3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

Story by Spc. Anthony Hooker

By Spc. Anthony Hooker
215th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

AL SHAKRAH, IRAQ – Soldiers from the 7th Sustainment Brigade, Romanian, and Iraqi military forces combined with lraqi civilians to host a medical civil action program, July 29, 2008, at a local Iraqi clinic.

From eight a.m. until the early afternoon, coalition forces worked alongside representatives from the Iraq ministry of health to diagnose and treat any Iraqi citizen who was interested.

Hundreds of Iraqis came from the nearby countryside as well as neighboring city Al Nasariyah. To manage the crush of patients, a triage site was set at the clinic's entry.

A military tent was also raised outside the clinic as an additional waiting room.

The 7th SB, deployed from Ft. Eustis, Va., provided three doctors and a combat medical team to augment medical staff from the Romanian and Iraqi Armies. The clinic concentrated on identifying ailments, providing vitamins and other supplements, and performing minor surgeries. Major William O'Connell, a surgeon with the 7th SB, worked alongside ministry of health physician Dr. Ahmed Abdul Sabeh to remove shrapnel from one patient and lance a cyst from another.

"It's been enlightening," said O'Connell. "We've managed to find some common ground and I personally hope we can work together in the future."

Dr. Sabeh, who practices at an Al Nasiriyah hospital, was equally enthusiastic about the pairing.

"It's good for both of us because we can benefit from each other's level of experience," Dr. Sabeh said, asking afterwards if there were any medical programs on Contingency Operating Base Adder he could take part in.

O'Connell said many of the patients he saw had carotid injuries, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, issues with their eyes. While he presently couldn't do anything for their conditions, O'Connell said the visits were a lesson learned.

"The [ailments] are easy fixes," O'Connell said. "Next time, we'll plan for that."

Sgt. James Buscampell, a combat medic with the 7th SB, said successfully managing all of the working parts on site was crucial.

"There are social, language and cultural barriers out here," Buscampell said. "If we can all work successfully [together], the Iraqi people can look at our example and see that it's possible to work together [themselves] and achieve major successes."

Dr. Sabeh said the joint effort sends a clear message to local residents.

"The Iraqi people are grateful that you give them help," he said. "It definitely makes an impression to help and serve their children and the elderly."

Once patients completed their visit, each person was given one Halal meal (food prepared in a manner prescribed by Islamic law) and a bottle of water. A humanitarian aid station was set up for patients who wanted any gifts. Soldiers from the 7th SB passed out soccer balls, blankets, dolls and clothes.

Major Robert Hudson, the 7th SB's civil-military operations commander, said the MEDCAP's focus was to continue the good relationship established with locals in the immediate area outside of Contingency Operating Base Adder.

"We didn't want to do anything elaborate," Hudson said. "They've been helping us for some time; we just wanted to give something back."

Hudson pointed out that the combined effort of Soldiers leaves a powerful impression on anyone they meet.

"The Soldier is a reflection of the U.S. government and can leave many positives," Hudson said. "Today we saw specialists, Sgt. Majors, captains . . . all lending a helping hand, working side by side with Iraqi sheiks, the Iraqi army and the Romanian army. The Iraqis see that and it's a face of America they don't normally see."

Col. Mark Barbosa, commander of the 7th SB, paid a visit to the site and gave a full endorsement to the efforts. Barbosa added the local sheik expressed his thanks and said the MEDCAP was better than expected, with people coming from unintended areas.

"People are leaving with a positive attitude," said Barbosa, who anticipates holding four or five more MEDCAPS during the remainder of the 7th SB's deployment. "That's a message that's going back into the community and it's one we want."

Buscampell said Soldiers and Iraqis seen working side by side is important, that we not be seen as the 'bad guy'.

"They need to see that we have a human touch," Buscampell said. "We're not just wearing and body armor; we're human, we're people and we're here to help."

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