Samarra Hospital

Photo By Sgt. Cassandra Groce | A local Muslim priest, the head of the Iraqi hospital and 2nd Lt. Palmer discuss issues their area of Samarra has been facing with terrorists. American Soldiers frequently visit the hospitals and listen to Iraqi complaints.  

SAMARRA, IRAQ

11.18.2005

Courtesy Story

133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

PFC Cassandra Groce
133rd MPAD
11 November 2005

SAMARRA, IRAQ -- When first pulling up to Olson, a patrol outpost near Samarra, the scene that greets you is not a typical sprawling military camp. The dominating building of this small frontier looks a lot like a fort built by boys playing war games.

However, the boys of the 1st of the 33rd Cavalry, Charlie Company, from Fort Campbell, Ky., are hardly playing games in this dangerous zone that is still exhibiting civil unease.

Soldiers live in an old hotel-casino turned barracks and get hot meals four days a week. The rest of the week they have food from a well-stocked kitchen.

Soldiers here may seem to have their work cut out for them in this large city where posters telling Iraqis not to help Americans are the smallest of their worries.

However, despite the pockets of insurgents hiding out, Soldiers still work at proving their good-will towards Iraqis.

One of their most common missions is making sure the hospitals in Samarra are well stocked and have what provisions the doctors need. Thursday, a small group of Soldiers delivered surgical scrubs, IV bags, catheters and splints to one of the local hospitals.

"We didn't know how developed their hospital care was," said Spc. Darnell Herd, a medic in the 1/33. "We told them next time we come to tell us (what they need) and we'll make sure to give it to them."

"Sometimes they ask us to take care of their families," said Herd seemingly distraught over the situation. "They don't have that many resources. I feel bad for them."

In addition to the delivery of supplies, the Iraqi police were also checked. Greg Rotman, a civilian contractor with the DOD and the Iraqi police liaison, went with the Soldiers to talk to a group of Iraqis who guard the hospital.

"The Iraqi police were there, which was a plus," said Rotman. "Sometimes they aren't there."

The military works very closely with the Iraqi police in this area helping them transition to controlling their own areas.

"We go out every morning and go to the stations to see what they're doing," said Rotman. "We see how many police are on duty, meet with their officers and see what they have scheduled for the day."

The military and civilian contractors also try to help the Iraqis with any problems they are having difficulties solving.

"We sometimes go on missions with the police and try to help them get training where we see something is deficient," said Rotman.

All of these efforts go towards transferring power to Iraqi people so that they become more self-sufficient.

"We just try to be a helping hand," Rotman said.

Over the last five months, the relationships between Americans and Iraqis are slowly becoming more and more trusting.

"The relationship ebbs and flows, but I think right now it's pretty good," said Rotman who has been in Samarra for the last five months. "They seem to know we're here to help."

The 1/33 has only been in Samarra for about two months, but they will continue to help the Iraqi people in whatever way they can - hoping that soon the Iraqis will be able to completely police their own city.

• Date Taken: 11.18.2005
• Date Posted: 11.18.2005 16:46
• Story ID: 3795
• Location: SAMARRA, IQ