2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs

Story by Sgt. Matthew Vanderboegh

By Sgt. Matthew Vanderboegh
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division

BAGHDAD – A woman, with her three children huddled around her in anticipation, stood in line with a throng of others, Aug. 6, 2008, at the Al Suasse Elementary School in Kateib, a suburb in northwest Baghdad.

She, along with hundreds of others, anxiously awaited her turn in line so her children could finally receive a long overdue medical screening.

Soldiers from Multi-National Division – Baghdad's 1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), along with elements from the 432nd Civil Affairs Battalion, Iraqi security forces and local Iraqi physicians, came together during a Combined Medical Engagement to reach out to the citizens of Kateib.

They worked together for the combined good of the local citizens of Ghazaliyah, who have been without medical care prior to the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"We are here to help provide basic medical services to the Iraqi people by getting the Iraqi army and Iraqi civilians to work together," said 1st Lt. Brandon Koser, a native of Fairfax, Va., who is the medical platoon leader for 1-75 Cav. Regt.

Four Iraqi physicians from surrounding areas volunteered their time to provide basic medical treatment and counseling.

"We are here to serve the people," said Oday, the resident dentist. Ali, a pediatrician, added "I am very happy to help out the Iraqi families."

They were able to see approximately 500 Iraqis during the medical operation.

"We were able to treat a lot of common ailments," said Koser. "The most common things were infections, pain, stomach problems, malnutrition and seizures." Koser said the ailments they came across during the medical drive are the types that would normally be seen at a local clinic, which they do not have in this neighborhood.

"There were some that we could not treat, but the Iraqi doctors were able to refer them to a hospital," said Koser. "For instance, we had a 10 year old boy with a bullet still inside his chest. We were not able to perform the surgery but at least got the family in touch with the people who can."

Along with providing basic medical services for the local residents, Soldiers with the 432nd CA Bn. brought 200 packets of basic items to distribute, such as tooth brushes, floss, soap and shampoo, said Sgt. 1st Class Lance Steidt, a native of Green Bay, Wis., who serves with the 432nd CA Bn. The Soldiers also brought several bags of stuffed animals and toys for the children.

Soldiers from Company C, 1-75 Cav. Regt., also provided humanitarian assistance packages.

"There are about two hundred boxes that we put together," said Capt. Terrence Higgins, who hails from Point Pleasant, N.J., and is the commander of Co. C. They have such things as rice, canned vegetables, dried peas and cooking oil.

"This was a great idea. We are providing assistance to the Iraqi people by having Iraqi army and Iraqi doctors working together. It is a win-win for everyone. It shows the people that the Iraqi government cares about them."

Really, the idea behind the CME was to show the Iraqi military how to properly run a medical exercise for future exercises, said Koser.

"The next time that we have one of these, the Iraqis will have an even greater presence," he added.

At the end of the day, the Iraqi physicians and MND-B troops were able to treat many ailments plaguing the Iraqi citizens and got them going in the right direction for future treatments.

A plan is ongoing to have at least two other medical events in adjacent areas in the following months.

Associated Images

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