Strike Soldiers provide medical care to wounded, sick patients

Photo By Staff Sgt. James Hunter | Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldiers transport a patient to an awaiting aircraft...... read more read more

Photo By Staff Sgt. James Hunter | Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldiers transport a patient to an awaiting aircraft under the supervision of the flight medic at the Riva Ridge Troop Medical Clinic. Soldiers from Company C, 526th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), run the TMC 24 hours a day.  see less | View Image Page

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

05.10.2008

Story by Staff Sgt. James Hunter 

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

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By Sgt. James Hunter
2nd Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 101st AIrborne Division (AIr Assault)

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – There is no telling what may happen on the streets of Baghdad as Iraqi security and coalition forces maintain a constant presence in an attempt to detour any enemy activities. The enemy will go to great lengths to inflict damage upon those who wish to see a prosperous Iraq. However, more often that not, they are unsuccessful; though occasionally, their cowardly attacks do cause harm.

Depending on where wounded troops or civilians are located in Baghdad and how immediate their wounds are determines where they will be medically evacuated to. One particular place is the Riva Ridge Troop Medical Center.

Twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon, the Riva Ridge TMC receives patients with illnesses ranging from fevers to back problems.

The clinic is a Level II medical facility comprised of the Soldiers of Company C, 526th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division. It has wide-ranging capabilities, said Sgt. 1st Class Russell Kruse, a native of St. Clair, Mo. It has X-ray, dental, laboratory and patient hold capabilities within their facility, which one could not find at a regular battalion aide station.

There is an immunizations room, trauma room, pharmacy, treatment room, physical therapy section, and mental health section available to Soldiers, said Kruse.

Staffed by 37 Soldiers from the Treatment Platoon, and anywhere from two to three Soldiers a day from the Evacuation Platoon from within the medical company, the Soldiers operate in shifts to treat those injured while operating in western Baghdad. Since November, the staff has seen nearly 15,000 patients.

The days are long, sometimes grueling. Don't let the numbers fool you. Having a staff of 37 might sound wonderful; the Soldiers, however, have to fulfill many obligations and maintain 24-hour operations.

They often deal with trauma patients, who have been hit with improvised-explosive devices, suicide vests, indirect fire, snipers and small-arms fire, said Kruse.

"We've seen just about everything," he added.

From local nationals and Iraqi security forces to Sons of Iraq and American Soldiers, anyone may make their way through the TMC in a trauma situation.

When they know trauma patients are en route, the atmosphere in the medical clinic is "organized chaos," said Kruse.

"Everyone's got their spot; everyone's pretty proficient when it comes to running their portions of the TMC. They already know their tasks," said Kruse. "They come in, inspect their materials and do a systems check on everything. We are ready to receive patients well before they get here. That literally takes a few minutes and everyone's in place."

Thus far, the Soldiers have treated nearly 120 trauma patients, said Kruse.

"Every trauma that goes out of here alive is a success story," said Spc. Tessa Kowatch, a native of Belle Union, Ind., who serves with the Evacuation Platoon, Co. C, 526th BSB. "There are a few patients that if they wouldn't have made it here within another half-hour or so, they would be dead," added Kruse.

Being a part of a brigade combat team, the Soldiers often get around enough to build close, personal relationships with Soldiers throughout the brigade. Those they know could be the next person they see come through that door, wounded and on the brink of death.

"It affects a lot of the medics greatly," said Kruse. "We've had medics work on people they know personally; it's pretty tough."

Through it all however, they must continue their mission as medics: saving peoples lives.

"It affects our emotions, but it doesn't affect our job," Kowatch said.

And accomplishing their mission is vital for the Soldiers they serve.

"In the moment, we don't think about that: we focus on our patient," said Pvt. Mandy Yeatrakas, a native of Abilene, Texas. "When they are gone, that's when it's tough. It's like 'Wow, I just saved that guys life and he's my friend.'"

Kruse said his Soldiers are performing tremendously.

"When it comes to medical proficiency – I've been in the Army for 16 years and 2 months now – and this is the most proficient, technical group of medics I've ever seen. They are very proficient ... all the way down to privates."

2nd Lt. Michelle Lawrence, a native of Memphis, Tenn., who is serving her first duty assignment, said she was very impressed with the medics at the TMC when she first arrived.

"They definitely have a handle on things. They know what they are doing with traumas and emergency services," said Lawrence, who serves as the platoon leader for the Treatment Platoon. "With so few medics we have, it's truly impressive. They work really well as a team. It's a pretty easy transition with just coming in. It's a close knit group; it really is."

The immunizations section has administered more than 8,000 shots since the beginning of November when the Soldiers took over the TMC, said Kruse. "That's a tremendous task."

The Mental Health section has seen more than 300 patients, said Kruse, and provides care and comfort to the many issues Soldiers face. The section also provides anger management classes, sleep hygiene and smoking cessation classes to name a few.

The physical therapy section of the medical clinic is also working at peak capacity. Its two-person staff provides a valuable service in treating patients. It is estimated that approximately 60 percent of the injured Soldiers would need to return to the states if the capability of providing for them was not available in theater, said Lawrence.

"With their abilities to do therapy here in country, they are conserving the force," she said.

The dental clinic has seen nearly 1,400 patients. Its number-one focus is on the Soldiers who push out onto the streets of Baghdad daily.

The staff conducts regular cleaning, exams and root canals from the chair of the dental office.

The clinic's laboratory has seen approximately 800 patients and has completed 2,400 different lab tests.

The Riva Ridge TMC is a unique medical clinic with a wide array of capabilities to offer the Soldiers who patrol the streets of western Baghdad.

The Soldiers' abilities remain vital to every mission, to every Soldier and to the Army as whole. They hold the pulse of each American and Iraqi who come through their doors.