Face of Defense: Korean-American Soldiers Bridge Cultures

By Army Sgt. Maj. Christopher Seaton

I Corps

CAMP YONGIN, South Korea, Aug. 25, 2014 – The white Kia pulled through the gate near a fuel point at Yongsan Army Garrison in Seoul as Army 1st Lt. Jae Hyun Lee made a verbal note to no one in particular, “Okay, I can’t drive like a Korean anymore.”

Lee, a company executive officer, and Army Staff Sgt. Min Sung Cha, the unit supply sergeant, were on a mission for Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, I Corps. The two U.S. soldiers had just completed the 1.5-hour drive north from the unit’s life support area in Yongin, where the corps stood up for Exercise Ulchi Freedom Guardian 2014. Since the two soldiers arrived in South Korea from their home station at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, they had made several runs like these.

Microphone-finding mission

Their goal that day was to find an omni-directional microphone on the local economy for the corps’ video teleconference suite. The two soldiers had to quickly find a specialty item in a foreign country -- no big deal, especially since they both grew up in Seoul.

Lee and Cha are part of a group of 10 native-Korean speakers assigned to I Corps. Four of those 10 speakers work for the headquarters battalion.

It’s a statistic that battalion Command Sgt. Maj. Woodrow Ishman Jr. says is extremely fortunate, given the unit’s focus on operations in the Pacific theater.

“It’s huge for us,” Ishman said. “It’s great to have somebody who can overcome the language barrier, knowing they have our best interest at heart. Because of them, it’s seamless for us to get supplies or make trips to the airport.”

Different backgrounds

The soldiers’ backgrounds prior to arriving at I Corps vary widely.

Lee, a 26-year-old Ranger-qualified infantry officer, was born in Philadelphia. He’s a second-generation American whose grandparents were displaced by the Korean War. When he was a baby, his father got an international job and the family moved to Seoul. Even in South Korea, Lee attended international schools and spoke primarily English at home.

Cha, 43, was raised in South Korea and Japan. His family moved to Olympia, Washington, in 1989 to follow opportunities. Cha got his green card, but moved back to South Korea after a few years. In 1997, when the Korean economy crashed, he joined the U.S. Army from the recruiting station at the American base in Seoul.

“When I joined the Army, my English was pretty bad,” Cha said.

“Was?” Lee joked. The two exchanged a playful laugh and chattered in Korean.

The two soldiers aren’t translators. Nor are they in specialty positions designed for Korean language speakers. Units that are based in South Korea are augmented by English-speaking Korean Army soldiers, known as KATUSAs -- Korean Augmentation to the U.S. Army. American units training in the country don’t have KATUSAs.

Ishman says he considers soldiers like Lee and Cha as “extended linguists,” who also happen to be American soldiers working in vital roles for the corps.

“Their language is an additional asset that’s really critical to our mission,” Ishman said. “Our Korean counterparts see that and they trust us even more because we have them on our staff.”

Multi-faceted roles

Lee and Cha perform multi-faceted roles in the command. In addition to helping quickly integrate Korean army staff at the American joint operation center, they also play a role in preparing their American counterparts for major exercises in the unit’s new area of operations. Cha, who also speaks Japanese, first showed his value last year as I Corps prepared for the Japanese Exercise Yama Sakura.

“It all started in the motor-pool during [morning] formations with Staff Sgt. Cha teaching basic phrases,” Ishman said. “He was huge in Japan.”

Another Korean-American assigned to the battalion, Capt. Jae Woo Park, provided a detailed briefing for family members in preparation for the current exercise. Ishman said those briefings helped ease a lot of concerns for the families of I Corps soldiers.

For Ishman, the Korean-American soldiers go a long way in helping fulfill one of the major priorities of I Corps’ commander, Army Lt. Gen. Stephen Lanza. His guidance includes the edict that the corps will remain heavily invested in the Pacific.

“Having someone who knows what to ask, knows what to do, because he’s from the country is amazing,” Ishman said. “All those little things they can do to help us support the Corps staff make a big difference.”

For Lee and Cha, that impact doesn’t play a major role as they maneuver their white Kia through the streets of Seoul in search of the latest critical part needed to get a corps staff section back on its feet.

“A job is a job, so I’m not really focused on that,” Lee said. “I’m an American soldier and I do what the Army asks me to do.”

C-130 Hercules still going strong at 60

by Air Force Test Center History Office
& 412th Test Wing Public Affairs

8/21/2014 - EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- August 23 marks the 60th anniversary of the C-130 Hercules' first flight in 1954, from Burbank, Calif., to Edwards Air Force Base.

Team Edwards took time to reflect on why this aircraft has been so valuable to the Air Force.

