FOB Naray Aid Station makes a difference along border

Photo By Spc. Gregory Argentieri | U.S. Army Maj. Warren Cusick, 41, from Mesa, Ariz., a certified registered nurse...... read more read more

Photo By Spc. Gregory Argentieri | U.S. Army Maj. Warren Cusick, 41, from Mesa, Ariz., a certified registered nurse anesthetist and the officer-in-charge of the 160th Forward Surgical Team, takes a moment to play with an infant brought in for treatment, Jan. 3, at the Forward Operating Base Naray Aid Station in northeastern Afghanistan.  see less | View Image Page

KUNAR PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

01.17.2008

Story by Spc. Gregory Argentieri 

173rd Airborne Brigade

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By Spc. Gregory Argentieri
173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs

KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan— Surrounded by snow covered mountains, the medical personnel of Task Force Saber work side-by-side to provide a first-class, life saving aid station on Forward Operating Base Naray located in northeastern Afghanistan along the Pakistan Border.

The FOB Naray Aid Station team is comprised of medical personnel from the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team and the 160th Forward Surgical Team. Their first responsibility is to the U.S. Soldiers, whether it is routine shots, taking care of them when they are sick, caring for them when they are injured or, their top priority, treating Soldiers wounded in action.

"The Soldiers know that we are here for them, and that has given me a lot of good feelings about being out here. It's a huge privilege to be able to take care of U.S. Soldiers," said Maj. Warren Cusick, 41, from Mesa, Ariz., a certified registered nurse-anesthetist and the officer-in-charge of the 160th FST.

"The main thing is for troops to have confidence and know when they go fight they're going to be cared for if anything bad happens to them. I used to be enlisted, and one thing that made me feel confident was knowing I would get medical care, and that is important," said Cusick.

Even though the aid station is only a series of tents, the Task Force Saber medical team delivers extraordinary medical care day and night as close to the fight as logistically possible.

"Our biggest challenge is ensuring that the U.S. personnel are taken care of when they get wounded in battle, and that is what we're always training for," said Capt. Scott M. Harrington, 31, from Daytona Beach, Fla., a family medicine doctor assigned to Charlie Company, 173rd Brigade Support Battalion.

"In a big battle, we could have 10 or 20 Soldiers come at one time, and that's happened before, we handled it appropriately, we got everybody out, and we saved their lives," he said.

"I am much more emotionally invested out here because you're among friends. It's very scary when we know the guys are in harm's way," Harrington said. "Every time somebody goes out, one of our medics from the aid station go with the line units. Whenever they go on convoys, one of our medics, who I work with daily, goes out with them."

The Naray Aid Station does much more than provide medical care for American Soldiers. They also are providing life changing and life saving medical treatment to many Afghans, Afghan national security forces, and when the need arises, the enemy.

"We have the best relationship with the aid station, they help us all the time," said Afghan national army Capt. Amanullah, 36, a general-internal doctor assigned to the 3rd Kandak, 3rd Brigade, 201st Corps. "When our soldiers are sick, first we treat them. We try to cure them by ourselves. If we are unable to cure them, we take them to the aid station, and the good doctors help us. We have a very good relationship with the surgeons."

"I was worried and nervous about being treated by U.S. doctors, not knowing what to expect, but after arriving at the aid station and seeing how nice and kind everyone there was, I was okay," said Afghan soldier Sherin Beg, 22, a medic assigned to 3rd Kandak, 3rd Brigade, 201st Corps. "Within an hour after arriving, I was asleep on the operating table having my appendix removed; the next thing I was awake and it was all over."

The majority of people in need of medical care at the aid station overwhelmingly have turned out to be Afghan. Mostly by word of mouth, the doctors and medics are gaining the trust of the local people, and are building a solid reputation for their compassionate, and respectful medical treatment.

"Since we've been deployed, from May of 2007, the [aid station] has seen 5,400 local nationals in our five clinics throughout the upper Kunar province," said Harrington. "We see many children, adults and fewer women, but everyday we're seeing more of the local nationals and more of their women because they're feeling more comfortable with us."

An Afghan named Ramdad from the nearby village of Juba is one of the 5,400 people pleased with the services provided by the Soldiers at the Saber run aid stations.

"The first time I came to coalition forces hospital on FOB Naray was three months ago when I brought my daughter for treatment because she was burned. I was not sure the doctors were going to take her, but they treated my daughter, and the doctors did a good job," said Ramdad, "I was very happy, and because of that I brought my 3-year-old son, who is sick with pneumonia in for help. We are happy with the American doctors are taking care of our people because we are poor people, we are not able to take our sick family members out of the country, and it's helpful for us."

The doctors and medics working at the FOB Naray Aid Station are the best of the best, they are highly-trained, dedicated professionals, working tirelessly day in and day out, while remaining committed to providing excellent medical care to all.

"Being out here providing the care that I've been trained to do is why I joined the Army. I get to wake up everyday and know that I am doing the right thing," Harrington said.