by Spc. Joseph Rivera Rebolledo
3rd Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division
BAGHDAD – Iraqi army soldiers conducted a combined medical assessment in the southern portion of the Sadr City District of Baghdad on April 17.
The operation was supported by Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, which is currently attached to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National-Division – Baghdad, by providing citizens with essential medicines and personal hygiene supplies at Joint Security Station Tharwa 1.
For the assessment, Iraqi security forces provided military and civilian doctors to ensure visitors received medical supplies and were not in need of immediate or critical medical care.
Among the attendees were citizens ranging from the very young to the elderly.
During the event, the ISF had the opportunity to deal directly with the Iraqi citizens as they showed the people they can care for them. The assessment brought more than 400 citizens in less than two hours, making the event a successful one.
"It really turned out good; it was successful and turned out better than I thought," said Capt. Ryan Mendenhall, a native of Ephraim, Utah, who serves as the fire support officer for the HHC, 1-2 SCR.
Mendenhall said he was surprised by how quickly the people reacted and came to the project.
"This is just a small step to let the people know that we are not here to destroy a home. There is a lot of work ahead of us, and we will continue doing it; eventually, it will pay off," Mendenhall said.
For others, the amount of people who attended the assessment was unbelievable, due to the gunfire that could be heard in the distance.
"It exceeded my expectations; I didn't expect anybody to show up because what was going on," said Sgt. 1st Class Lawrue Bush, a native of Cleveland, who serves as the fire support NCO with HHC, 1-2 SCR. For the ISF and Soldiers of the HHC, 1-2 SCR, this is not the end for this mission.
The Soldiers are expecting the next assessment to be a bigger, and they are preparing to get more supplies, said Bush.
The combined efforts are geared toward helping to improve the location where the assessment was conducted.
"Hopefully the next one is a little bit better," Bush said.