Posted on 03/01/2006 3:37:03 PM PST by SandRat
TAJI, Iraq – During the recent, and highly publicized, sectarian tensions between Sunni and Shiite factions, a group of Iraqi and American Soldiers pushed aside the apprehension Feb. 23 to conduct a community health outreach program north of Baghdad.
Soldiers from 1st Mechanized Brigade, 9th Iraqi Army Division, along with Soldiers from elements of 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment and 4th Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, conducted a combined operation to provide much needed medical care to a local Iraqi Sunni community, relieving tensions in the area while simultaneously fostering hope in a unified Iraq.
Approximately 85 local civilians showed up for free medical treatment. They formed a single line and were ushered forward to the waiting medical personnel. Two medical professionals saw the customers with the support of several medics.
“I treated a number of Ostero-arthritis, upper-respiratory and ear infections,” said Capt. Edward Barnes, the 1st Bn., 66th AR surgeon.
“We treated sun-sensitivity irritation, joint issues and various other things,” said 1st Lt. Salbata Mansaray, a physician’s assistant from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Spt. Bn.
“I’m very grateful to come out today,” said Rammy, an interpreter with 1st Mech. Bde., 9th IAD. “I delayed my vacation to come out to help support this operation. It’s enjoyable for me (to help the Iraqi people).”
After the medical personnel set-up the litters in an open field, a convoy of Humvees rolled up and down the roadways of the village announcing the event over a loud speaker using Rammy’s taped invitation. Excited villagers walked to the CHOPS site, where medical personnel remained busy seeing patients for several hours.
“It makes me sad to see all these (hurting) people,” said Spc. Grant Claassen, a medic with HHC, 1st Bn., 66th AR. “The reason I became a medic was to do things like this.” In addition to first class medical care, patients received new blankets and children received comic books and CDs.
“Today, we do this out of kindness for the people,” said Col. Saad Abu Safe, the deputy commander of 1st Mech. Bde., 9th IAD. “We want to achieve our mission. We want to be friendly with the people. We want the people to love us.
“We consider this a victory against the insurgency,” added Saad. “We coexist with the people. (Our mission) is to secure the people. This time we’re doing it medically.”
Sgt. Maj. Abdul-Kadhum Turkey, the senior enlisted Soldier in 1st Mech. Bde., 9th IAD, said he agreed the mission was very important for the local citizens. “We consider this a wonderful day. We did this with the help of our American friends. The people are saying how respectable we are. The people are inviting us to their homes for lunch. The Soldiers are pleased to provide humanitarian help to the people.”
In this small part of Iraq, all the media hype of sectarian turmoil dissolved due to the combined efforts of the 9th IAD and 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div. Soldiers. For the people of this little village, a brighter future showed itself on the horizon – a safe and secure Iraq forged inside an increased trust between citizens and Soldiers of different nations unified in an intense belief of a shared tomorrow.
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