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We’ve just visited Camp Speicher near Tikrit -- Sadam Hussein’s hometown -- as we continue reporting on medical care by the U.S. military. The tent hospital here is now staffed by the 399th Combat Support Hospital (CSH – or “cash” in military speak.) This is a reserve unit out of Boston, mostly Massachusetts folks, followed by many from Ohio and several other states. They tend to be older and less military in their bearing than their full-time Armed Forces colleagues, but they are certainly no different in their fierce dedication to patient care.
We heard this Sunni area was quiet now. It certainly was not during our visit. Many Medivac helicopters landed — some with warning, others with none.
As the CSH medics roll out their stretchers on big wheels (called “rickshaws”) to one of the choppers, the helicopter medic hands over four horribly wounded Iraqi men guarded by four U.S. soldiers.
The doctors, nurses and medics move calmly but very quickly to determine what is wrong. One of the Iraqi’s legs is hanging off and he is bleeding massively from internal injuries. The doctors rush him into surgery. Some of the other wounded scream out with moans so loud it is hard for the medical staff to hear each other.
While the life-saving efforts continue, an intelligence specialist starts to determine what happened –- almost never an easy task in these first minutes in the emergency room, but the story emerges. A U.S. helicopter spotted two men planting improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at the side of the road. The men ran away from their own car and hijacked a second car and tried to flee. The helicopter opened fire, hitting the two insurgents and two other men who had been in the hijacked car. The insurgents’ abandoned car is full of explosive devices and a video camera to record their planned destruction of U.S. troops. The other two Iraqis seem to be among the many who are simply caught accidentally in the battle.
After the helicopter fired, a team of soldiers called a Quick Reaction Force, arrived on the scene and its medics administered first aid to all four and called for the Medivac helicopter.
In the emergency room at the CSH, the first case is one of the insurgents who is still bleeding so much that surgeons give him 30 units of transfused blood in a matter of minutes – almost depleting the hospital’s supply. An urgent call goes out at the base for blood donors and within minutes several dozen U.S. soldiers form a long line. The soldiers are not told who will get the blood, but I ask one what he thinks if it goes to an insurgent. “A life is a life,” he replies. “We have an obligation to save him no matter what he did to us.”
Not long after, an ambulance from Tikrit arrives with an Iraqi policeman shot in the head by a sniper. The staff struggles to save him, performing CPR, pushing air into his lungs, and transfusing blood. But after 15 minutes of struggle, the doctor in charge sees large amounts of brain matter flowing out and declares the man “expectant” -– meaning he will die soon. “That is really tough,” the doctor tells me later. “These guys are on our side.”
Then a call comes in about a U.S. soldier arriving on a helicopter with a “head wound.” The staff prepares. But when the chopper unloads it turns out to be a hip wound, and a mild one at that. Such missed communications are common from the noisy helicopters.
The four men shot by the helicopter are stabilized by the end of the day. The staff relaxes and gives a cake, “homemade” in a bread making machine, to one of the female medics for her 28th birthday. After they sing Happy Birthday, they banter to relieve the tension while they wait for whatever will come in next.
Read more from Robert Bazell, Robert Bazell in Iraq
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Early Nightly is up
1Lt Warren Ward --RN-- 399th CSH, Tikrit Iraq--
Dad, we are so proud of what you are doing. Please stay safe and hurry home to us. We miss you, love you and pray for you often.
(Sent Jun 10, 2007 2:18:12 AM)
Our love and prayers are with all in the 399th. Our hearts are with the 256th members of the unit. We are so proud of you. Looking forward to your homecoming. From the 256th CSH FRG.
