Medical Maintenance Technician

Photo By Sgt. Cassandra Groce | Spc. Michael Leinweber, a resident of Willoughby, Oh., removes screwed from a generator so he can work on the interior. Leinweber is a Medical Equipment Repairer, and has been deployed since September.  

TIKRIT, IRAQ

12.30.2005

Courtesy Story

133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

PFC Cassandra Groce
133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

TIKRIT, Iraq (December 27, 2004) -- It's often the little things that get overlooked by people in a fast-moving environment, but little things can lead to big results in Iraq.

For Army Spc. Michael Leinweber, his mission in Iraq revolves around small gadgets. Leinweber is a Medical Maintenance Technician in the 626th Brigade Support Battalion, supporting the Rakkasans of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team. He deployed to Iraq in September and spends his days working on the delicate wires, circuits and gadgets in machinery.

Recently, as the sole medical systems maintenance technician for the BCT, he flew to nearby FOB Summerall to support a surgical team that was in need of his services. The surgical team's generators had a power surge that had damaged electrical systems on critical medical equipment.

"This makes it sound a lot simpler than it is, but in this caseâ?¦ a fuse popped," said Leinweber. "You just replace the fuse, and sometimes you have to replace a circuit board."

Leinweber worked for 36 hours straight to ensure the vital medical equipment was up and running. Before he quit, the surgical team asked him to look at their X-ray machine, which was taking poor images.

A few hours after Leinweber fixed the machine, a patient was rushed to the team. The team took a chest X-ray of the patient that revealed a collapsed lung. Initially the medical team did not think his lung had collapsed. It was only after using the recently repaired X-ray machine that they were able to see the collapsed lung.

The team later informed Leinweber and his First Sergeant that, thanks to his continuous dedication to complete the repairs, he had helped save the Soldier's life,.

"It feels good knowing the stuff I fix impacts somebody's life," said Leinweber. "You take more pride in your work."

• Date Taken: 12.30.2005
• Date Posted: 12.30.2005 14:08
• Story ID: 4238
• Location: TIKRIT, IQ