U.S. Marine Christopher Willey thanks Beebe for support during overseas operation

U.S. Marine Flight Medic Christopher Willey spent nine months and three weeks in Afghanistan. His platoons from Maryland, Tennessee and Georgia flew 1,400 medevac missions during the overseas operation.

While Willey is proud to serve the United States, he said it was his coworkers at Beebe Healthcare that made him proud to be an American.

During his deployment, Willey’s friends at Beebe sent dozens of care packages.

“All of them arrived just at a moment when we needed them most,” Willey said.

Willey, who returned from Afghanistan this past February, is a surgical technician in Beebe’s Same Day Surgery Department. His wife, Carol, joined him in thanking Beebe President Jeffrey Fried and all employees for their support.

On Nov. 26 Willey presented a framed U.S. flag and plaque to Fried in the lobby of Same Day Surgery at the medical center in Lewes.

“Beebe was so supportive while I was gone,” said Willey, who explained his coworkers in surgery filled in for him and he was confident he had a job when he returned. Willey has completed eight overseas missions since 1984, three of which were combat missions.

“I will be retiring in February as my wife’s Valentine’s Day present,” Willey said.

Carol Willey said she will be happy to keep him home. “It will be a good Valentine’s Day,” she said. The Millsboro couple celebrated seven years of marriage in October.

The flag and plaque will hang in the lobby of Same Day Surgery, said Fried, who thanked Willey for his service.

"All of us at Beebe are so very proud of Chris and his commitment to serving our country,” said Fried. “We’re also so thankful that he successfully completed his deployment in Afghanistan and was able to rejoin both his family and his Beebe family members in Same Day Surgery!”

Beebe Healthcare is a not-for-profit community healthcare system with a charitable mission to encourage healthy living, prevent illness, and restore optimal health for the people residing, working, or visiting in the communities it serves. For more information go to www.beebehealthcare.org.