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KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Deployments often afford service members an opportunity to experience situations and perform duties outside of their comfort zone. One person who has broadened his skill set during his tour in Afghanistan is U.S. Navy Hospitalman James Q. Beheler.
As an active-duty sailor from Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Va., with only two years in the service, Beheler experienced a lot in his seven months with the Kunar Provincial Reconstruction Team.
As a corpsman, Beheler from Roanoke, Va., works with a forward surgical team operating a Level II care facility at Forward Operating Base Wright. He said he was prepared for many of things he has seen at the facility, others, he was not.
“It’s been real busy at times,” Beheler said of the mission. “When we’ve got operations going on in our area many casualties will come in through our FST. They’ll use anyone with medical experience to help, and I really wasn’t prepared for that. I’m used to seeing things in the field, not seeing things in a clinical setting. That took some getting used to.”
Beheler, who already received an Army Commendation Medal with Valor for saving the life of a fellow PRT member who suffered a gunshot wound, said being on patrols is still the most challenging aspect of his job.
“When you’re out doing missions, we are that medical asset,” Beheler said. “I know that I can fight my way to you, treat you and fight my way back with you. There’s only one medical corpsman on the crew, so you better know what you’re doing.”
U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Lynn Redman of San Antonio, nurse practitioner with the Kunar PRT said she's impressed with Beheler’s performance. She said she is so confident with the work he does, she would trust him to treat one of her children.
“He’s handled everything very concisely,” Redman said. “He’s consistent. He’s bottom line. I don’t have to wonder about him. He is my lowest-ranking corpsman, but he is a hard-charger. He’s very knowledgeable. He should have been a doctor.”
Beheler said one of the best things he experienced has been the people he worked with and the friends he made within the unit.
U.S. Army Sgt. Patrick Johnson, of Worcester, Mass., a medic with the PRT who not only works with Beheler, but is also a mentor and good friend, said Beheler is not only a good medic, but he is a great listener and learner. He said this experience will help Beheler in the future.
“He’s been a delightful subordinate,” Johnson said. “He’s quick to listen, learn and volunteer and that is at the core of being a great corpsman. He’s going to leave here with so much knowledge. He’s also become a close, personal friend of mine. I’m proud to have met and known him.”
Beheler said his teammates are great to work with and made his experience rewarding.
“I couldn’t have asked for any better people to work with,” Beheler said. “There are three corpsmen and one Army medic. We all have our little specialty. We work really, really well together. There’s a mutual respect there, that has a lot to do with it too. We actually care about one another.”
| Date Taken: | 04.14.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 05.01.2011 16:48 |
| Story ID: | 69661 |
| Location: | KUNAR PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: | 321 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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