"The C-130 made her debut in 1954, and to this day, if there is a conflict or emergency, the mighty Hercules always has a role. In my more than 2,000 flying hours on the aircraft, she has never let me or the U.S. Air Force down," said Steven Walden, 418th Flight Test Squadron C-130/VC-25A Integrated Test Team lead. "The C-130 continually proves its worth in the U.S. Air Force inventory and even after 60 years, it continues to support humanitarian, tactical resupply, airlift and airdrop missions into some of the most austere locations that no other aircraft, nor flight crew, could be asked to do."

After Lockheed ferried the first YC-130 from Burbank to Edwards, flights one through four were conducted at the Air Force Flight Test Center. The aircraft was then ferried to Palmdale, Calif., on its fifth flight for a 25-hour engine inspection. Authorization was received by Lockheed to retain the aircraft at Palmdale for remaining test flights.

Wade Scrogham, Air Force Test Center deputy chief historian, said the YC-130 aircraft was designed as a medium cargo/transport and was the first production aircraft to utilize turbo-prop power plants -- four Allison T-56 turbo-prop engines. Lockheed flew both aircraft to Edwards AFB for a test period of approximately 30 days and only sufficient flights were accomplished to prove airworthiness from Edwards. The remaining portion of Phase 1 tests were conducted at Palmdale.

Scrogham also noted that the C-130 was initially designed for assault and support missions carrying troops or supplies forward and returning casualties to the rear. As a troop carrier, the C-130 could be used for paratroops or ground troops; as a cargo carrier it could be used to carry large pieces of equipment such as a 155 mm howitzer and its high- speed tractor; and as an evacuation aircraft it could be rapidly converted to carry stretcher cases.

A tricycle landing gear with the main wheels in tandem was designed to permit the C-130 to operate from small emergency landing fields or rough forward airstrips.

"The vast amount of modifications and variants of the aircraft have this aircraft spread into every aspect of our inventory and to our international forces who also rely on its reliability rating and its capabilities that no other aircraft can deliver," Walden said. "The Hercules is the backbone of our nation's success in global reach and the reason that we can put troops into isolated locations at a moment's notice without compromising our safety and mission security."

"The unparalleled durability, flexibility, and reliability of the C-130 Hercules help to explain why the aircraft is still in production after 60 years," added Scrogham. "During that time, the C-130 and its variants logged over 1 million flight hours for 70 countries."

ACC commander visits Seymour Johnson

by Airman 1st Class Brittain Crolley
4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

8/23/2014 - SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Gen. Mike Hostage, commander of Air Combat Command, took time to discuss issues on the minds of 4th Fighter Wing Airmen during a visit here Aug. 21.

Hostage held an all-call, met with local civic leaders, and saw the Airmen and mission firsthand by visiting units across the base.

During his all-call, Hostage discussed everything from physical fitness testing to geopolitics.

"Today we have generations of soldiers who've never worried about the sound of jet noise overhead because they know it's us," Hostage said. "That's not a given. That doesn't come for free. You all make sure that happens."

Hostage noted that is the heart of the mission of ACC--providing combat airpower to America's warfighters.

"We are the combat arm of the Air Force," he said. "Most of you haven't known anything but an expeditionary force. We will remain an expeditionary force. That's our charge; to be ready to produce overwhelming combat power."

The general stressed the importance of the wing's mission to organize, train, equip and maintain combat-ready forces for rapid deployment.

"When bad stuff happens somewhere in the world, they're going to come to us, asking, 'Protect us; defend us; make the bad guys go away,' and our job is to do it; our job is to be ready," he said.

According to Col. Mark Slocum, the wing commander, this is a critical time for the Air Force, and it's important for Airmen to continue meeting challenges head on in order to overcome them.

"General Hostage reinforced the importance of the airpower ACC and Seymour Johnson provide," Slocum said. "He emphasized the vital impact of the combat air power we provide. We have to maintain our high standards of excellence and never forget the trust our nation puts in our Airmen, because lives depend on us."

Hostage rounded out his all-call by highlighting the necessity of airpower not only to Americans but to people across the globe.

"Our nation is a beacon of hope for a lot of other countries where people live under the thumb of an oppressive regime or an oppressive government," Hostage said. "We face threats from regimes that would like to make us go away. The reason that hasn't happened yet and I don't see it happening in the future, is because people like you, and generations before us, fought and died to protect this country. Be proud of your service. Be proud of being an Airman."

Behind the nylon curtain: rigging parachutes for pararescue

by Tech Sgt. Katie Spencer
459th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

8/25/2014 - PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- It's a typical training day at the 920th Rescue Wing, the Air Force Reserve's only combat rescue unit. Pararescuemen wait for the signal to jump out of the plane and into the deep waters of the Atlantic Ocean. They check each other's parachutes as a pre-jump ritual. One mistake in this business is all it takes to have a bad day.

