48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Soldiers Help Nomad Children

10.24.2009

Story by Spc. Jennifer Eddy 

48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team

KABUL, Afghanistan - Soldiers of Police Mentor Team 1, Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment of Georgia's 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, with the assistance of combat medics from Headquarters 48th IBCT and Charlie Company 148th Brigade Support Battalion participated in a medical drop at Kabul District 7, Kabul province, Afghanistan, Oct. 24.

The purpose of the medical drop was to provide medical assistance to children of the Kuchi nomadic tribe who were staying in the area and needed medical care.

"The neighborhood is made up of displaced people who will move for work and a warm place to stay. They are nomads," said 1st Lt. Salvatore J. Buzzurro, PMT 1 leader. "The nomad community is made up of approximately 40 families and PMT 1 was able to treat over 20 children during their medical drop."

PMT 1 first discovered the nomads when they were sent to patrol the area for the first time about a month ago.

"We were sent to check out the area and we found these people and all their children had some type of illness," said Brad J. Jones, PMT 1 Combat lifesaver, an infantryman who's civilian profession is nursing. "We were able to treat children for skin rashes and one little boy had an extremely bad bacterial infection on his head."

"Because the little boy didn't receive any attention for his cut initially, the bacterial infection festered and the small bump progressively got worse," said Jones. "I cleaned up the head injury and the adults became more open to advice when they saw how much better it looked. They saw that we were genuinely trying to help. When we went back two days later to change his bandage he looked a lot better. He was even starting to grow hair in the affected area."

In addition to providing medical assistance to the Kuchis, members of PMT 1 are organizing additional humanitarian assistance by informing people back home.

"My wife in the States is organizing a club at the school where she teaches. Her club is going to collect clothing and shoes. As a parent, it is very rewarding to help take care of these children. They are the next generation and the future of Afghanistan," said Buzzurro.

"We were so moved the first time we helped them, our team has decided to adopt the community and check up on them on a regular basis," said Buzzurro. "We're here to help them."

• Date Taken: 10.24.2009
• Date Posted: 02.15.2010 00:32
• Story ID: 45352