Gunner's Blog

By Sgt. 1st Class Jamie Favreau
3rd Brigade Combat Team,
1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

BALAD, Iraq -- Iraqi citizens and coalition forces may speak different languages but they care for people all the same.

Dr. Riyad Sabri, an Iraqi doctor, and Maj. Paul Fleenor, along with other medics from 3-8 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, set up a medical care operation, known as a Cooperative Medical Engagement, for the people of the Al Audey Village inside the Rawashid district of the Diyala province, Dec. 23.

The mission was for Iraqi Army Soldiers along with coalition forces to screen the villagers by checking their vital signs and asking for health problems for Sabri to take a look at.

Sabri, the primary care giver for the operation, was assisted with medications and supplies provided by Soldiers from 3-8 CAB. It was because of the joint effort that they were able to screen and treat over 125 local villagers.

At first the local population came in slowly but after a few moments word had gotten out that the Iraq Army and coalition forces were here to help, said Staff Sgt. Ruben Garcia, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3-8 CAB. People started coming in more and more, and soon it was more than the medics had anticipated, he said.

“It was hard to keep count of everyone we treated,” added Garcia. “So we just kept going until supplies went out.”

To Garcia, it was a chance to show the Iraqi people that he and his fellow Soldiers care about the local’s health and they could trust the Soldiers, he said. The majority of the patients Sabri came across only had minor injuries or sickness, except for one – a small boy with an infected cut on his hand.

The boy, who had obtained the cut weeks ago, had not received any medical treatment for his wound. The cut was so infected that the infection was running up to his wrist. If the boy went untreated for as little as one more day, the chances of him losing his finger would have been greatly increased. The medics worked quickly to help the young boy and treat his wound.

If he keeps the wound clean and keeps taking his antibiotics, he will be fine, said Garcia.

Though Fleenor, head surgeon for 3-8 CAB, and his medics had their hands full with screening patients, they knew this operation was more about supporting the Iraqi doctor and giving the people in the village confidence in the ability of their local doctor to take care of them.

“It’s good to start working with the local doctors,” said Fleenor. “The people of Al Audey were very thankful.”

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I cannot understand why our government cannot understand that "nation building" takes decades, not months or years. Remember Germany, South Korea, and the others? In those countries, first we defeated the enemy militarily, and then over decades, we occupied those countries, and gradually turned governing over to the governments that we had helped them form.

Admittedly, we have made mistakes in the Middle East, but nothing like the one we are about to make, if the politicians have their way.

For the first time since Gulf War II started, I am beginning to believe that Osama bin Laden is right about our politicians - they just don't have the stomach or the will to continue a protracted engagement. Our troops are just as strong and determined as ever, but it might all have been for nothing.

I certainly hope not!

~gunner