60 -year-old SoCal man joins the Army

[n2doc]

Orange County Register columnist Frank Mickadeit brings you the inspiring story of the day about physician Dore Gilbert.

The SoCal dermatologist has three grown children and is a member of school board. He's also 60, an age when he could be envisioning his retirement. Instead, he decided to finish what he started: Join the Army Reserves. (Mickadeit notes that the maximum enlistment age for doctors is 60).

On the brink of joining the Army in 1984 before backing out, Gilbert applied earlier this year and was initially approved. All he needed was the green light from another Army panel. So he waited (and waited). During this time, he decided to whip himself into shape to prepare for boot camp. His first foray into abs exercises wasn't pretty. He recalls:

"The first time I tried to do sit-ups, I did 15 and hurt my back."
Gilbert, who got permission to train with ROTC cadets, can now do sit-ups like nobody's business. The Army finally cleared him and last week he was sworn in as a lieutenant colonel.




Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/scavenger/detail?entry_id=69063&tsp=1