Hering, Alexander Chandlee
Alexander Chandlee (Chan) Hering, MD, CAPT, MC, USN, (Ret.), 99, of Blacksburg, died Monday, August 22, 2016 at the Cove in Kroontje Health Center. “Doc” was born in Baltimore, Md. July 18, 1917 to the late Catharine Chandlee Hering and Harold Brooks Hering.
He was preceeded in death by his wife, Sarah M. Hering; and his former wife, Anne Osler Hering.
Dr. Hering is survived by his sister, Catharine Hering Wilhelm; daughter, Sheila Hering Scott Darby, of Christiansburg, Va.; his son, Bruce Chandlee Hering, of Brookeville, Md.; his son-in-law, the Rev. Alex L. Darby III; his daughter-in-law, Lynne Gary Hering; his grandchildren William D. “Sean” Jarman III, Frederic A. Jarman, Anne Karrick Scott Deetsch, Julia Y. Scott Drummond, Vella Catharine Scott Cagle, Scott Alexander Hering, Blake Gary Hering; and 15 great-grandchildren.
Dr. Hering, a thoracic and cardiac surgeon, was a career medical officer, a Captain in the United States Navy. He received his B.S.in English from Haverford College in 1940. After achieving his MD from Temple University in Philadelphia in 1943, he was commissioned LTJG in 1944 and served in World War II (1944-46) aboard an attack transport, the USS Telfair, which saw action the battle of Leyte Gulf. He returned to Philadelphia for a residency in surgery at Temple U., and completed general surgical training at Bethesda Naval Hospital. During the Korean conflict he was senior medical officer at the Naval Station, Subic Bay in the Philippines. Following more surgical residencies he had a 5-year tour as Thoracic Surgeon at the Naval Hospital, Boston (Chelsea), then was transferred to Newport, RI as Chief of Surgery. He was ordered to Saigon, South Viet Nam, in 1965, in the beginning of the escalation of the war, as Senior Medical Officer of the Naval Station Hospital for one year. In 1966 he was transferred to the Naval Hospital at Jacksonville Naval Air Station as Chief of Surgery. From there Dr. Hering was sent to Command the Naval Hospital in Guantanamo, Cuba in 1968. Then Dr. Hering was ordered to the hospital ship, the USS Sanctuary, as Commanding Officer of the shop’s hospital. Before the Sanctuary deployed to the Mediterranean, Capt. Hering elected to spend his final year of active duty at the Naval Hospital in Oakland, Calif., retiring in 1974.
Dr. Hering joined the Executive Staff of the American College of Surgeons in Chicago as Director of the Trauma Dept., setting standards for Trauma Centers. During his tenure he developed innovations which aided President Ronald Reagan’s recovery when he was shot. President Reagan and Nancy came to Chicago to meet Dr. Hering. He retired again to the vicinity of the Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Ill., to Lincolnshire, from which he moved to Warm Hearth in Blacksburg in 2014, following the death of his wife, to live near his daughter.
“Doc” became a loving friend to numerous caregivers at Showalter Center, Warm Hearth at Home, Kroontje Health Care Center and Good Samaritan Hospice. His family is forever indebted to their wonderful care and friendship.
During his 38 year Naval career Capt. Hering was awarded the customary campaign medals, several “meritorious service” awards plus the Legion of Merit for Viet Nam. He also had several surgery and cardiology fellowships and memberships, as well as publishing several articles, and chapters in medical textbooks. He had many hobbies, including sailing, golf, painting, singing, playing and listening to classical music.
Graveside service will be 2 p.m. held Sunday, September 4, 2016 at Sunset Cemetery with Father Alex L. Darby III officiating. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Montgomery County Emergency Assistance Program (MCEAP), 110 Roanoke St., Christiansburg, or to St. Peter’s Anglican Catholic Church, P. O. Box 6234, Christiansburg, VA 24068.