No Pain, No Train

Photo By Senior Master Sgt. Marcus Falleaf | Lt. Craig Manifold, an emergency room doctor and Katrina veteran, addresses the group, "aspirin thins the blood," he says. "When should we use it?"  

GALVESTON, TX, UNITED STATES

09.19.2008

Story by Senior Master Sgt. Marcus Falleaf 

147th Attack Wing (Texas Air National Guard)

GALVESTON, Texas — The Medical Group from the 147th Reconnaissance Wing at Ellington Field has forward deployed personnel to Galveston's Ball High School in support of hurricane recovery operations currently underway.

Even with people walking in every direction, 18 wheelers idling, and generators humming all around the shelters, you can't help noticing the oblong yellow and white tent that sits in the high school parking lot... the medical tent!

Looking inside the tent, there are two Texas Military Forces personnel lying on tables with IV needles in their arms, while a third, Master Sgt. Wanda Lutz, is having her needle inserted. Training, for the military, is of utmost importance, even if you have to practice on your own people.

"You did good, said Lutz. I'll be happy to sign off on your training," she said while smiling at Staff Sgt. Amanda Holguin from the 147th.

Equipped with treatment tables, IV stands and plenty of manpower, the medical folks practice scenarios that could happen within the hurricane recovery forum. Lt. Col. Craig Manifold, from the 149th Med Group and a Hurricane Katrina veteran, stands with all eyes on him and begins a question and answer session.

Just around the corner, a group of Med Techs enjoy some down time and a cup of coffee. Casual conversation is pleasant and energetic.

"Boy, you just missed it," said Staff Sgt. Crystal Stringer. "We had a guy in here that had smashed his finger between two 55 gallon drums. We irrigated the wound, bandaged him up and sent him on his way," said Stringer.

"Well, we don't just treat the finger, we treat the whole hand," said Staff Sgt. Matthew Phipps, who is from the 149th Medical Group out of San Antonio. "We do that mainly because we don't have x-ray capability," said Phipps. "You can't take chances," he said.

Although many of the Soldiers and Airmen are traditional guardsmen (one weekend a month), many also have a medical affiliation as a civilian, like Lt. Col. Manifold who is an emergency room doctor. Nevertheless, the mission at hand utilizes the skill-sets of both military and civilian jobs. Called to duty in a time of crisis, away from their families and civilian jobs, Texas Military Forces ante-up when it's their time.

• Date Taken: 09.19.2008
• Date Posted: 09.19.2008 00:26
• Story ID: 23842
• Location: GALVESTON, TX, US