the-boston

What started as a perceived slight against a war hero killed in action has turned into an opportunity to rekindle the memory of a veteran who earned the nickname "Super Doc" in the jungles of Vietnam.

A group of public and private interests recently announced plans to revitalize and rename part of Lederman Field, which runs along the Esplanade across from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). However, no one notified the friends and family of Dr. Melvin Lederman, for whom the site was named. They learned about the plans from the press.

The friends and family contacted by The Boston Courant said they wanted to see the new plans for the site, which include building several new softball and soccer fields that will be called Teddy Ebersol's Red Sox Fields. They initially voiced concerns that the changes would brush aside the memory of a doctor who volunteered to save lives in Vietnam. Commander Lederman was killed during a medical evacuation flight in Quang Nam Province in 1969. He had earned four Purple Hearts and was buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery.

"The Lederman family and I would like to see the plans for the fields because it sounds confusing," said Barry Hoffman, a longtime family friend and a former roommate of Melvin Lederman.

M. Clifford Young, also a family friend, said, "I'm not against them adding the name of this young boy (Teddy Ebersol) who was killed, but the name Lederman should not be changed. There are many fields there. I'm sure they could work something out where they'll be monuments for both of them."

The Red Sox Foundation, along with the Esplanade Association, Hill House and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), is spearheading the nearly $2 million in changes to the fields as part of a public-private partnership.

Inquiries from The boston Courant last week alerted Vaillancourt to the presence of surviving friends and family in the Boston area. He said her organization had made an effort to find the surviving family members, but did not know that they still lived nearby. Vaillancourt called Martin Lederman, Melvin's brother and a Brookline resident, last Wednesday.

"She explained what they're proposing to do. It sounds fine," Martin Lederman said. "I will be meeting with her, or someone from there, with my friend Barry Hoffman and possibly my wife to look over the plans and see what's what. Apparently they had no idea there was family still here." A meeting with representatives from the Red Sox Foundation and the Lederman family is scheduled today.

DCR spokesperson Corbie Kump said the intention was never to push the Lederman name aside. "The decision would never be made to denigrate the memory of Dr. Lederman," Kump Said.

After more than a quarter-century of being well used, Lederman Field has become rundown. Private groups have raised $1.6 million so far to build and maintain the park, according to Kump.

The primary donor is Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner, who gave money to honor the memory of Teddy Ebersol, the 14-year-old son of his friend, NBC Sports President Dick Ebersol. Teddy Ebersol, a devoted Red Sox fan, died in a plane crash last December.

"This is actually reinvigorating Lederman's memory because it's cleaning up his park while keeping his name," Kump said. "The reality of both public and private partnerships, where money is given to maintain the site, is that a lot of times you thank people for that by giving them some naming rights. It's a good thing for the facility. It's the best of both worlds."

The friends and family of Melvin Lederman will be invited to the ground breaking ceremony for the fields. Vaillancourt said she is looking into re- honoring Lederman, possibly through a plaque at the park. This way people will know more about him, which is exactly what Hoffman and Martin Lederman said they hope will come out of the changes to the park.

"He saved so many lives he became a legend," Hoffman Said. "They don't make people like him anymore."

Melvin Lederman went to medical school at Harvard, lived in Kenmore Square and was a surgeon at MGH. In 1968 he volunteered to go to Vietnam. He was working as a doctor on a naval ship, but, according to Hoffman and Martin Lederman, he thought he could save more lives if he could reach soldiers sooner. He began accompanying troops on their missions and going out on medical evacuations. Enemy fire brought down the helicopter he was on during his last mission.

"He Wrote me at the time to to say he was doing it because these kids were dying. They were bleedeing to death," Martin Lederman said. "The troops called him Super Dock."

Aside from the Pueple Hearts, Lederman received seven Air Medals and was recommended for a Silver Star, the nation's third highest combat decoration.