Thomas Anthony Dooley III
Life Summary
Thomas Anthony Dooley III was born in St. Louis Missouri. He is famous for his humanitarian efforts in Laos. After he spent some time in the Navy, he graduated from St. Louis University Medical School. Soon there after, he went to Laos to start a clinic for the people in need there. His work is still very highly regarded. He received many awards throughout his short life, but unfortunately passed away from cancer when he was 34. |
Accomplishments
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Quick Facts
*MEDICO is the systems of medical clinics Dooley set up in Laos |
This short biography will explain Thomas Dooley's life more in depth.
Dr. America
William Osler, one of the founders of Johns Hopkins Hospital, once said that , “The
good physician treats the disease. The great physician treats the patient who has the
disease.” These words describe the exceptional Dr. Thomas Anthony Dooley III. As a
plant needs water to continue as a plant, a person needs a purpose. Dr. Dooley found
his purpose in medicine. But when he could not keep himself fulfilled treating those
injured in the Vietnam War during his time in the navy, he crossed the border to Laos to
help those suffering from a civil war in Laos.
Today, people lift up Dooley to the point of sainthood, however he started out as an
Irish American boy growing up in St. Louis, Missouri. With his family, he attended a
Catholic church and often played the piano during services. Dooley attended high
school in St. Louis and was known for his boyish antics and his amusing jollification.
Though his love for fun was a likeable quality for friends and family, his teachers did not
find his attitude enjoyable. Nonetheless,he eventually graduated and started studying at
Notre Dame in medicine, a study that surprised his family and friends.
During his time at Notre Dame, he enlisted in the navy and left school to serve as a
Medical Corpsman. Soon, he returned to school, attending St. Louis University Medical
School. Dooley, repeating his senior year, still ended up graduating last in his class.
Hospitals didn’t want him to participate in their residential program. Therefore, Dooley
took an internship with the US Navy as a medical lieutenant.
During his time in the Navy, Dooley helped with the transport of thousands of
refugees from North to South Vietnam. He then worked on the “Passage of Freedom”
evacuating over 600,000 more Vietnamese from the North. After he finished his duty in
Vietnam, he came back to America and published a book about the time he spent in
Vietnam entitled Deliver Us from Evil. His book became a bestseller. He was also
declared by the US Chamber of Commerce to be one of the top ten “Outstanding Men
of America” and received the highest honor of the South Vietnamese Government.
Using the money Dooley made from his book, he and some of his colleagues set up a
hospital in Laos, chosen because of its lack of doctors and high infection and injury rate.
The hospital was very small with only a few beds. The building was predominantly made
of bamboo and thatch and had no electricity to run medical equipment. During his stay,
people started calling Dooley the ”jungle doctor” and “Dr. America”.
At the time when Dooley founded his hospital, Laos was in the midst of a civil war
between the communist party and the royalists. Because of his anti-communist beliefs,
Dooley was especially interested in Laos during their civil war.
After Dooley’s time in Laos, he founded MEDICO (Medical International Cooperation)
which provided a way to structure a network of clinics throughout Laos. Dooley also
published two more books and received several more honors including one from Notre
Dame even though it was not his true alma mater. During this time he started to notice
warning signs of a severe medical problem.
Eventually, Dooley went to a doctor to have a lump in his chest surgically removed.
His Doctor diagnosed the lump as a malignant melanoma and a time limit was set on
Dooley’s life. Two years later Thomas Anthony Dooley III died on January 18, 1961.
Thomas Dooley’s life did have a lot of controversy. He had several scandals while in
the Navy about his homosexuality. There was also some controversy about him possibly
being a spy for the CIA, however any documentation between Dooley and the CIA has
been deemed innocent so far.
Many people still hold Thomas Dooley in high regard. Because of his beliefs in the
Catholic church and of course his aid work, there was a campaign to lift Dooley into
sainthood. Thomas Dooley has inspired many people to become doctors and has
changed many lives. He was once quoted saying, “I am only one. but I am one. I cannot
do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I ought to do, and what I ought to
do, by the grace of God I will do.” I believe Thomas Anthony Dooley lived up to those
words, doing everything he could do to help other people.
William Osler, one of the founders of Johns Hopkins Hospital, once said that , “The
good physician treats the disease. The great physician treats the patient who has the
disease.” These words describe the exceptional Dr. Thomas Anthony Dooley III. As a
plant needs water to continue as a plant, a person needs a purpose. Dr. Dooley found
his purpose in medicine. But when he could not keep himself fulfilled treating those
injured in the Vietnam War during his time in the navy, he crossed the border to Laos to
help those suffering from a civil war in Laos.
