TF 1-163 Treats Over 100 Villagers During Medical Assistance Visit

Courtesy Photo | A Task Force 1-163 Infantry soldier holds a fist full of gummy worms while Iraqi children try to grab them during a medical assistance visit to the village of Husseinia, Iraq, August 1  

KIRKUK, IRAQ

08.15.2005

Courtesy Story

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FOB WARRIOR, Iraq -- Soldiers from the 116th Brigade Combat Team's Task Force 1-163 Infantry delivered much-needed medical care to the village of Husseinia, Iraq, August 1.

The medical assistance visit (MAV) was done at the remote village because of the lack of availability of medical care. Many smaller villages in the western portion of Kirkuk Province are far from hospitals and medical clinics.

"The visit was intended to be a mini-MAV but it turned out to be a full-blown MAV," said Capt. Jeff Westfall, the TF 1-163 Infantry officer who reported the visit's success. "We were expecting maybe 30 patients, but we ended up with over 100."

According to TF 1-163 Infantry, some villagers may not see health care professionals for years at a time, making it tough on the community and particularly the young. The Task Force also credits the success of the visit to the improved security provided by an ever-growing number of Iraqi security forces in the area.

Helping bring critical services to Iraqis in the province of Kirkuk is part of the 116th Brigade Combat Team's mission while deployed in north central Iraq. The unit's mission also includes assisting Iraq's new government, supporting economic development, facilitating communications and improving general security.

The 116th BCT is comprised of headquarters and staff sections, two armor battalions, a mechanized infantry battalion, a support battalion, a field artillery battalion, an engineer battalion, and various intelligence, signal, and specialized units. The 116th BCT is one of several Army National Guard units deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III.

• Date Taken: 08.15.2005
• Date Posted: 08.15.2005 17:54
• Story ID: 2733
• Location: KIRKUK, IQ