan for one year as an “individual augmentee” to run the medical station that serves U.S. and Afghan troops and civilians.
Life was busy for her. Besides her work responsibilities, Florence was a big advocate and supporter for the United Through Reading program ensuring that the troops stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan had access to children’s books and a way to videotape and send home their extensive readings to their own family.
Florence was doing what any other Sailor, Soldier or Marine would have done on that base. She was taking an afternoon jog on March 27 along a well-worn path on the outskirts of Forward Operating Base Shaheen in Afghanistan with a fellow Sailor, a Seabee.
This is when an Afghan insurgent who was disguised as an Afghan National Army soldier raised his weapon and shot the two (as well as a 3rd military officer who survived).
Florence had volunteered for a humanitarian mission in Afghanistan, even though it meant a year away from her husband, a urology resident at Naval Medical Center San Diego, and their three-year old daughter, Kristen.
And then a week after Florence was killed, Florence’s DVDs started coming in the mail. Kristen and Jay were very excited to see them and watched their mother/wife over and over again.
My deepest condolences to the Choe family–You will be truly missed. I will always remember you and the ultimate sacrifice you made to make this world a better place for all, especially on those long, hard runs.
Thank you for your service Florence and God Bless you and your family.
