By 1st Lt. Matthew Gregor Contributing Writer
KIRKUK, Iraq – A chance encounter with coalition forces and an injured Iraqi villager recently provided a chance for Soldiers to treat the man with first aid he would otherwise not have available.Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, were patrolling through villages in the Kirkuk area of northern Iraq – assessing the area for security issues and other problems that need to be resolved.Because most Iraqi villages lack medical clinics or hospitals, Soldiers ensure a medic travels with them to each area they visit, available to administer first aid to citizens in need. “We will travel to villages throughout our area of operations, assessing the availability of water, electricity, education and other important services – with the ultimate goal of helping to provide them with anything they need,” said Capt. Johnny Giroux, 1-87 Infantry. “As we make our assessments, we ask the citizens if anyone in the area is in need of medical attention, and our unit medics will aid them in any way that they can.”Soldiers encountered a man who had injured his hand two weeks earlier while working with machinery on his farm.Lacking access to local medical care, he wrapped his injured hand the best he could and continued to work – not wanting to spare a even a single day as he works to provide for his family. Spec. James Gale, a medic, calmly assessed the farmer’s injury and began first aid. “The man was initially reluctant to be examined, but he was happy to be treated when he realized we only wanted to help him,” said Gale, medic for 3rd Platoon, A Company, 1-87 Infantry. “I cleaned, treated and redressed the wound; then gave him extra supplies and information on follow-up care.”Military medics are trained in a variety of first aid techniques that are valuable in any situation, whether combat related or not. Sgt. Michael Goolsby, A Company senior medic, oversees all tasks platoon medics respond to and takes care to ensure they are fully trained and ready to respond to any kind of medical crisis. “The extensive training that medics receive helps prepare them for any situation they might encounter,” Goolsby said. Soldiers feel that actions such as Gale’s are important as they try to win the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people.“When we come searching for their problems, trying to help them in any way that we can, it helps them realize that we have only their best interests in mind,” Goolsby said. “We are here to help the Iraqi people, and we want them to know that.”“It’s a great feeling to help people in need, and then return to base knowing that we as American Soldiers care for the Iraqi people,” Gale added. (Gregor is a member of 1-87 Infantry.)
KIRKUK, Iraq – A chance encounter with coalition forces and an injured Iraqi villager recently provided a chance for Soldiers to treat the man with first aid he would otherwise not have available.Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, were patrolling through villages in the Kirkuk area of northern Iraq – assessing the area for security issues and other problems that need to be resolved.Because most Iraqi villages lack medical clinics or hospitals, Soldiers ensure a medic travels with them to each area they visit, available to administer first aid to citizens in need. “We will travel to villages throughout our area of operations, assessing the availability of water, electricity, education and other important services – with the ultimate goal of helping to provide them with anything they need,” said Capt. Johnny Giroux, 1-87 Infantry. “As we make our assessments, we ask the citizens if anyone in the area is in need of medical attention, and our unit medics will aid them in any way that they can.”Soldiers encountered a man who had injured his hand two weeks earlier while working with machinery on his farm.Lacking access to local medical care, he wrapped his injured hand the best he could and continued to work – not wanting to spare a even a single day as he works to provide for his family. Spec. James Gale, a medic, calmly assessed the farmer’s injury and began first aid. “The man was initially reluctant to be examined, but he was happy to be treated when he realized we only wanted to help him,” said Gale, medic for 3rd Platoon, A Company, 1-87 Infantry. “I cleaned, treated and redressed the wound; then gave him extra supplies and information on follow-up care.”Military medics are trained in a variety of first aid techniques that are valuable in any situation, whether combat related or not. Sgt. Michael Goolsby, A Company senior medic, oversees all tasks platoon medics respond to and takes care to ensure they are fully trained and ready to respond to any kind of medical crisis. “The extensive training that medics receive helps prepare them for any situation they might encounter,” Goolsby said. Soldiers feel that actions such as Gale’s are important as they try to win the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people.“When we come searching for their problems, trying to help them in any way that we can, it helps them realize that we have only their best interests in mind,” Goolsby said. “We are here to help the Iraqi people, and we want them to know that.”“It’s a great feeling to help people in need, and then return to base knowing that we as American Soldiers care for the Iraqi people,” Gale added. (Gregor is a member of 1-87 Infantry.)
Soldier transforms patrol base into more livable, operational place
[1/18/2008]
Source: 1st Lt. Nathan Barlow
Pvt. Jacob Sweet, with 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, is never satisfied. The Soldier, who is deployed here with his unit, has a knack for repairing things, and he is bothered when machinery is inoperable or a piece of furniture is not perfectly level.Stationed at Patrol Base Millet, an outlying post near 1-87 Infantry’s Forward Operating Base McHenry, Sweet has worked constantly over the last few months in an effort to improve operations and make life more livable.Through his efforts, PB Millet has gained running water, working heating / cooling units, picnic tables, rain awnings, shelves and an improved flow of electricity after he repaired five faulty generators.
“When we first arrived (at) the patrol base, we had no running water and very little electricity. It was definitely austere living,” recalled Sgt. Brian Welch, 1-87 Infantry. “The way Sweet has transformed this place is amazing.”Sweet works quietly on his own, choosing to do things without anyone asking him to do so.
“Sweet’s improvements to this place have really benefited us all,” said Sgt. 1st Class Gregory Harmon, platoon Sgt. in D Company 1-87 Infantry. “He has made it easier to conduct vital operations and complete combat missions through improvements to the Tactical Operations Center. He has made it easier to obtain something that many Soldiers consider vital to their workdays – coffee.”Sweet is known to those around him as a hard-working man of few words and high values. When asked why he spends so much of his time working on such projects, Sweet responded simply, “I just can’t stand doing nothing, so I figure I might as well make things a little better around here.”(Barlow is a member of 1-87 Infantry.)
[1/18/2008]
Source: 1st Lt. Nathan Barlow
Pvt. Jacob Sweet, with 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, is never satisfied. The Soldier, who is deployed here with his unit, has a knack for repairing things, and he is bothered when machinery is inoperable or a piece of furniture is not perfectly level.Stationed at Patrol Base Millet, an outlying post near 1-87 Infantry’s Forward Operating Base McHenry, Sweet has worked constantly over the last few months in an effort to improve operations and make life more livable.Through his efforts, PB Millet has gained running water, working heating / cooling units, picnic tables, rain awnings, shelves and an improved flow of electricity after he repaired five faulty generators.
“When we first arrived (at) the patrol base, we had no running water and very little electricity. It was definitely austere living,” recalled Sgt. Brian Welch, 1-87 Infantry. “The way Sweet has transformed this place is amazing.”Sweet works quietly on his own, choosing to do things without anyone asking him to do so.
“Sweet’s improvements to this place have really benefited us all,” said Sgt. 1st Class Gregory Harmon, platoon Sgt. in D Company 1-87 Infantry. “He has made it easier to conduct vital operations and complete combat missions through improvements to the Tactical Operations Center. He has made it easier to obtain something that many Soldiers consider vital to their workdays – coffee.”Sweet is known to those around him as a hard-working man of few words and high values. When asked why he spends so much of his time working on such projects, Sweet responded simply, “I just can’t stand doing nothing, so I figure I might as well make things a little better around here.”(Barlow is a member of 1-87 Infantry.)
