Courtesy Photo | Platoon leader, 2nd Lt. Thomas Doherty, F Company, 51st Infantry Regiment, escorts an...... read more read more
By Spc. Bradley J. Clark
4th BCT, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs
BI'AJ, Iraq – The Iraqi Army in western Ninevah province has taken the lead from Coalition Forces when it comes to fighting the enemies of a safe and free Iraq.
Even though the IA is proving they have the competence to handle the task at hand, there are still times when they are grateful to have their American counterparts watching their backs.
That was just the case on the early morning of Oct. 22, when Soldiers from F Company, 51st Infantry Regiment were riding along with the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Iraqi Army Division, to conduct a series of cordon and search operations in villages west of Bi'aj, Iraq.
On the ride to the target villages was when it happened, in the middle of the desert, an improvised explosive device detonated on the convoy.
"The first thing that went through my mind was, who got hit," said 2nd Lt. Thomas Doherty, platoon leader, F Company.
Doherty had his interpreter riding along with him so he immediately knew that it was the Iraqi Army's 2nd Battalion executive officer, Maj. Ezzeldin, whose vehicle fell victim to the IED attack.
"I told my medic (Pfc. Robert Howe) he had to get ready," said Doherty.
"I remember thinking, how has everything I've done before going to affect this," said Howe.
The training that the Iraqi Army soldiers have received over the past few years would come in handy now more than ever. Instead of letting the devastation set in and do nothing to help their fellow soldiers, they were on scene first and immediately began doing everything they could.
"We got out of our vehicle the same time the Iraqi medic was getting out of his ambulance," said Doherty. "By the time we made it to the downed vehicle, the other Iraqi Army soldiers had pulled out the victims and begun doing everything they could."
Due to the diligent training of Iraqi and American Soldiers, what happened next was like second nature to everyone involved.
"We immediately began splinting fractures and starting IVs," said Doherty.
As Doherty, Howe and the Iraqi medic began triage on the wounded; the rest of the Iraqi and Coalition Soldiers knew exactly what to do next.
"They went all in," said Doherty. "They pulled security and created a perimeter around the wounded so we could care for them."
"They were great," said Sgt. Jacob Prame, infantryman. "They pulled out and began sweeping the area looking for people. Tactically, that's exactly what you are supposed to do."
Not only did the Iraqi soldiers do the right thing in providing security but they also assisted the medics with whatever they needed.
"If they weren't on a gun they came to help us," said Doherty.
"They were very helpful with comforting the wounded," said Howe. "They also helped by holding the IV bags and loading the wounded onto the [medical evacuation] birds."
As the medical helicopters pulled away from the attack site, Prame escorted the wounded to the Coalition hospital on Forward Operating Base Marez in Mosul, Iraq.
"Our guys at the hospital were great," said Prame. "They were all over it. They took the guys right into surgery and didn't waste anytime."
The Coalition troops don't believe they saved the lives of four Iraqi Army soldiers, but the fact is that the Iraqi Army ambulance would have only been able to transport two of the soldiers and ground transportation to a medical facility would have taken at least twice as long as the air transportation.
"We have rehearsed this situation many times," said Prame. "But this is the first time I have actually been through it."
Unlike Prame, Doherty has seen his fair share of helicopter medical evacuations, but this one was different from the rest.
"I've been in many CASEVACS but never that close before," said Doherty. "This was probably the quickest I have ever seen."
As Prame was with the wounded in Mosul, Doherty joined the rest of the Iraqi Army to hunt down the enemy that attacked their brothers.
According to Doherty, the perpetrators location was tracked by Coalition intelligence assets and relayed to the Iraqi Army on the ground.
"We were able to chase down and capture the two guys," said Doherty. "Even after going through the attack and then catching the guys, the IA were determined to go ahead with the original mission as planned, it was great."
While these Coalition troops won't take credit for saving four lives that day, they do acknowledge that what they did made a difference.
"I can't say that they wouldn't have made it without us," said Doherty. "But I will say their quality of life wouldn't have been the same."
Coalition actions not only impacted Iraqi lives that day, but their own as well.
"Some people might be skeptical of the IA," said Prame. "But seeing them go through what we do, it tells me they understand what it's all about."
Prame is right; the Iraqis have found the strength and perseverance to continue, even after an attack like this. They do this because they know their citizens deserve a safe a free Iraq, to them there is no other option.
| Date Taken: | 11.13.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 11.19.2007 12:55 |
| Story ID: | 14026 |
| Location: | IQ |
| Web Views: | 244 |
| Downloads: | 207 |
This work, Iraqi, Coalition teamwork saves lives, accomplishes mission, by Bradley Clark, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT