Medevac saves life

Photo By Spc. Micah Clare | During a rescue exercise, Sgt. Robert Cowdrey, a flight medic in Company C, 3rd Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division Combat Aviation Brigade, feeds the rope that will hoist a rescue sled into the Black Hawk helicopter on Forward Operating Base Salerno.  

02.06.2007

Story by Spc. Micah Clare 

4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division Public Affairs

Pfc. Micah E. Clare
4th BCT, 82nd Airborne Division PAO

Sgt. Robert Cowdrey, flight medic on board a UH-60 Blackhawk, headed 35 minutes away from FOB Salerno to help five casualties injured in a blast in eastern Afghanistan, Feb. 6.

Part of Company C, 3rd Battalion, Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, he is part of four air medical evacuation teams operating in Afghanistan that are responsible for providing medevac support for U.S. troops, members of the Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police, local nationals and contractors in the area surrounding Forward Operating Base Salerno in eastern Afghanistan.

Once on the ground, Cowdrey assessed and treated the most serious casualties, flying out one Soldier immediately to the nearest surgical facility, FOB Orgun-E.

The soldier had received severe shrapnel wounds and broken bones and later in the evening needed to be sent to another hospital for further surgery.

"He's in worse condition than when we delivered him," Cowdrey said of the soldier when they picked him up for the second time.

Cowdrey's team again airlifted the Soldier to a different hospital, helping to stabilize him on the way and saving his life.

Cowdrey's team received word many days later that the wounded soldier had made it back to the U.S. and was recovering.

"We definitely had an impact that saved this guy's life," said Cowdrey. "I never feel like I'm here to save the day," Cowdrey said. "I just hope I can do everything I can to keep them alive."

• Date Taken: 02.06.2007
• Date Posted: 02.21.2007 07:46
• Story ID: 9202