Villagers Receive 'Striker' Treatment

Photo By Staff Sgt. Zachary Mott | Members of the Iraqi army stand guard during a medical civil action project at Al Bayrk, Iraq, Jan. 24. The IA soldiers helped secure the village while more than 150 residents were screened by medical professionals from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. (U.S. Army Photo/Maj. Byron Sarchet, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division)  

AL BAYRK, IRAQ

01.25.2008

Story by Sgt. Zachary Mott 

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

By Sgt. Zach Mott
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office

AL BAYRK, Iraq -- Villagers in this remote region on the outskirts of Baghdad flocked to a medical screening hosted by the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Jan. 24.

"(We want) to show the Iraqi people that we care about them," said Sgt. 1st Class Francis Rose, the medical platoon leader with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd BCT. "We're trying to establish some type of medical facilities being brought up to these areas and to help the Iraqis develop their own medical facilities."

More than 150 residents of Al Bayrk with maladies ranging from upper respiratory infections to skin rashes were treated at the medical civil action project. This also served as a welcome break for some of the medics within the Striker Brigade who regularly treat Soldiers with combat-related injuries.

"It was pretty neat," said Pfc. Julie West, a medic with HHC, 1st CAB, 68th AR. "I didn't know that we actually even did things like this. It was a good experience being able to go out there and help out."

West is a Houston native who is on her first deployment to Iraq in her brief military career.

Rose, however, is on his third deployment to Iraq and has seen a steady increase in the medical proficiency in this budding nation.

"From OIF IV to this one I can see that it has helped," the Chrisney, Ind., native said. "We can see that the Ministry of Health has been involved and they have established clinics in the areas. You see that the supply systems come in and are working."

Iraqi army soldiers were on site to serve as a security element for this mission. Their presence also helped the Iraqi people realize their military is there to support and defend them.

"They know that they have IA, (Iraqi police) presence and that they'll be taken care of," Rose said.

Plans are already in place for these missions to continue in the future.

"We're looking at one (MEDCAP) a month," Rose said. "This is just one company. Once the other companies get involved we might be doing two or three per month."

While treating as many citizens as possible, Rose said he hopes this will begin to foster a better relationship throughout the region.

"It makes me feel good," he said about helping the villagers. "The way I look at it, the more people we can help in Iraq. Hopefully, that's less people we've got to take care of on our own side. You create an atmosphere where everybody can get along and then we'll cut out on some of the patients that we see as far as casualties over here."

• Date Taken: 01.25.2008
• Date Posted: 01.28.2008 10:12
• Story ID: 15802
• Location: AL BAYRK, IQ