quincy-b-ruffin

COL Mikel J. Burroughs recently asked, “What do today's new recruits in the military branches need to be successful?” I responded, “my advice for new recruits is pay attention to every word because you never know what is going to save your life.” While talking to my old Special Forces Training Group classmate. MSG Felipe De Leon Brown, who went on to become an instructor at Training Group following Viet Nam, I mentioned that I couldn’t remember any of my instructors from SFTG, save one -- SFC Quincy B. Ruffin. Felipe also remembered him well.

SFC Ruffin saved my life in Viet Nam. Oh sure, he didn’t know it because he wasn't there, but he saved me just as if he was the one treating me. He taught Special Forces Field Medicine for those of us training to be anything other than medics. The course went far beyond first aid. It was also designed to teach us how to stabilize severe combat trauma, among other things. Both times I got wounded there was no medic available. The first time it was just a minor gunshot wound so I treated it myself, continued my operation and finally showed it to a medic three days later. Our medic said everything was fine (thank you SFC Ruffin). I didn’t even get infected. I only needed to put a fresh dressing on it.

But the next time I was wounded everywhere on my body except my face or left arm. Part of my skill was missing with brain matter exposed and hanging out. It was not a good time to be without a medic. But my three teammates put SFC Ruffin’s training to work. The next thing I know I showed up here on Rally Point. Well, okay, one or two things may have happened in between.

Upon high school graduation, I went to see my friendly and helpful Army recruiter. Among the many brochures I picked up was one entitled, “So You Want To Be a Green Beret.” With the song being number one in the USA the previous year, I wanted to read about Special Forces. The cover pictured a twelve man Special Forces A-Team. One man stood out among the rest. My eyes immediately fixed on him. Even more than any of the other eleven men pictured, he was how I imagined a “Green Beret” would look. He commanded immediate attention and respect -- and it was just a photograph. I learned that he was a medic. I never in my wildest dreams imagined I would ever actually meet that man.

On the first day of field medicine training it was just like Neil Diamond described in the song, “Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show.” No one had to tell you to sit down, shut up and pay attention when SFC Ruffin entered the room. One look at SFC Ruffin you knew he was the man. His training went on to save countless lives in Viet Nam, and I’m sure his knowledge has been passed on to the SF soldiers of today.

Now for a little about his personal life. As a teenager he sang with his little brother David in a gospel group called ‘The Spiritual Trying Four.’ SFC Ruffin went on to join the Army where he served in Korea, Viet Nam, Germany, and of course, SF Training Group. David joined up with SFC Ruffin’s other younger brother, Jimmy, to continue singing. They formed a group called “The Temptations.” Sergeant First Class, later Master Sergeant, Quincy B. Ruffin had a greater calling.