Posted on 10/04/2006 5:09:55 PM PDT by SandRat
CAMP TAJI – From battle wounds to bruises, military doctors are out in the local neighborhoods making a difference—one Iraqi at a time.
As the Iraqi police provided security, Soldiers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, along with an Iraqi doctor and an Iraqi nurse, conducted a medical operation in Mushada community north of Baghdad.
During the operation, medical staff saw more than 300 residents for a variety of ailments, and gave locals free pharmaceuticals to help curb whatever ailments the patients were experiencing.
“This is the first MedOp I’ve been on since I’ve been stationed at Camp Taji,” said Pfc. Hugo Paiz, medic, Battery B, 4th Battalion, 11th Field Artillery Regiment, which is attached to the 1st BCT. “A lot of what I’m seeing today is boys with skinned knees and elbows. Mostly, it’s from running around and falling. All I do for them is pretty much clean up the wound, bandage it and then send them on their way.”
Not only did Paiz take care of skinned knees and elbows, he was part of a team of medics and physician’s that helped stabilize a young Iraqi girl run over by a truck up the road from the operation.
The young girl suffered a broken leg and multiple contusions when a truck struck a roadside bomb and steered out of control. Locals rushed her to the medical operation, where medics stabilized her. Personnel then evacuated her to Baghdad for further treatment. They also notified her parents of the incident.
Many were grateful the medical operation was going on so close to the accident.
“I’m so glad the doctors were close when that girl got hurt,” said a local Mushada woman at the operation. “They really did save her life. These medical operations are a blessing.
“I heard about the operation yesterday, so I brought all my kids in today,” she added. “This is really great, and I appreciate it when the American doctors come and take a look at my kids. They even gave us some free medicine.”
The brigade has conducted medical operations such as this since arriving nine months ago. Many believe they are starting to make a real difference in the communities where they are held.
“I believe these operations are helping the communities in this area,” said Capt. Lee Howard, team chief, Company C, 414th Civil Affairs Bn., which is attached to the 1st BCT. “At least that is the feedback I’m getting from the sheiks. Most (Iraqis) have very high expectations from American medics and doctors. What a lot of people are doing is waiting for the Americans to come to their community.”
Nice story. Thanks for posting.
BTTT!!
What a great post! So many magnificent stories that we don't hear from the drive-by media.
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