Army Maj. Gen. Jack Gardner, Task Force 134 commanding general, the group in charge of detainee operations in Iraq, speaks to medical personnel from Task Force 21 during the opening of a new hospital at Camp Cropper Theater Internment Facility near Baghdad International Airport July 30. Department of Defense photo by Chief Petty Officer Tony Sisti.
Fresh from New Orleans, where the unit provided Hurricane Katrina disaster relief in October 2005, the 21st Combat Support Hospital from Fort Hood, Texas arrived in Iraq in May. The medics first set up shop at Abu Ghraib then moved medical equipment, supplies and patient records to the new Camp Cropper Theater Internment Facility here earlier this month.
“Moving everything in the best of environments would be painful, but you made this move in Iraq from Abu Ghraib under extremely challenging circumstances,” said Maj. Gen. Jack Gardner, Commanding General of Task Force 134.
“Your mission is critical to detention operations. It is an honor for me to be here today to watch you open this new hospital,” he said.
The hospital provides a full range of inpatient care, including emergency medicine, general and orthopedic surgery, hospitalization to include critical care, nutritional care, laboratory, radiology, pharmacy and long-term rehabilitation.
“The mission is unchanged, to provide the highest quality care to the detainees,” said Col. Jeff Clark, Task Force 21 commander.
“Now we have new facilities that are safer, cleaner and easier to maintain,” he said.
In addition to the hospital, TF 21 is comprised of Soldiers from the 601st Area Support Medical Company, 134th Ground Ambulance Company and 20 Romanian medical professionals.
“Support to the medical mission comes from Soldiers in the maintenance, communications, supply, administrative and operational fields,” said Lt. Col. Paula Lodi, TF 21 executive officer.
“Teamwork is key, and the entire staff stresses continuity of care. We all respect the challenge, uniqueness and importance of this mission.”