Rakkasan Medic Makes House Calls

Courtesy Photo | SAMARRA, Iraq (January 18, 2006) - Spc. Clint Radcliff, a medic from the Rakkasan's Military Integrated Transition Training Team from the 3rd Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, listens for signs of asthma in a young Iraqi girl.  

SAMARRA, IRAQ

01.28.2006

Courtesy Story

133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Spc. William Jones
133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

SAMARRA, Iraq (January 18, 2006) - In old black and white television shows and movies, doctors were often seen walking up to their patient's house carrying a little black bag. There was a term for these visits: "house calls."

Today's doctors hardly ever have time to make house calls, but Specialist Clint Radcliffe does. Radcliffe is a medic in the Rakkasan's Military Integrated Transitional Training team, or MITT team, as they are known, from the 3rd Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division.

Radcliffe has been deployed to Iraq since last fall and, in the course of his duties, he claims he has just about seen it all. He goes outside the wire almost daily with his unit and they work directly with Iraqi soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 4th Iraqi Army, based in the northern province of Salah Ad Din. In addition to being the MITT team medic, he is also in charge of the Iraqi's 2nd Battalion aid station. He gets a lot of personal satisfaction from work, especially when his works allows him to help others.

"I joined the Army to help people and it's one of the best ways to make a difference," says Radcliffe.

Following a successful Iraqi-led raid, Radcliffe received a call on the radio advising of a child having trouble breathing. "The mother told me that her daughter has asthma. I listened to the little girl's breathing and it turned out she had an upper respiratory infection."

Medical facilities are scarce in most areas outside of the larger cities in Iraq. "Most children never see a doctor unless their family has the money to pay for it. The child's mother surprised me when she brought me a couple bottles of medicine that had been prescribed for her daughter. I don't think the doctor told her how to give the little girl her medicine so I told her. I also told her to make sure she kept the girl warm," said Radcliffe.

"I wish I could have done more than I did, but there is only so much I am able to do."

Radcliffe is 24 years old and is from Orangeville, Ohio. He has been in the Army for four years and he volunteers at his hometown's fire department when he is on leave. When he enlisted he had already received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Kent State University, but he has decided he would like to go to medical school when his enlistment is over. "I"d like to be doctor someday or at least a registered nurse."

• Date Taken: 01.28.2006
• Date Posted: 01.28.2006 11:27
• Story ID: 5233
• Location: SAMARRA, IQ