A Battery delivers medical care before Christmas

Courtesy Photo | BAGHDAD -- Staff Sgt. Clifton Williams, of 3rd Battalion, 6th Field Artillery hands an Iraqi man toothbrushes during a medical civil action program in a rural farming community on the outskirts of western Baghdad. The project, which treated over 150 patients from the area, involved three U.S. physicians, one Iraqi physician, and several medics from 3-6 FA and the 10th Brigade Support Battalion. (U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. John R. Rozean, 1/10th Mountain Division Public Affairs).  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

01.01.2006

Courtesy Story

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By Staff Sgt. John R. Rozean
1st Brigade Combat Team Journalist

BAGHDAD, IRAQ -- Some Soldiers come to Iraq with a very simple goal -- make it through the tour and return to the States, safely. The Soldiers of 1/10th Mountain, A Battery, 3rd Battalion, 6th Field Artillery (FA) have set their aspirations much higher.

"When we came over here," said A Battery Commander Capt. Frtiz Keel, "we came over under the idea that we wanted to help the people of Iraq."

The unit spends most of it's time patrolling a sector of Baghdad that consisting of a small rural farming community, just outside of the Camp Liberty installation. But Keel and his troops set their standards of "helping" a bit higher.

"I think that one of the ways we can best benefit (the Iraqi civilians) is by providing them the limited medical support that we have here in the battalion," said Keel.

The field artillery unit brought some of the people, from this small Iraqi community, located west of Baghdad, an early Christmas gift on Dec. 22. The unit provided limited health care and gave away such things as, hygiene products, toys, clothing and school supplies.

"I enjoy doing this," said Capt. James Mitchell, the 3-6 FA a battalion medical officer. "This is probably the fun part of the job where you get out and you get a chance to help people who may not other wise get any chance to get access to any health care. So, I enjoy being able to do that."

This FA unit is not assigned civil affairs assets -- Army personnel and resources specifically designed for these types of medical civil action programs. The battalion uses what medical personnel and resources it has; medics and physician assistants to get the job done. And on occasion, they ask favors from other 1/10th Mountain "docs." Medics and physicians from Company C, 10th Brigade Support Battalion went along for the ride to help out on the Dec. 22 MEDCAP.

"I think it went really well," said Mitchell "and I appreciate all the help and the support from the people we have out here,"

This is the second time the unit has done this since they arrived in Iraq four months ago, and they plan to do it again. "Once a month is what we are shooting for," said Keel.

"This is definitely one of the more fulfilling missions out here on this deployment," said Pfc. Seth Musikant, a 3-6 FA medic, 'specially being a medic, because you actually feel like you are contributing something major to the people."

"I feel great about it," said Sgt. Winston Johnson, who was in charge of security at one of the perimeter gates during the MEDCAP. "We get to do something different now so it is a nice change of pace."

Johnson said his typical missions in the area of operations involve seeking out threats to the Iraqi people and coalition forces. "The Iraqi people in this area 'see us everyday but they don't get to see us as much in this atmosphere," he said. They usually observe 3-6 FA Soldiers "walking through their homes and their yards going after people who aren't supposed to be there. I think we are doing good things out here.

By the end of the day the unit was able to see more than 150 patients from the area, and distributed nearly all the medication that they lugged out to the site.

"Everything that we thought we had enough for we did," said Musikant. "But we just about ran out, which is a good thing because we are pretty much done and we have seen the bulk of the community"

Upon returning to base camp, the Soldiers began to plan for the next time. "We wanted to capture what went well so we can apply that to the next MEDCAP," said Keel.

"It is a pleasure to do this kind of stuff for the Iraqi people," said Keel. "We look forward to doing it again soon."

• Date Taken: 01.01.2006
• Date Posted: 01.01.2006 14:59
• Story ID: 4250
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