Senior Airman Christine Noldee, native of Palmdale, Calif., aerospace medical technician, 332nd Expeditionary Medical Operations Group from Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas, feeds a baby who was found on a patrol.
Posted on 06/27/2006 6:10:46 PM PDT by SandRat
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Senior Airman Christine Noldee, native of Palmdale, Calif., aerospace medical technician, 332nd Expeditionary Medical Operations Group from Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas, feeds a baby who was found on a patrol. |
BALAD, Iraq – Soldiers from Logistical Support Area Anaconda in Balad saved the life of an abandoned, near-death baby June 9.
Staff Sgt. Donald White, patrol leader 4th Infantry Division, Task Force Band of Brothers, and his team came across a box on the side of the road while on patrol.
Initially, he thought it was an improvised explosive device until he heard crying coming from the box. White made sure there were no wires protruding from the box and made sure it was not booby trapped. Then he picked it up.
“I ran as fast as I could, snatched the box off the ground and kept on running, thankfully nothing blew up,” White said.
White then asked Spc. John Sullivan, healthcare specialist, 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery, to evaluate the child and assess its medical needs.
The skin was literally hanging off the child and we could see it was massively dehydrated and malnourished. Sullivan told me we needed to get the child to a hospital right away and we jumped into the trucks and drove to the hospital as fast as we could, Smith said.
In transit to Balad Air Base hospital, Sullivan turned the air conditioning vents in the baby's direction so the air would cool the child.
I was nervous because I have never had to professionally treat a sick child before, Sullivan said. “(He) did not cry at all in the vehicle but his eyes rolled in the back of his head and I thought ‘oh my goodness he is starting to die on me.'”
By the time the patrol made its way to the Balad Air Base hospital the staff was already waiting for them when the vehicles pulled up. The Air Force medical staff treated the child by putting a feeding tube into him to replenish lost fluids. After a while the baby regained its strength and was in stable enough condition to be released. A civilian liaison with the Iraqi hospital in Balad was called and the child was released to hospital care.
White credits the success of the rescue to the members of his patrol, not just himself and Sullivan.
In all this mess of arresting people, killing people and getting blown up, finally something good has come out of it, Smith said. Hopefully as a result, God will bless us for the next few months we are here.
The baby was reunited with his mother June 19. The mother of the child told Iraqi Police she left the child in her daughter's care. The daughter was carrying the baby on the road near the LSA when she was chased by wild dogs and left the baby so she could run faster, according to reports given to Capt. Lance Awbrey, commander, Battery B, 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery.
That doesn't make any sense. Why would she put a baby in the box? I would guess the baby was abandoned, being malnourished is not a good sign.
Thanks for posting
This is the enemy our soldiers face every waking minute: Those who would booby trap an infant! God bless them.
Yeah, I don't think so. That baby was malnourished. So it was there for a while. Daughter comes home, says "I left the baby because wild dogs chased me," and the family doesn't go back to the scene looking for the baby? They just say, "Oh, I guess the dingo got the baby" and drop the matter? This sounds highly suspicious to me.
To me too.
Probably her own brothers, on an "honor killing" spree.
sad ending - were this explanation true, it would've been the nature of wild dogs to kill the baby - and you are right - why would be in a box to begin with? And they would have gone back and found the baby long before it deteriated to the condition he was found. this poor little one is likely not to have much of a life -
BS. Wild dogs would have certainly eaten the baby. Not to mention the child was malnourished and dehydrated near to death.
*sigh* Another tiny life saved and returned to people who do not value and cherish it.
I would guess the baby was abandoned, being malnourished is not a good sign.
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Agreed. Even if she put the baby there temporarily, why would she not come back after escaping the dogs? Strange.
“I ran as fast as I could, snatched the box off the ground and kept on running, thankfully nothing blew up,” White said. '
There is a dude! What a stud.
AHHHHHH!
::sniff:: ::sniff::
*sniff*
Thank you..
Ms.B
It looks like an adorable little baby. I hope someone of authority keeps an eye on the family.
Once, when my oldest was a baby, I was chased by junkyard dogs as I was walking to my grandmas house. I lifted her over my head and screamed bloody murder. Some soldiers walking on the next street heard me screaming and ran the dogs off. It never occured to me to put her down and save myself.
Total bs. I agree 100%.
In a world of hurt, our soldiers, once again, did the right thing.
Went above and beyond the call of duty, to protect a life likely being thrown away.
I agree with you, this is a man, this is an American, an American soldier.
May God shine his light on them all.
Exactly. What a creature to try and sacrifice the baby to save her own sorry neck.
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