Photo By Staff Sgt. Cory Grogan | Maj. Claudiu Popescu, a medical doctor in the Romanian Land Forces, pauses for a photo...... read more read more
Subscribe
Maj. Claudiu Popescu, a medical doctor in the Romanian Land Forces, speaks with emotion when he talks about being honored with a U.S. flag in Afghanistan for his collaborative work with U.S. Soldiers in a military hospital.
Popescu said he has many proud moments in his military career serving as a combat doctor in Afghanistan. The flag he was awarded stands as a symbol of the pride he takes in the cooperative work and partnerships that are part of what makes being a doctor in the military so special.
“In 2003 and 2005 the collaboration was good and I am very proud to be the person who received a flag,” Popescu said. “The award says that it is on behalf of the U.S. men and women fighting for their colors, and I am very proud of that.”
He said he has witnessed much on two deployments to Afghanistan in 2005 and 2013 and one to Kosovo in 2003, and is proud of the work he does as a doctor. Popescu enjoys the partnerships and camaraderie his military service has provided.
Popescu is again working with the U.S. at Exercise Saber Guardian in Cincu, Romania. Saber Guardian 2016 is a multinational military exercise involving approximately 2,800 military personnel from ten nations. Popescu said his relationship with the American medical team at Saber Guardian has become very close.
“My team and their team are working together, and it was my decision to make it a mixed team here because I know we can learn from each other,” he said.
Maj. Edward Eve, a physician assistant with the 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team, Idaho National Guard, comprised of units from Idaho, Montana and Oregon, said there has been cohesiveness working with Romanian counterparts, and that Popescu plays a key role in enabling that.
“He is very knowledgeable and great to work with,” Eve said of Popescu.
Popescu said no one in his family had served in the military prior to him, but that as a young boy he was inspired to become a doctor in the military.
“I heard a story that is part of Romanian history about the father of Romanian military medicine, Carol Davila, whose work formed the basis of military medicine, and who was also a parent of Romanian medicine,” Popescu explained. “It inspired me to attend the military institute of medicine in Romania.”
Popescu takes his job seriously knowing lives are on the line.
“It is our work and our mission to save lives, we don’t want anything to happen, but when it does we want to be ready,” he said. “There are different moments, different places, different people, but the base for the American and Romanian partnership remains very solid.”
| Date Taken: | 08.05.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 08.05.2016 10:00 |
| Story ID: | 206192 |
| Location: | RO |
| Web Views: | 307 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Romanian doctor proud to serve with U.S. and others, by SSG Cory Grogan, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT