April 14, 2004
Burke cares for four-legged U.S. soldiers
St. Francis High School graduate serves overseas as veterinarian for United States Army military dogs
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Last March, Dr. Ron Burke, a veterinarian and 1995 graduate of Traverse City St. Francis High School, plied his trade in Iraq.
A captain in the Army on active duty since July 2001, Burke contributed to Operation Iraqi Freedom in an unusual way: by inspecting food and caring for working military dogs.
Now serving in Germany as an Officer in Charge for a medical detachment, veterinary service, Burke spent five months in Iraq starting in March 2003. That duty was preceded by two months in Kuwait during the lead up to the war.
During his final three months in Iraq, Burke cared for 20 military working dogs at two air bases, providing a range of care for the highly trained animals. These dogs are used for both patrol as well as explosive detection. Their heavy fur coats meant Burke kept a close eye on them for heat stroke and guided handlers on very specific training and duty schedules. With temperatures during the Iraqi summer exceeding 130 degrees Fahrenheit, the dogs were at constant risk of heat stroke.
"The amount of time and money spent on them for training is substantial and they receive the same standard of care that a soldier does," Burke said of the dogs, noting that they are considered service members and have their own service number. "Heat injuries were a big concern so the dogs were usually worked for short periods of time or during the cooler times of day."
The food inspection aspect of his duties is crucial to ensure that the food served is safe and unspoiled. In Iraq, the intense heat meant that Unitized Group Rations, UGRs in Army speak, deteriorated rapidly. (UGRs are one step up from individual MREs, which troops initially eat until supply lines are partially established. When supply lines are stable, UGRs are supplemented by fresh food; members of the veterinary service also inspect fresh food.) What was meant to last three years was sometimes good for only one month.
"We had to inspect potentially heat-abused food and also come up with storage solutions," Burke said, noting one shipment he inspected totaled $4 million of food.
Burke grew up working with his father, Dave Burke, DVM, at the Grand Traverse Veterinary Hospital. Ron, the oldest of five children, accompanied his father, other Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine professors, alumni and students on a trip to the Dominican Republic in 2001. There, he was part of a team that provided veterinary care to animals that otherwise would never receive it.
Burke also followed his father's example by joining ROTC during his undergraduate years, deferring his active duty assignment until he finished veterinary school.
"We are very proud of him," said Dave Burke, who has posted a Blue Star Banner from the American Legion in his office in honor of his son's military service. "He worked in here, all my kids have worked in here."
Ron Burke noted that his years of working for his father provided a firm foundation for his current practice. However, his role and duties differ vastly from a private practice veterinarian in the United States. The biggest difference, aside from overseas travel and working in war zones, is the food inspection duties, Burke said.
"A private practice vet would not be inspecting a slaughter facility, ice cream plant, bottled water plant, but to me it's a nice break from the normal routine of surgery and medicine," he said. "The one real negative is that it's hard to build a long-term relationship with a client as one of us moves. Sure, there is the off chance that one of us might move to the same base, but I know my father has been treating the same patients for 20 years and it's not very likely that I will ever do that."
Burke is so intrigued by his military duties that he recently signed up for another tour of duty and is considering making a career of it. His next assignment will be in Turkey and he is working to pick up some of the language.
The travel opportunities have been a huge benefit to Burke, with many long weekends finding him touring Europe. While stationed there for two and a half years, with the seven-month Middle East posting in the middle, he has visited 19 countries, many multiple times.
"I've skied the Alps, downed a few liters (OK, many liters) at Oktoberfest, toured the Vatican and visited the beaches of Normandy, to name a few," Burke noted. "Prague has been my favorite city and Malta was the most beautiful country."