Military hospital sets up morgue, doubles staff in preparation for Fallujah assault

AP ^ | 11.05.04 | Jim Krane

[4kevin]

The combat hospital on the chief U.S. base near Fallujah has set up a morgue and doubled medical staff and supplies in preparation for an expected stream of casualties from an anticipated assault on the rebel stronghold.

''We've had 20 to 30 casualties on a given day here. We expect maybe double that on a serious day. And we can handle them,'' Capt. Eric Lovell, a Navy doctor, said Thursday at the base hospital, a low concrete building announced by a sign saying ''Cheaters of Death.''

The hospital added a Marine Mortuary Affairs team last month, a unit charged with identifying dead troops, cataloguing their personal effects and preparing their bodies for the flight to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.

The morgue team counts 16 reservists trained in handling corpses of U.S. troops as well as Iraqi civilians and fighters that arrive at the hospital here, said Commander Lach Noyes, a Navy surgeon. The morgue team also travels to bomb scenes to recover body parts and corpses that need to be extracted from vehicles, Noyes said.

[AFPhys]

The last altercation I had with a longtime MoveOn contributor resulted in "assault and battery"... ROTFLMPO... They still work here, but after the "counselling" and "anger management" and who knows what else, completely avoid crossing my path...
.

[AdmSmith]

I wonder where Ollie is today?

Up North. ;-)

[Conservative Canuck]

God Bless the troops. Semper Fi! Let's hope it's mostly the bad guys who end up there. But, even though it shows the depressing reality, it's somewhat comforting to know they're prepared to look after the wounded and recover the dead.

Hoo Rah! Go get 'em, Marines!

[Spunky]

Father in Heaven, be with our troops. Be with the innocent people of Fallujah.

[DollyCali]

Hang tight sweetie. the RATS are insufferable most of the time..

[DollyCali]

Mega prayers for our soldiers who will take care of business.. and mega prayers for their loved ones here at home who are worried sick.

These creeps are like cockroaches.. we really need to eradicate ...

[Eagle Eye]

When he claimed that there was no proof that Iraq supported terrorism, I knew there was no middle ground and I needed to disengage.

BTDT. And if he could see what I have seen he'd never open his yap again.

[Eagle Eye]

We can't let them rot and make the survivors do it.

Yes we can. And we did in April.

[Travis McGee]

Must be related to the @sshole I just confronted here at work who thought they would get in my face with some smart@ss remark that all our sons are gonna die in fallujah. If I dont get fired before the end of the day I will be totally amazed.

That's a declaration of war where I come from.

[boxerblues]

thanks Dolli

Its gonna be a long couple of days

[HiJinx]

God be with you, EE.
Thanks for all you do.

[Travis McGee]

I know where Ollie would want to be: in the front line, in sight of enemy postitions.

[Eagle Eye]

Mine's just a minor support role for the military. The real kudos go to the guys at Bravo Surgical for taking such good care of the troops that get hit.

[reagandemo]

I think we need to throw a party and have as guest of honor a good amount of A-10's, AC-130's, and MOABs. Have all the women, children and people who can show that they are not foreign Arabs a deadline to get out and then let the party begin. We should turn the city into a larger version of the highway of hell from the first gulf war.

[mrs tiggywinkle]

I haven't seen Ollie in a while. Before the election I tried to stay off MSM due to the obvious. I wonder if he's in Iraq again...

[HiJinx]

I know how you feel...I was MI for 20 years and always took a back seat to the kids who would have had to put their lives on the line if the Bear really had crossed the border.

That said, upon reflection and with nudges from older, wiser veterans, I've come to realize that we all have our place in the Green Machine (I was Army).

It is my deep conviction that every single man and woman serving now, as well as the contractors supporting them, has a vital role in support of our Nation's efforts.

You are right when you say that Bravo Surgical's teams are to be lauded, that they need our support. Please don't, however, feel that you are any less valuable. Believe it or not, America loves and supports you just as much as she does those kids on the front lines.

[TexKat]

Must be related to the @sshole I just confronted here at work who thought they would get in my face with some smart@ss remark that all our sons are gonna die in fallujah. If I dont get fired before the end of the day I will be totally amazed

Stay cool boxer. Overlook those of little faith.

[yonif]

The terrorists probably boobytrapped many areas in the city (like they did in Jenin, when IDF troops went house to house). There will probably be a lot of casualties.

[Modok]

Good idea.

[TexKat]

Will any of the news sources have embedded reporters and live webcams?

Iraqi journalists embedded with U.S. forces

Raw footage from Reuters

U.S. Launches Strikes On Falluja