Photo By Staff Sgt. Marnie Jacobowitz | Senior Airman Lana Given, an optometrist technician at Scott Air Force Base, Ill.,...... read more read more
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CLARKSDALE, Miss. - The Mississippi Delta Region is the home of the blues, legendary blues clubs and charming southern hospitality, which attracts tourists and celebrities from all over country.
Over the summer, the Delta Region attracted the Bulldog soldiers of 4224th United States Army Hospital, Des Moines, Iowa, joined by airmen and sailors, to bring its residents medical and dental attention.
Service members of the Army Reserve, Air Force Reserve and active Army and Navy organized as Task Force Bull Dog, established the Mississippi Medical Project as five temporary clinics in eastern Arkansas and northwestern Mississippi.
The task force’s project is part of the Department of Defense Innovative Readiness Training Program, which combines military training with civilian social service needs, so that service members, in primarily the medical, engineering and transportation specialties, have the opportunity refine their skills, while providing services to local communities.
Col. Rhonda Moore, the task forces exercise director and the commander of the 4224th USAH, said she thinks the MMP is a great opportunity for service members to experience hand-on, real-world training.
“If I were to talk to a soldier about joining an Innovative Readiness Training next year, I would tell them it’s unlike any training you are have ever had before,” said the colonel, who is a native of Holloman Air Force Base, N.M.
Soldiers get up close and personal with the local civilian population, said Moore. It is also an chance to see different areas of the country and get immersed in different cultures. “It's training they won’t get at a reserve center.”
Command Sgt. Maj. Jennifer Burton, the senior enlisted adviser to Moore, said, the Delta Regional Authority, the federal agency created to organize federal services and projects in the region, selected the area within the Delta Region for the MMP to include Miss. towns of Clarksdale, Marks, Tunica and Rosedale and Helena, Ark.
Burton said, the residents received medical services ranging from free eye exams and, glasses, dental exams and minor oral surgery, in addition to screening for hypertension and diabetes. In addition personnel provided veterinary services.
At the end of the exercise, the more than 220 personnel treated more than 5,000 patients and more that 150 animal, said Burton, a native of Peoria, Ill. The command Sgt. Maj. said she heard many touching stories,
“I had spoken to a lady that was waiting to get her eyes checked,” she said. “She stated she hasn’t had new eye glasses made for herself in at least 15 years because she couldn’t afford it.”
The woman said with the new glasses, she can now read to her grandchildren and was excited about that fact she can spend more quality time with them.
“The people have been very welcoming and grateful of what we are doing down here,” she said.
James Brown Jr., a mechanic at Stringer International in Clarksdale, said he is just one of those people whom are truly people truly grateful for the medical service provided during MMP.
Brown, a native of Shelby, Miss., said he heard about MMP from a friend and decided to check it out, because he needed some teeth pulled and his eyes checked.
“People around here don’t have money and can’t get their medication, Brown said. “I’m glad the military is here because it help me out a whole lot!”
Brown, a 61-year-old retired farmer, said he has never been to the eye doctor.
“We don’t get this every day, said Brown. “This is going to be the talk of the town. Everybody is glad.”
Spc. Taylor Coons, a medical supply specialist assigned to the 4224th USAH, a Detachment 1, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, said it was the first time he participated in this type of mission and he felt great about it.
It was definitely an eye-opening experience, said Coons. “I learned, I take a lot of things for granted.”
Coons, a native of Anamosa, Iowa, said he was surprised that so many Delta residents have never seen a doctor before.
“Just being down here for a couple of weeks you can change someone’s life.”
| Date Taken: | 07.14.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 12.31.2013 17:04 |
| Story ID: | 118711 |
| Location: | CLARKSDALE, MISSISSIPPI, US |
| Hometown: | ANAMOSA, IOWA, US |
| Hometown: | HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, NEW MEXICO, US |
| Hometown: | PEORIA, ILLINOIS, US |
| Hometown: | SHELBY, MISSISSIPPI, US |
| Web Views: | 100 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Giving back to the Delta Region, by SSG Marnie Jacobowitz, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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