The Good Doctor

The Union County Historical Museum occupies a great location on Main Street in downtown Union. Adjacent to the Museum's main entrance is a storefront museum annex containing the examination room of "The Good Doctor" of Union, Paul M. Swtzer.

Dr. Switzer grew up in Union and attended Clemson College. After three years, he was accepted into the Medical University of SC. He graduated in June, 1941, and after a short Internship in Washington, DC, applied for a Commission as a medical officer in the United States Army.

The next part of his story is movie material. He was assigned to the 48th Armored Field Artillery Battalion under General George Patton, a unit that would participate in three invasions. Shipped to North Africa where he was in charge of a medical unit, he was part of Patton's victory over The Desert Fox at Kassarine Pass. After the invasion of Italy, he participated in the celebrated "race" between Patton and Field Marshall "Monty" Montgomery to take Palermo. On June 6, 1944, he was part of the Normandy Invasion. His landing craft was twice hit by shells and the soldiers had to swim to the beach. Dr. Switzer saw an injured soldier, swam back to get him and dragged him to the beach. He was awarded a Silver Star for valor and subsequently a Purple Heart for injuries incurred in Europe. He provided medical services to the unit all the way to the Battle of the Bulge.

After the war, Dr. Switzer finished his internship in Charleston and returned to Union. He practiced medicine for the next 60 years, finally retiring at age 90.

Dr. Switzer joined the Rotary Club of Union in November, 1949. Fellow Union Rotarian, Dr. Woody Sanford wrote an extended essay as part of nominating Dr. Switzer for MUSC's Distinguished Alumni Award. That essay contains a detailed description of his war record, his long medical practice and his Service Above Self. You can find it on the Great Stories tab (under construction) of the District 7750 website.

When they were setting up the donated equipment at the museum, the Curator of the Museum, Ms. Ola Jean Kelly told Dr. Switzer that he had delivered her first son. "Oh," he said, "he must have been born on a Wednesday." She was shocked. "How did you know that?"

"Well, my partner delivered all the babies, but he went fishing on Wednesdays."

In his essay, Dr. Sanford says that local newspaper writer Willard "Wishie" Hines coined the term "The Good Doctor." Wishie Hines frequently wrote something about "The Good Doctor," knowing that having his name in the newspaper would cost Dr. Switzer a dollar at the next club meeting.

Woody Sanford says that "Dr. Switzer is a good doctor in every sense of the word - highly intelligent, very well trained, an unimaginable memory, a kind and thoughtful nature, great sense of humor and a thirst for knowledge."

I felt honored to have Dr. Switzer present when I made my official visit on August 18th.