(Sent May 23, 2007 8:37:14 AM)
My husband CPT Pion is serving in Iraq with the 399th CSH and myself and our three sons could never be more proud of him. My eight year old sent him this poem:
MY DAD MY HERO
WHEN FREEDOM NEEDED HEROES
TO ANSWER DUTY'S CALL
YOU PACKED YOUR BAGS AND LEFT
FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF ALL
AND THOUGH I'M NOT A GROWN-UP
I STILL DO UNDERSTAND
YOU HAVE AN IMPORTANT JOB TO DO
IN A DISTANT FORIEGN LAND
YOU'RE TEACHING ME SO MANY THINGS
EVEN THOUGH YOU CAN'T BE HERE
COURAGE FAITH AND HONOR
THE MESSAGE IS QUITE CLEAR
SO UNTIL YOUR JOB IS FINISH
AND YOU'RE BACK HOME TO STAY
REMEMBER DAD I LOVE
YOU ARE MY HERO EVERY DAY
-BETH MURPHY-
No words have ever been more true, at least to this family whom awaits a soldier, a medic, a nurse, a husband,a son, but most of all a DAD.
Jackie Rhode Island
Jackie Rhode Island (Sent May 8, 2007 10:23:32 PM)
My wife CAPT.Barb Webster is deployed in iraq with the 399th and her 2 young children miss and need her so, PLease take care of and support the troops no matter what your political views,lets keep the soldiers 1st in our priorities.
(Sent Mar 18, 2007 12:26:18 PM)
to LTC Joaquin Cortiella, Capt Christain Renaux, and all the great Americans we have serving there with the 399th CSH.
Keep up the good work. We are pulling for you and know the sacrifices you are making. God! we are proud of you
From all of us at Bank Of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ and the surrounding NYC area who have adopted the 399th!
Mike Marciuliano, Staten Island, NY (Sent Mar 15, 2007 9:12:18 PM)
my younger brother is in the 399th. we love and miss you kid !! Rhode Island is missing you matt!!!
bailey m. 1079 apt# 2 (Sent Mar 7, 2007 9:51:25 PM)
I love the 399th. I have a big sister and my brother there and I want them to know that I miss them and keep doing the great job that you are and hope to see you in the States soon!!!!!! Jen & Mike
jennifer foley (Sent Mar 6, 2007 12:25:44 PM)
My husband was called to serve with the 399th CSH in August of last year & has made us all proud every day since; all of you make us proud, every day. We love you, miss you & think of you every minute. Thanks, Peter, Love, Jenny, Taylor & Jake.
Jenny Thompson, Charlotte, NC (Sent Mar 3, 2007 7:49:52 PM)
My husband, Maj. Michael Moulding, is serving as a Registered Nurse with the 399th in COB Speicher. We love and miss him!! I am so proud to see their service highlighted and praise NBC for their series. The sacrifices that these soldiers are making and the hard work they do every day as part of their mission of healing deserves credit and praise. Their dedication, along with the service of each and every soldier currently serving in the military is why our country is so strong and proud. Thank you to the 399th and many prayers for safe and speedy return!
Paulette, Dighton, MA (Sent Mar 3, 2007 9:18:51 AM)
I have met many from the 399th, they are great people and amazing soldiers, one and all. Our love, respect, and appreciation grows for them every day, with all they are doing. All the troops' honor and sacrifice compares with no other, and they make me proud to be American. To my best friend and my hero, Kirk, you are always in my thoughts and prayers, and my heart misses you more every day. I'll cotinue to send mail and packages until you're home in my arms! Be well, all of you, and thank you for everything you do, always, from a proud and grateful nation...
Jessica, Foxboro, MA (Sent Mar 2, 2007 9:41:49 PM)
My husband is w/the 399th in Camp Speicher and we miss him terribly! Please keep these soldiers and our families in your prayers! they work so hard everyday to protect and save our lives!!!
We are very proud of you Kenny and your kids can't wait to see you!!!
Missy Hamilton, Cincinnati, OHIO (Sent Mar 1, 2007 7:42:43 PM)
The 399th deserves all the praise it's getting. Thanks to all of you for the work you do, and also to Ellen who watches over their families for them back home.
Keep up the good work.
(Sent Mar 1, 2007 6:37:40 PM)
My girlfriend is is with the 399th and I am so proud of her and all of our troops in Iraq and all over the world.We are praying for you everyday and checking our mail boxes everyday for your letters from war. God Bless and we miss you....
