Posted on 04/06/2008 2:14:59 PM PDT by SandRat
CAMP STRIKER — Over the last week, the Multi-National Division - Center combat aviation brigade has provided valuable support to the Iraqi Security Forces who are battling Shia extremists in the al Hillah area.
More than 100 medical evacuation missions have been conducted to get ISF and civilians immediate medical care.
Capt. Michael Kelly, aero-medical evacuation helicopter team leader with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, flies MEDEVAC missions south of al Hillah and toward al Kut, in areas where fighting between ISF and criminal groups have picked up in recent days.
“We assist enemy, Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police,” said Kelly of the injured people his unit flies to Coalition forces facilities. His unit is currently attached to Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division.
On a recent mission, Kelly’s helicopter transported a man targeted as a high value individual by Coalition forces. The man had been seriously injured in the fighting, having been shot in the leg with the bullet severing his femoral artery.
Within 12 minutes of being called, Kelly’s helicopter landed in a soccer field south of Hillah. The pilots had been told that there were enemy still in the area, but Apache helicopters from 1st Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, 3rd CAB were circling overhead as protection. Minutes later, they had the man at the hospital, saving his life and giving military intelligence another source of information on enemy operations.
Capt. Bryon Blohm, executive officer, Co. C, 2nd Battalion, 238th Aviation Regiment, said his MEDEVAC helicopters have been working hard to support the ISF and civilians in his unit’s area of operations south of Hillah. Much of what they’ve seen has been wounds suffered because of combat, he said.
The MEDEVAC unit has picked up plenty of civilians caught in the fighting as well, Kelly added.
He said there is no distinction between enemy or friendly forces when it comes to his unit transporting injured people to the hospital. Everyone being flown on his birds gets the same care. His unit recently transported an extremist who had sought medical attention from the ISF.
“Things like that we see all the time,” he said. “Anyone in our AO (area of operation) we support … It’s anybody and everybody.”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.