Courtesy Photo | Maj. Kevin Wellington, a veterinarian who serves with Multi-National Corps-Iraq, and...... read more read more
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By Staff Sgt. Todd Phipps
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Public Affairs
ABU HILLAN, Iraq — An important part of the Iraqi reconstruction effort is helping the local residents; and that could range from providing them medical care to keeping their live stock healthy.
Soldiers of Troop C, 1st Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) out of Fort Drum, N.Y., provided assistance to the local populace in Abu Hillan, Abu Sheikan and Safirah, Iraq. They are three villages south of Baghdad.
Soldiers of Troop C's mortar platoon, the Tactical Psychological Operations Team, and Maj. Kevin Wellington, a veterinarian who serves with Multi-National Corps-Iraq, provided veterinary assistance to the farmers living in and around the three villages, July 14.
After the tremendous success of the previous veterinary operation in Abu Shiekan, the word spread among the residents about the support provided during the visit.
Soon, residents of Abu Hillan requested a similar mission in their area.
Early that morning the Soldiers loaded a trailer full of fencing, water and veterinary medical supplies and went to Abu Hillan to support this request.
When the patrol arrived at the Al-Salam Clinic, they cleared all the area buildings before putting up improvised animal pens. While the pens were being built, Soldiers traveled around the area announcing the opportunity to local farmers.
By 8 a.m., the holding pens were established and the message had been delivered.
The initial response from the area was minimum, with Wellington only conducting examinations on three cows in the first two hours.
But as the morning progressed, the trickle turned into a torrent. Several local farmers began to arrive with several herds of sheep, more cows and horses. The number of animals was so large that all Soldiers not pulling security were asked to help the residents with herding and controlling the animals.
"Being from the city, I never had to hold a sheep in my life before," said Sgt. 1st Class Jose Soriano Jr., a platoon sergeant from Trp. C., "But the operation went very well."
Wellington gave each animal flea-and-tick and de-worming medicines and advised the owners on general care procedures.
The operation was physically demanding in the heat of late morning, but worth the effort, said Wellington. More than 200 sheep, 10 cows and four horses were treated in the last hour.
Healthy animals are an important part of the farmers' lives, and essential to their economic survival, so veterinary care is critical to the agrarian community.
"The community responded well," said Capt. John Breslin, a platoon leader with 1-89. "This increased goodwill and rapport with the locals."
| Date Taken: | 07.16.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 07.16.2007 13:47 |
| Story ID: | 11304 |
| Location: | IQ |
| Web Views: | 98 |
| Downloads: | 70 |
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