Troop Shirts

Troop Shirts
Previous
Message
From the Troops
Troop Shirts
Next
Message
From the Troops
Soho FDNY
Ladder20.com
Troop Shirts
Table Of
Contents

<<--------<<

 >>------->>

MEDCAP
Article submitted by Kevin J. McMahon
118th ASMB and MEDCAP During Operation IRAQI Freedom II
Mon, 17 May 2004
Streets of Baghdad
Many positive things are happening throughout Iraq. One of these is called MEDCAP’s, (Medical Civic Action Programs). Recently, the 118th Medical Battalion (Area Support) from Newington, CT. in conjunction with the Civil Affairs from the 13th COSCOM (Corps Support Command), both headquartered at LSA Anaconda, Balad, IRAQ, sponsored a MEDCAP at one of our local villages. On May 11, 2004, a convoy of 10 vehicles, complete with security elements, Doctors, and Physician Assistants headed, as we call it, "outside the wire".

To travel outside the wire, leaving the Base Camp, requires quite a large amount of prior planning. This particular MEDCAP was two weeks in the planning stages, with soldiers from six different units involved. There must be a convoy commander, head of the security element, and also the chief of medical services to be provided. This is truly a culmination of the training we received at MOB Station, as well as at Udari R ange in Kuwait prior to heading North into Iraq.

The major difference between a MEDCAP in a Theater of war, and ones that we have participated with in the past is largely due to the level of threat. When conducting a MEDCAP, or MEDRET, in South America, such as Nicaragua, we can plan with the local village and have it extremely organized prior to the event itself. When conducting a MEDCAP in IRAQ, we do not have the luxury of letting the townspeople know that we are coming, the Civil Affairs folks will coordinate with the local mayor so that a place may be established that is suitable for the activity. Then when the day arrives, our group arrives at the village, our perimeter security is established immediately, and then we quickly set-up a clinic. Not quite like the ones we have back home.

On this particular day we had our new dentist, COL (Dr) Mark Chun from Hawaii, with us as well.
MEDCAP 010_1 medbrush2004-05-13.jfif_1
Left: Dr. Mark Chun performing dental exam Right: Elizabeth Jarry, a dental hygienist at Balad Air Base, Iraq, shows villagers of all ages how to brush their teeth during a recent Medical Civic Action Project at a small village in Balad.
His mission was more education and training and preventive dental care, rather than trying to fix dental problems, we could only stay on the ground three hours before we had to be prepared to leave.

In the clinical setting we were fortunate to have LTC (Dr) Rick Young, Chief of pediatrics from St Raphael Hospital in New Haven,
MEDCAP 001_1 Dr. Rick Young with local child
and CPT Dave Lang, one of our Physicians Assistants.
MEDCAP 038_1 Dave Lang performing exam
“The biggest problem we face in providing treatment is the language barrier” said LTC Young. Although we were able to bring along two DOD sponsored interpreters, we also used the skills of our own SGT Tanya Williams, who speaks Arabic, she became very helpful in speaking with the local women regarding health care issues.
John Cinco, 332nd Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility flight surgeon at Balad Air Base, Iraq, checks an infant Iraqi girl's breathing during a recent Medical Civic Action Project, or MEDCAP
During the three hours we actually had to provide care, our providers managed to see approximately 100 patients. The actual numbers are very difficult to acquire, due to the fact that when we try to treat one patient, it seems the whole family has individual needs. Once the village realized why we were there, the lines formed within twenty minutes, which created one of our biggest duties, crowd control.

Although it will soon average 120 degrees, every soldier who was involved in this mission said they hope to be involved in the next one. As we (118 Med Bn) continue with our missions throughout this country, from Turkey to Kuwait, just remember that there are large amounts of good happening in this part of the world, and hopefully the television and print media alike will begin to show it to the rest of the world. THANKS

MEDCAP 002_1
Well Kevin, even if they don't, we will! Thank YOU!


Troop Shirts
Previous
Message
From the Troops
Troop Shirts
Next
Message
From the Troops
Soho FDNY
Ladder20.com
Troop Shirts
Table Of
Contents

<<--------<<

 >>------->>