by Spc. Creighton Holub
CAB PAO, 4th Inf. Div.
CAMP TAJI, Iraq – While many of the heroic actions stemming from the 4th Infantry Division's Combat Aviation Brigade are performed in the skies of Baghdad, the base's support Soldiers performed gallantly when the Forward Operating Base came under attack by indirect fire Sept. 25
Four 120mm mortar rounds slammed into several locations within the brigade's area of operation, two of which injured 15 Soldiers and damaged several aircraft.
"I turned to see Soldiers running, some falling, and thick grayish-black smoke billowing about the hangars on the airfield," said Pvt. Courtney Kirk, who is assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Co., 4th Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment.
One of the injured Soldiers, Spc. Kristen Jensen, who is assigned to the CAB's Co. C, 2nd Bn., 4th Avn. Regt., said the events happened quickly and medics provided prompt response.
"I looked back and saw one of the guys on the ground. I immediately went back and pulled him behind one of the barriers. The medics were there in about three minutes. After the medics took over, I stepped back and let them work on him," said Jensen, whose unit served as the division's air medical evacuation company and was recently replaced by the 1st Cavalry Division's Company C, 2nd Squadron, 227th Aviation Regiment.
Kirk, an aviation operations specialist, said she ran to the impact area where she assisted Jensen in moving the wounded Soldier to safety. Jensen began first aid on the Soldier, with the help of two other Soldiers, while Kirk went for more assistance. The injured Soldier was among the first to be evacuated out of Camp Taji.
"They set up the site and treated the most (seriously) wounded," said Capt. Michelle Gradnigo, about the prompt response from the brigade's Troop Medical Clinic personnel. Gradnigo, the commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Combat Aviation Brigade, relayed information from the aid station to the brigade commander and the brigade's Tactical Operations Center.
She also grabbed the Area Defense Operations Cell personnel to help as litter bearers.
"We got (the most seriously wounded patients) to the flight line first," she said. "They were treated and evacuated in approximately 30 minutes from when they were received at the TMC."
Sgt. Curtis Owens, an aviation operations specialist assigned to HHC, 4th Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, explained that he, Jensen and Capt. Joshua Glendening, worked on the Soldier who Jensen and Kirk moved to safety until the combat medics arrived.
Everyone worked together as a team to render aid to their fellow Soldiers. In fact, one wounded Soldier rendered aid to his fellow Soldiers before medical personnel took over the scene.
"There was a sergeant who had a severe head wound rendering aid to a Soldier on the ground," Kirk said. "Blood was welling up in the sergeant's ear and yet he still was helping the Soldier. Every last Soldier was helping one another, and the injured were trying their best to help (their selves) – it was a sight to see."
The ambulatory patients walked to the clinic as the medics swarmed to the aid station.
"We ran out of the bus and set down our weapons," Spc. Irina Pooley said. "There were three patients on litters, and the doctors were already working on them. I ran into the TMC for supplies."
Pooley, who is a combat medic assigned to HHC, 1st Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, and another medic, were riding a bus to work when they saw the 1st Brigade Combat Team clinic preparing for a mass casualty incident.
After noticing the smoke and fire from a distance, their combat medic instincts kicked in the instant they arrived at the clinic. Pooley assisted the head medical provider and started IVs, fed oxygen to the patients and applied intravenous medications to them.
"It was like picking up a pen and writing a word," said Pooley, about how her training kicked in.
The event proved the value of training the Soldiers received before and during this deployment.
Earlier in the deployment, the CAB conducted a mass casualty exercise that ultimately proved effective for the real-world attack.
The exercise allowed the CAB medical personnel to practice their coordination, communication and trauma skills in a controlled environment, said Lt. Col. Jeffrey Hubert, CAB Flight Surgeon.
"We came and jumped right in," said Spc. Sarah McCall, a combat medic assigned to HHC, 4th Bn., 4th Avn. Regt. "I learned that the training does come in handy. I hated the National Training Center, but (the training) helped out over here."
The brigade also conducted unit-level training, which taught Soldiers what to do if the forward operating base came under attack. The unit-level training, which included Combat Lifesavers' Course, also proved useful as numerous Soldiers in the brigade were able to provide immediate care to injured Soldiers until they were seen by medical personnel.
"It was a great effort," Gradnigo added. "Even Col. (Donald) MacWillie, commander, CAB, was at the pad directing aircraft. We had some great noncommissioned officers and Soldiers doing their jobs well."