Today, people lift up Dooley to the point of sainthood, however he started out as an
Irish American boy growing up in St. Louis, Missouri. With his family, he attended a
Catholic church and often played the piano during services. Dooley attended high
school in St. Louis and was known for his boyish antics and his amusing jollification.
Though his love for fun was a likeable quality for friends and family, his teachers did not
find his attitude enjoyable. Nonetheless,he eventually graduated and started studying at
Notre Dame in medicine, a study that surprised his family and friends.
During his time at Notre Dame, he enlisted in the navy and left school to serve as a
Medical Corpsman. Soon, he returned to school, attending St. Louis University Medical
School. Dooley, repeating his senior year, still ended up graduating last in his class.
Hospitals didn’t want him to participate in their residential program. Therefore, Dooley
took an internship with the US Navy as a medical lieutenant.
During his time in the Navy, Dooley helped with the transport of thousands of
refugees from North to South Vietnam. He then worked on the “Passage of Freedom”
evacuating over 600,000 more Vietnamese from the North. After he finished his duty in
Vietnam, he came back to America and published a book about the time he spent in
Vietnam entitled Deliver Us from Evil. His book became a bestseller. He was also
declared by the US Chamber of Commerce to be one of the top ten “Outstanding Men
of America” and received the highest honor of the South Vietnamese Government.
Using the money Dooley made from his book, he and some of his colleagues set up a
hospital in Laos, chosen because of its lack of doctors and high infection and injury rate.
The hospital was very small with only a few beds. The building was predominantly made
of bamboo and thatch and had no electricity to run medical equipment. During his stay,
people started calling Dooley the ”jungle doctor” and “Dr. America”.
At the time when Dooley founded his hospital, Laos was in the midst of a civil war
between the communist party and the royalists. Because of his anti-communist beliefs,
Dooley was especially interested in Laos during their civil war.
After Dooley’s time in Laos, he founded MEDICO (Medical International Cooperation)
which provided a way to structure a network of clinics throughout Laos. Dooley also
published two more books and received several more honors including one from Notre
Dame even though it was not his true alma mater. During this time he started to notice
warning signs of a severe medical problem.
Eventually, Dooley went to a doctor to have a lump in his chest surgically removed.
His Doctor diagnosed the lump as a malignant melanoma and a time limit was set on
Dooley’s life. Two years later Thomas Anthony Dooley III died on January 18, 1961.
Thomas Dooley’s life did have a lot of controversy. He had several scandals while in
the Navy about his homosexuality. There was also some controversy about him possibly
being a spy for the CIA, however any documentation between Dooley and the CIA has
been deemed innocent so far.
Many people still hold Thomas Dooley in high regard. Because of his beliefs in the
Catholic church and of course his aid work, there was a campaign to lift Dooley into
sainthood. Thomas Dooley has inspired many people to become doctors and has
changed many lives. He was once quoted saying, “I am only one. but I am one. I cannot
do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I ought to do, and what I ought to
do, by the grace of God I will do.” I believe Thomas Anthony Dooley lived up to those
words, doing everything he could do to help other people.
Sources cited
"Laos Profile." BBC News. BBC, 22 May 2014. Web. 21 Jan. 2015.
"Dr. Tom Dooley." St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. St. John Evangelist Catholic Church, n.d. Web. 21 Jan. 2015.
Engel, Elizabeth. "Thomas A. Dooley III (1927 – 1961)." Thomas A. Dooley III. State Historical Society of Missouri, n.d. Web. 21 Jan. 2015.
Fisher, James T. "Dr. America: The Lives of Thomas A. Dooley." Dr. America: The Lives of Thomas A. Dooley. Culture Wars, n.d. Web. 21 Jan. 2015.
"Laos Profile." BBC News. BBC, 22 May 2014. Web. 21 Jan. 2015.
"Dr. Tom Dooley." St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. St. John Evangelist Catholic Church, n.d. Web. 21 Jan. 2015.
Engel, Elizabeth. "Thomas A. Dooley III (1927 – 1961)." Thomas A. Dooley III. State Historical Society of Missouri, n.d. Web. 21 Jan. 2015.
Fisher, James T. "Dr. America: The Lives of Thomas A. Dooley." Dr. America: The Lives of Thomas A. Dooley. Culture Wars, n.d. Web. 21 Jan. 2015.