Patient celebrates his 101st birthday with Tripler Army Medical Center

By Kristi Hayashida, Tripler Army Medical CenterJuly 19, 2018

Patient celebrates his 101st birthday with Tripler Army Medical Center
1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Richard Barcheski, World War II veteran, celebrates his 101st birthday at Tripler Army Medical Center, July 17. A major in the U.S. Air Force, Barcheski led hisbefore the attacks on Pearl Harbor and continues to serve 264,000 local active duty, guard... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Patient celebrates his 101st birthday with Tripler Army Medical Center
2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Patient celebrates his 101st birthday with Tripler Army Medical Center
3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Patient celebrates his 101st birthday with Tripler Army Medical Center
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Patient celebrates his 101st birthday with Tripler Army Medical Center
5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Richard Barcheski, World War II veteran, enjoys his 101st piece of birthday cake at the Tripler Army Medical Center Vascular Surgery Department at, July 17. Tripler Army Medical Center has been healing heroes since before the attacks on Pearl Harbor ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

HONOLULU - World War II veteran, Mr. Richard Barcheski, turned 101 years old, July 17. He was unable to physically spend his 101st birthday with his four children, 14 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren because they do not live here, on Oahu. However, they were able to send their birthday wishes and sing a happy 101st birthday song through the phone. They knew exactly where to reach him, at Tripler Army Medical Center, also known as TAMC.

Jaclyn Griffin has been Barcheski's nurse practitioner for the past eight years. Every year on the 17th of July, she decorates a small section of Tripler's Vascular Surgery Department with balloons, pictures, food, and a birthday cake. Griffin and the vascular surgery staff gather together to wish Barcheski a happy birthday and thank him for his 20 years served in the U.S. Air Force.

A U.S. Air Force major, Barcheski led his airmen into the deadly conflicts of World War II. He was also one of the many pilots who delivered a total of 2.3 million tons of cargo to allies during the Berlin Airlift.

During his birthday celebration, a TAMC staffer asked about his secret for living so long, Barcheski said, "two things," and proceeded to explain.

The first and most important thing that kept Barcheski alive and well for so long was his wife. Before her passing 10 years ago, she had been very supportive and encouraging throughout their entire 65 years of marriage. Upon retiring from the military, she supported his love for flying and encouraged him to carry on his love for flying. Barcheski was a pilot for Hawaiian Airlines for 30 years before founding the first air ambulance in the State of Hawaii.

The second secret that Barcheski said kept him alive and well for 101 years, was Tripler Army Medical Center. TAMC has been providing his medical care since he joined the military, 75 ago.

Barcheski explained that he has been through many different medical facilities throughout the world, but none surpassed the service, care, and customer appreciation that he received from TAMC.

"We are grateful for the opportunity to care for heroes like Mr. Barcheski," said Tripler's new commander, Col. Mary V. Krueger. "Our staff strives daily to provide the highest level of care to ensure we have that patient-care team trust," added Krueger proudly.

"No other medical establishment has provided me with such great care and service that Tripler Army Medical Center has," said Barcheski. "I am thankful for the entire staff who've been working from 1943 to now. You've helped to keep my heart beating," Barcheski said with a grin. "No better place to spend my birthday than with the caregivers at Tripler, who feel like family to me."

Tripler Army Medical Center has been healing heroes since before the attacks on Pearl Harbor and continues to serve 264,000 local active duty, guard/reserve and retired military personnel, their families, veteran beneficiaries, 171,000 referral personnel to include residents of nine U.S. affiliated jurisdictions (American Samoa, Guam, and the former Trust Territories), and forward-deployed forces in more than 40 countries throughout the Pacific.

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