Cavalry Soldiers provide aid to injured Iraqi man injured during insurgent mortar attack

Photo By Spc. Courtney Marulli | 1st Lt. Jamison E. Gaddy, a physician's assistant for 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, attached to the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, helps an injured Iraqi man in the Shuada north area of eastern Baghdad, Oct. 18. Gaddy, a native of Camden, Del., has taken the injured man under his wing after he received injuries from an insurgent mortar attack 6 months ago.  

FORWARD OPERATING BASE COBRA, IRAQ

10.22.2007

Story by Spc. Courtney Marulli 

2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division

By Spc. Courtney E. Marulli
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division Public Affairs

COMBAT OUTPOST COBRA, Iraq — When a taxi driver in the Shuada north area of eastern Baghdad was injured in a mortar attack directed by insurgents at coalition forces six months ago, his situation may have been hopeless were it not for the efforts of Soldiers in 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry, based out of Fort Hood, Texas, but operating in the Iraqi capital attached to 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.

Soldiers in Company C, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry have been helping the man and his family for more than six months.

Capt. Miguel A. Juarez, commander of Company C, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry, said the man would help the coalition forces repair water lines that had been ruptured and was friendly when he saw Soldiers.

Juarez, a native of Brownsville, Texas, said after the man was injured he left the area for fear of mortars. But, now that things have quieted down, he has returned and is in need of aid to help feed his family.

"Every now and then we drop off food and water and clothing for the kids," Juarez said.

The man, his wife and six children are saddled with the burden of unemployment. His taxi was destroyed in the mortar attack and because of his injuries he will be out of work for some time.

1st Lt. Jamison E. Gaddy, a physician's assistant for 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry, said the man broke his femur and received shrapnel wounds to his leg. The break was bad, and, due to a poor diet, Gaddy said the man's recovery is going to be slow.

Instead of a cast, doctors inserted an external fixator to the man's leg, which will give his bone support while it's healing.

Company C is providing the man basic supplies, but is also educating the man and his family on how to keep his wounds clean, Gaddy said.

Gaddy, a native of Camden, Del., said Company C brought him out to see the man because he is still in pain after six months.

"I gave him some medicine for the pain," Gaddy said. The man also received multivitamins and calcium tablets.

When doctors set the bone it wasn't aligned 100 percent, which Gaddy said wouldn't have been easy due to the extent of the break. However, due to not being exactly aligned, there is a non-union of the bone and so it's not healing.

"The man's muscles are also weak," Gaddy said. "I wanted to show him exercises he can do to keep the leg muscles. He had a lot of muscle atrophy."

Gaddy said some of his exercise suggestions included walking on crutches at least a few minutes a day, and working his legs can also promote bone growth.

"I don't get the impression that he's feeling sorry for himself," Gaddy said. Helping the man was both rewarding and frustrating for Gaddy.

"It's frustrating too because you can't pay to go get his care," he said. "If I could I'd sponsor him to get his $10 visit."

Gaddy said the Soldiers in Company C are the reason the man and his family have made it this far during his recovery.

"They have been involved in his follow-up care since it happened," Gaddy said. "They have done a lot to take care of that family or else they wouldn't be here."

• Date Taken: 10.22.2007
• Date Posted: 10.22.2007 09:46
• Story ID: 13156
• Location: FORWARD OPERATING BASE COBRA, IQ