Merrill Lipton

Merrill was born in 1924, in New York City, and he had two younger sisters. He excelled in athletics as well as academics, and, after reading the book "Arrowsmith" as a young teen, he set his sights on becoming a physician. He finished high school at age 16 and immediately started college, and was well on his way to achieving his goals.
Unfortunately for him, World War 2 was raging, and he had to defer his plans. He reported for duty at age 18, and was sent off to war right after boot camp. Since he could speak German and was considered a "sharp-shooter," he was on the front lines in France during the push into Germany. His recon unit was crawling through the partially destroyed town of Hatten near the Rhine River. Artillery shells exploded all around them, and Merrill was standing only a few feet from one of them. Presumed to be mortally wounded, he was left with the rest of the dead. After he attempted to get up twice, he was finally picked up on a stretcher to be brought to some shelter. Just then a tank appeared and the unit had to take cover, leaving Merrill dropped on the ground, in the open, where he sustained additional injuries. He eventually got the medical care he so desperately needed, and when he woke up in a field hospital about a week later, he had little recollection of what happened.
He was transferred to a medical ship and then on to a veterans hospital in New York, where he underwent numerous surgeries during a hospitalization that lasted nearly 2 years. Much of this time he was in body casts that prevented almost any movement. He lost vision in one eye and hearing in one ear. His left knee was destroyed. They saved his leg but he would never be able to bend his leg at the knee. Part of his brain was exposed from a severe head injury, so a metal plate was placed in his head. His injuries were so severe and his recovery so daunting that he became known as "The Miracle of Hatten".
Although he survived, his world was changed forever. He vividly remembered the first time he looked in a mirror one day, when he wanted to shave himself, instead of waiting for someone to do it for him. He had lost so much weight, and his face was so distorted, that he became depressed. He could not think of what to do. But, he later stated that he realized that the Lord must have spared him for a reason. He decided to pursue his original dream of becoming a doctor. But first, he bought a car, took the back seat out, and travelled all over the US, sleeping in his car for much of the trip. After this trip, he started medical school.
He was an excellent student, never letting his disability stand in his way. He decided to become a psychiatrist. During training, he met a nurse named Elaine at Hahnemann Hospital. They eventually married and had 6 children: Linda, Lance, Beverly, Joyce, Cheryl, and Dennis.
After he finished training, Merrill eventually worked at the Philadelphia VA Hospital. Since he had gone through so much as an injured veteran of war, he had a natural connection with his patients at the VA. He started a very successful veterans program, focused on helping those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He relocated to Belton, TX in 1980, to work at the Temple VA Hospital. He was a respected professor of psychiatry at the Texas A&M University School of Medicine. He published a book on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and remained active in treating veterans even after his retirement from the VA.
With all his achievements, his priority was always with his family. He was a devoted husband and father, well-loved by everyone. He was always pleasant, engaging, and encouraging to everyone he met. He will be terribly missed by his family. He leaves behind his wife of 61 years, 6 children, 14 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.