By Pfc. Kasey Lea
1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division are helping to advance the medical coverage for all Iraqis in the area in northwest Rashid.
An emergency room was opened Nov. 24 through partnership between the citizens of Furat and Task Force 1-28 "Black Lions" from Fort Riley, Kan.
With the hard work of the Black Lion medical platoon and "Operation Ruby Slippers", TF 1-28 was able to donate three large pallets of needed medical supplies to the Furat General Hospital.
"Operation Ruby Slippers" is a charitable organization out of Kansas that donated medical supplies and school supplies to Iraqis after more than 18 months, collecting supplies in eastern Kansas.
The opening of the hospital has created job openings for multiple Iraqis in the surrounding neighborhoods. Plans are currently in the works to open clinics across Northwest Rashid and staff them according to the population densities in the areas.
Those attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony included Harker Heights, Texas native Col. Ricky D. Gibbs, the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Commander, Col. Leo Tucker, the Multi-national Corps- Iraq Surgeon, Lt. Col. Jason Wieman, the Multi-national Division-Baghdad Surgeon, and Maj. Brian Derrick, the Dragon Brigade Surgeon. Other attendees included key leaders of the Black Lions to include Capt. Brian Ducote, 1st Sgt. Gerald Cornell, and the Soldiers of Company B, 1-28 Inf.
The Black Lion medical team was represented by Maj. Adrian Ortiz, the Battalion Surgeon, and Capt. John King, the Battalion Physician's Assistant.