Courtesy Photo | Spc. Joseph Urlacher, a Corpus Christi, Texas, native, who serves with the 836th...... read more read more
By Ray McNulty
926th Engineer Brigade, Public Affairs Office
BAGHDAD – While on patrol to Camp Victory, a crew member observed a small group of children in the Al Firdaw district gathered along the roadside around a small boy who appeared wounded and in pain Sept. 26, 2008.
The patrol stopped and a close examination revealed the boy had jagged cuts from a piece of glass.
"I noticed a knot of children gathered around a small boy who was writhing on the ground holding his foot up in the air," said Sgt. Kevin Creasy, squad leader, who was in the lead patrol truck, 836th Engineer Company, 890th Engineer Battalion, 926th Engineer Brigade, Multi-National Division – Baghdad.
The Soldiers stopped for a closer look and quickly noticed a young boy's foot covered in blood.
"I called the platoon leader about the situation we observed and recommended that we help out and have our medic examine the boy's foot," said Creasy, a native of Corpus Christi, Texas,
"I heard the little boy had a bloody foot and grabbed the medic bag not knowing what to expect," recalled Spc. Joseph Urlacher, of Corpus Christi, Texas, the platoon's medic 836th Engineer Company. "On examination the boy did not look like he was in a great deal of pain, but his excessive bleeding was a concern. I got a bottle of water and some antiseptic and began to clean and examine the wound. After cleansing the wounds made by broken glass, I bandaged the foot, secured the bandage and put his sandal back on."
The boy, a familiar sight on the route, said he was running alongside a convoy on Thunder Road in Al Firdaw when he stepped on broken glass that became lodged between his sandal and the ball of his left foot. That resulted in a shallow wound a half centimeter long that bled profusely.
1st. Lt. Jubal Grubb, an Austin, Texas native, who serves with the 836th Engineer Company, supervised the roadside first aid application and pronounced the boy "good to go".
With a smile and a wave, the boy shouted, "Shukran" (Thanks) as the patrol resumed its route. Following the incident, Urlacher said, "I am glad I could help that boy. I hope when he grows up he will remember the day some American soldiers helped him out. American helping Iraqis – that's what this is all about. "
Grubb agreed and pointed out "We saw an opportunity to do the right thing and we did. We treated the boy's wound and told his buddies not to chase convoys in the future. The foundation of long term peace and friendship between the US and Iraqis is built by the kind of action taken by Urlacher and the crew."
| Date Taken: | 10.07.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 10.07.2008 01:16 |
| Story ID: | 24600 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 568 |
| Downloads: | 520 |
This work, Patrol stops, applies first aid to Iraqi boy, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
