NACO, Honduras – Soldiers with the U.S. Army Reserve are now running a dental clinic in Naco and expect to see hundreds of patients in the coming days.
The soldiers, who serve with the Twinsburg, Ohio-based 912 Dental Area Support Company, have set up a clinic complete with operating stations and triage areas, said Col. Thomas Dundon, the company’s commander.
“It was a typical first day, getting our equipment and supplies ready,” said Dundon, of Cleveland. “We’ve seen a lot of patients and anticipate seeing a lot more as we begin to move more efficiently.”
The unit has done this type of mission before, Dundon said.
“Last year, we went to Alaska,” Dundon said. “It was an austere environment, north of Fairbanks.”
Such training missions are beneficial for the unit’s soldiers, many of whom deployed to support Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2009, said Staff Sgt. Tim White, of Columbus, Ohio.
“It’s especially good training for soldiers who haven’t done it before,” White said. “Our soldiers enjoy it.”
The soldiers are a part of Beyond the Horizon 2012, a U.S. Army South-sponsored mission, is a partnership with Honduras aimed at medical, veterinary, dental and engineering services to the area.
Before the dental team arrived, fellow task force soldiers working in civil affairs had already put out flyers to spread work to locals that a free dental clinic would be available, White said. The company’s first four soldiers hit the ground running last week and set up the clinic in only three days.
“We’ve done some extractions, some fillings, and a lot of cleanings,” White said. “It’s been great – it’s a great working environment and the people are very welcoming.”
White estimates the clinic will see more around 900 patients in the coming days.
“Over the next few days, as word of mouth spreads, we’ll get more patients,” Dundon said. “The 912th stands ready, anywhere in the world, to provide dental care to soldiers and indigenous population.”
The Beyond the Horizon-Honduras mission is scheduled to end in early July.
| Date Taken: | 06.27.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 06.27.2012 13:14 |
| Story ID: | 90693 |
| Location: | HN |
| Web Views: | 99 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Reserve soldiers start dental clinic as part of Beyond the Horizon mission, by Maj. John Quin, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
