Donald Dean Trunkey

On October 8, 1999, my wife Judy Crosby was hurt badly in a head on auto crash. She was bleeding to death. Her seatbelt cut her lower intestines severely. The ambulance workers were not able to stabilize her blood pressure. When she arrived at OHSU hospital the surgeon who saved her life was Donald Turnkey. I found out later he told my daughter Olivia who met him in the elevator on her and his way up to the emergency surgery floor, that he had 6 minutes to save her life. He did that very...

Col Trunkey was assigned to my reserve unit when we were activated for operation Desert Storm. When one of the first scud missiles was intercepted quite low just a couple of blocks away we had casualties on the way in. I was working with Kathleen Flarity, and we were in Mopp4 (full chemical protective gear). Waiting for the patients that were on the way. Dr Trunkey arrived in his BDU´s and ordered us to get out of our protective gear, Saying "You can´t work on patients wearing that stuff!"...

Remembering service with Don in the 50th General Hospital in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, on the 30th anniversary of that conflict.

Privileged to witness the amazing trauma team under the leadership of Dr Trunkey in my first job as a RN on the trauma ward at OHSU . My condolences to his family .

Working with Dr. Trunkey as an RN in the Trauma Unit at OHSU was the highlight of my career. He was a pleasure to work with and learn from. He cared for each patient as a person, down to the little things like reinforcing that men were shaved and of course all the way to saving a life that had just been threatened by trauma. I will remember him always with respect and fondness. He will be missed by so many nurses as well as physicians and patients. To his family--thank you for sharing...

Jane,
I was totally caught off-guard when learning of Don's death. I rarely think that we indeed are mere mortals. A rush of Dallas and San Francisco memories were rekindled. Glenda and I extend to you, and your children, our sincerest sympathies.
James Nelson
Hammond, LA

Susan and I are saddened by Don's passing. I was the Canadian who shared our NIH YEAR in Dallas in 1972.
Don helped us organize Trauma care in Ontario.
I will miss his great sense of humor .
Hugs to Jane, Derek and Kristi
[email protected]

I was saddened to hear of Don's death, and send my condolences to his family. I served with Don in the 50th General hospital and appreciated his clinical and people skills, which were especially critical during our deployment to SW Asia in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm We will miss him and his uplifting humor.
Tom Hutchinson, MD
Col (Ret), USA

He was a beloved neighbor and friend and a wonderful person who was humble and down to earth.
There are not many who can compare to work he did to make this a better world.
It was a blessing to have known him. We love and miss you, Dr Don.