Manny, Brockton, MA (Sent Feb 22, 2007 1:00:46 PM)
To 1st Lt. Warren E. Ward! We here at LHS ER in Willoughby, Ohio so dearly miss you. Hurry home as we need your skills, laughter and fortitude. Please be safe as we can't wait for the opportunity to work with you again. Thank you so much for respresenting us in such an honorable way. We appreciate everything you do and stand for. Love, your ER staff.
Orietta Mikulandra, Willoughby, Ohio (Sent Feb 10, 2007 7:09:34 PM)
You've got an entire country back at home that's hoping for a speedy and safe return for every single one of you. Thank you all for your service to our country and to your fellow soldiers- you're an amazing group of people. Special hello to Kirk- its been awhile, but Correen got the word around to those of us that didn't know you were over there and I just wanted to say stay safe and keep making everyone back at home proud. You're in an amazing field and i'm sure you've already made a big difference with those that you've already helped!
BJ Clinton, Connecticut (Sent Feb 9, 2007 7:27:17 PM)
I am in the medical field as well and I am so proud of those who are using their skills in this way. Please stay safe and come home with great wisdom. Hello to Kirk from Massachusetts.
Coreen, Myrtle Beach, SC (Sent Feb 9, 2007 2:08:33 PM)
I have a niece, CPT Stacey York, that is serving with the 399th also. She is a nurse from Maine, and like so many others, has had to leave her husband and children in order to serve her country. God bless our troops everywhere for making the great sacrifices they are asked to make everyday! Stay safe and may this war soom be over and all of you come home.
Rena Berry Mechanic Falls, ME (Sent Feb 9, 2007 7:37:00 AM)
My best friends sister 1.Lt. Lori Johnson is over there protecting us. I would like to tell here thank you. All of our troops thank you and May God be with you. Come home safe to your loving families and friends.Be safe and God Bless Amercia.
Tracy Lamkins Toledo, Oh 43605 (Sent Feb 8, 2007 12:24:12 PM)
We are proud of my Sister 1Lt.Lori Johnson along with all the other men and women who are fighting for us.I PLease be safe and thank you all who is helping our Country. God Bless you all. love you sis.
Rhonda Ellis, Napoleon, OH (Sent Feb 8, 2007 12:14:31 PM)
God Bless the 399th from Sunrise Florida! My best friend of 23 years is a nurse there and it great to hear about the great work that these incredible soldiers do.
Kathie McKenzie, Sunrise, FL (Sent Feb 8, 2007 9:44:46 AM)
Love and prayers to Lori. Your family in Ohio are so very proud of all that your doing for our country.
Stephanie (Sent Feb 8, 2007 9:25:37 AM)
May God be with the 399th. My daughter Lori, a Lt. is there from Toledo Ohio.. and my love, support and prayers go out to her and others who are there on behalf of everyone everywhere.
Roy Spc 4th class medical retired.
Roy Johnson Lucasville, Ohio (Sent Feb 8, 2007 5:31:05 AM)
I am deployed with the 399th CSH though in their sister hospital in Mosul. We are all proud of everyone in these hospitals sites. Their dedication is unwaivering!!! But prayers also go out to the men and women on the front lines who just as brave if not more so. GO Buckeyes!!! love you mom-be home soon!
1LT Lori Johnson, Mosul, Iraq (Sent Feb 7, 2007 10:16:50 PM)
Decent article, but the details are a little off. Half of us are not from Mass, but from other reserve units from around the country. We are at "COB" Speicher, it's not a "camp" anymore. Much bigger. We are also not a "tent hospital" but the main buildings are permanent with others made of portable containers and only a few tent areas. Stating that we are "older with less military bearing than our full time Armed Forces colleagues" was a blow to the morale here. We are all full time right now. We do appreciate the compliments of our quality of medical care. Thank you.
(Sent Feb 7, 2007 2:48:46 PM)
we are very proud here of our men and women serving overseas.it is comforting to hear about the people trying to save lives, not just take them. miss you kirk see you at home soon. :-)
Becky, Wrentham, MA (Sent Feb 5, 2007 6:38:49 PM)
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