By Task Force 134
CAMP VICTORY, Iraq – Serving both host nation detainees and U.S. service members, the 31st Combat Support Hospital from Fort Bliss, Texas, completed a 15 month deployment in Iraq and transferred authority to the 115th CSH, Fort Polk, La., June 10.
"We were truly honored to have executed a mission of strategic importance to the security of Iraq," said Col. Patrick Sargent, commander of Task Force 62 Medical, the higher echelon unit. "From our wire medics who treated detainees every day, to our surgical and rehabilitative care, we fulfilled our duty to provide the best care possible to detainees and coalition forces."
The 31st CSH served 15 months as TF 31 Medical, a "split base" mission providing health care and hospitalizations at three locations: Camp Cropper in Baghdad, Camp Bucca in southern Iraq, and Camp Ashraf. Camp Cropper is responsible for all intakes and releases.
During TF 31 Medical's deployment, assigned personnel treated more than 20,000 patients, conducting 2,200 surgeries, and operating the two biggest optometry clinics in Iraq, providing eye care to more than 24,000 detainees. "Some of these detainees had never received eye care in their lives,"said Col. Roberto N. Nang, Task Force 31 medical commander.
Medics safely transferred more than 28,000 detainees by air, and TF 31 Medical also made progress in putting Iraqis in charge of the mission, training Iraqi Correction Officers in an intensive 45-day course that included combat lifesaving, pharmacology and other skills to qualify them as the equivalent of a U.S. Army Health Care Specialist (68W).
"TF 31's unique mission and our health care professionals dedicated to protection, care and respect of detainees is a testimony to America's humane nature," Nang said.
Task Force 115 has now taken on the mission to provide medical care for all detainee operations in Iraq.
"Our motto, 'Healing for Peace,' could not be more appropriate for this mission," said Col. John McGrath, Task Force 115 commander.
| Date Taken: | 06.10.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 06.16.2008 15:08 |
| Story ID: | 20534 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 331 |
| Downloads: | 211 |
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