Photo By Macy Harris | LT Yahalom returned from a deployment in Kandahar and brought with him a flag and...... read more read more
In May 2019, Lt. Joshua Yahalom, a physical therapist at Naval Health Clinic Hawaii (NHCH), returned from a six month deployment to Afghanistan with more than new memories and eye-opening experiences. He returned with a token of his deployment in tow and a more enhanced appreciation for the command.
On July 12, 2019, Yahalom presented Capt. Kimberly Zuzelski, commanding officer at NHCH, a framed flag and coin in the courtyard of the Shipyard Clinic.
“In a sense, it is simple; it’s the American flag with my unit’s coin,” explained Yahalom. “But really it means so much more to me. I wanted to present this flag to the command as a token of my appreciation. NHCH is my first command as a licensed physical therapist and the command has gone out of its way to help mentor me both as a sailor and as a physical therapist.”
Despite being located thousands of miles away, Yahalom felt supported and still part of the NHCH family throughout his deployment.
“NHCH has had my back from day one and went out of their way to get my prepared for the deployment,” said Yahalom “Given that it was my first deployment, I really had no idea what to expect, but the team at HQ were in regular contact with me ensuring I completed all my training, had my records up to date, and briefed me on what to expect.”
While deployed, Yahalom had the opportunity to pay homage to NHCH by flying the flag outside the NATO Role III hospital in Kandahar.
“The hospital had a flagpole outside our front doors with colors performed daily,” said Yahalom. “The command had its own flag to fly, though if individuals wanted to purchase a flag and fly it for a particular person (or command), they could purchase one and request to have it flown on a specific date.”
Now, Yahalom’s piece of his journey hangs in the Command Suite office at the Headquarters/Shipyard Clinic as a reminder of the mission and people we serve.
| Date Taken: | 10.04.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 10.04.2019 15:19 |
| Story ID: | 346100 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, HI, US |
| Web Views: | 161 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, NHCH Physical Therapist Pays Homage to Home Command while Deployed, by Macy Harris, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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