A token of appreciation

Photo By Sgt. Dennis Gravelle | This coin that represents an identification tag is given to all injured Soldiers, American and Iraqi that are treated at the 47th Combat Support Hospital at Logistical Staging Area Diamondback. Col. James Polo from Colorage Springs, Colo. personally give one to each Soldier as he makes his daily rounds.  

MOSUL, IRAQ

05.02.2006

Story by Sgt. Dennis Gravelle 

138th Public Affairs Detachment

MOSUL, Iraq - At the 47th Combat Support Hospital on Logistical Staging Area Diamondback, Mosul, Iraq, one commander goes out of his way to recognize wounded Soldiers treated by his staff.

Colonel James Polo, commander, 47th CSH and native from Colorado Springs, Colo. personally gives every injured Soldier who comes to his hospital a coin that resembles a traditional military identification tag in appreciation of their service in a combat zone.

"I give every Soldier that comes through our facility, whether it's an American or Iraqi Soldier, a coin and thank them for their service and for what they have done," Polo said.

According to Polo, when he first heard he was getting deployed, he read an article about an injured Soldier who did not know who treated him.

"I didn't want Soldiers who came into our hospital to not know they had been treated by a member of my staff," Polo said.

According to Polo, the first thing he did was give a coin to every single staff member who works at the hospital.

"It reminds them why we are here in the first place and the significant importance of what it means to treat injured Soldiers," he said.

According to Polo, the hospital motto is "Dedicated To Life." The coin is engraved with, The 47th Combat Support Hospital, Battlefield Medicine, The best there is, and their unit crest with their motto.

"I wanted the Iraqi patients to know that this medical unit is dedicated to all life, American, Iraqi, regardless of race, religion or color," Polo said.

Polo said he goes to the hospital every morning and every evening and makes rounds on his own and gets to talk with all the patients and personally hands them a coin.

"This forces me to remind myself of the kind of patients we see everyday so I don't lose sight of what I need to do to command a hospital," Polo said. "It also holds me accountable to make sure my folks are doing what they do everyday, which is providing excellent medical care."

Polo said the thing about coins is that they are just a small token of appreciation to someone for a service of excellence, and Soldiers love getting coins.

"I'm hopeful that all the patients we treat Iraqi or otherwise, feel we made a difference," Polo said. "I'm also hopeful that my Soldiers really feel that what they did made a difference."

• Date Taken: 05.02.2006
• Date Posted: 05.02.2006 10:07
• Story ID: 6217
• Location: MOSUL, IQ