The United States Marine Corps released a statement regarding the health of its commandant.
General Eric M. Smith underwent open heart surgery on Jan. 8 to repair a bicuspid aortic valve. The surgery was considered successful but Smith will need to go through some rehabilitation before returning to full duty status.
“He is in good condition and continues to recover at the hospital among family members and his doctors,” the Marine Corps said in a press release. “General Smith and his family are focused on his rehabilitation and appreciate everyone’s continued respect for their privacy ahead of his full recovery.”
The Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Christopher J. Mahoney, will continue to oversee Smith’s responsibilities while he recovers from surgery. It is not clear when Smith may return to work full-time.
The Senate confirmed Smith as the branch’s top leader in September. His confirmation was delayed during a stand-off between Senate Democrats and Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, who blocked the expedited confirmation process until the chamber agreed to vote on the Department of Defense’s policy of covering costs incurred by a service member who travels out of state for an abortion.
The policy was instated by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, who was hospitalized on New Year’s Day to the eventual surprise of the Biden Administration. Austin returned home after a minor, elective procedure done on Dec. 22 and subsequently spent three days in the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. The White House learned of his hospitalization on Jan. 4.
"I recognized that I should have tried to learn more, and to press for an earlier public acknowledgment," said Pentagon Press Secretary while addressing reporters on Jan. 8, per ABC News. "So I want to offer my apologies and my pledge to learn from this experience. And I will do everything I can to meet the standard that you expect from us."
Smith has been hospitalized just over a month after his confirmation after going into cardiac arrest on Oct. 29 while jogging. He spent 17 days at a hospital in Washington, D.C.
A bicuspid heart valve is a congenital issue that is present at birth where the aortic valve has two cusps instead of the normal three.
“Most people with bicuspid aortic valve don't have symptoms of heart valve disease until they're adults,” according to the Mayo Clinic. “A bicuspid aortic valve may be found when tests are done for another health problem. The health care provider may hear a heart murmur when listening to the heart.”
Smith praised General Mahoney in November.
“Gen. Mahoney and I see eye to eye on the strategic direction of our Corps and we are fortunate to be surrounded by a Marine Corps family filled with America’s finest leaders,” Smith said in the statement, per USNI News. “We continue to focus on finding the right balance between modernizing through Force Design and our day-to-day crisis response mission, while also on taking care of our Marines and sailors.”