They get the signal. The PJs fall into the sky with nothing but the parachute on their back to break their free-fall. They pull the cord and the chutes deploy perfectly. They land in the water and swim toward a floating cube of packaged cargo dropped from the plane containing an inflatable, motorized Zodiac boat, called a RAMZ (rigging alternate method zodiac). The PJs inflate the Zodiac and speed off into the sunset.

They key player in this mission: the people who pack, maintain, and inspect the parachutes and package cargo to be dropped from the aircraft. They are known as aircrew flight equipment specialists. Their  job at the 308th Rescue Squadron - to be responsible for the life of a PJ.

"Our job is to maintain all the aircrew flight equipment," said Tech. Sgt. Josh Yarbrough, the aircrew flight equipment noncommissioned officer in charge for the 308th RQS. "From night vision goggles to oxygen masks, floatation equipment, parachutes, jet skis, zodiac boats, four wheelers, helmets - anything the PJs need to do their job safely." An AFE's primary responsibility is to pack parachutes. Not one. Not two. Each AFE, or rigger, can pack six to eight chutes a day.

"My job is very important," said Yarbrough. "It's dual purpose: I pack the chutes and also serve as a malfunction officer. In case something goes wrong with the chutes, we are chute subject matter experts, and we can see what might have gone wrong if something didn't function properly." The AFE team has been supporting a rescue jumpmaster course hosted by the 920 RQW, and putting parachutes on cargo, or the aerial delivery portion of their job, has been put to good use.

"We prepare cargo to be thrown out of planes," said Tech. Sec. Brian Pajor, an aircrew flight equipment craftsman for the 308th. "For this course, we rigged RAMZ packages by putting a chute on it. It'll drop from the plane and into the water for the PJs to inflate."

Rigging a parachute to a RAMZ package is just the start for AFE Airmen. Once the cargo is airborne, the team gets on a boat and proceeds to the drop zone. The RAMZ package is pushed out of the aircraft, and the PJs jump shortly after. As soon as the chutes touch the water, the AFE team launches into action to recover them.

"You need to always be sure everything you do is perfect," said Pajor. "They use RAMZ in the middle of the ocean, so there is no, 'maybe it'll work.' It has to work.  Same with the parachute."

Their job is not done yet.

After the chutes are recovered from the water, the AFE team brings them back to the parachute drying tower, where they rinse the chutes with fresh water and hang them to dry.

"A challenging thing about this job is the amount of work," said Pajor. "It's a lot of pressure and high intensity. Gotta be used to adapting and overcoming to anything and everything. Doing what needs to be done to get the job done."

The AFE career field is vastly different at a rescue wing as opposed to other AFE units in the Air Force, according to Yarbrough.

"Here, we have way more qualifications," he said. "We are next to the operators, supporting their operations and missions. It takes a certain mind frame to do what we do. We deal with Air Force - we work with Army and all branches. We have to be flexible to work with other units to adapt and overcome."

Pajor agrees.

"It varies in the fact that we have so much other stuff to worry about besides the normal equipment. We have 12 different kinds of chutes, we have to be familiar with tower, boat operations, flightline, aerial delivery. That's where a lot more schools come into play. We have to go to Ram-Air school for free-fall parachutes, static-line school for the round chutes, aerial delivery for cargo--there's a lot more to AFE for a rescue squadron."

There is also more responsibility. "Their lives are in our hands," said Pajor. "This isn't something to take lightly.  This is someone who doesn't know you, and they are putting their life in your hands." Despite the workload and pressures of the job, the team carries a sense of purpose for their mission.

"We definitely have job fulfillment," said Yarbrough. "I love my job. People are the most important part of my job. The people I work for, and the people I work with. We're in the life-saving business. It's pretty humbling." "Seeing a guy come down and thanking you is the best part of job," said Pajor. "Seeing that guy go home to see his family after he jumped your parachute is all that matters. All the other stuff goes out the door."

Hurricane Hunters fly into Tropical Storm Cristobal

by Maj. Marnee A.C. Losurdo
403rd Wing Public Affairs

8/25/2014 - ST. CROIX, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS -- Aircrews with the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron have been flying data-gathering missions into Tropical Storm Cristobal out of the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport here since Aug. 21.

The Hurricane Hunters flew the first low-level invest mission Aug. 21 and continued to investigate the weather system around the clock until it was named Tropical Storm Cristobal early Sunday morning.

A low-level invest mission is flown at 500 to 1,500 feet to determine if winds are rotating in a circular pattern, which indicates that a storm is becoming more organized and increasing in strength, said Capt. Tobi Baker, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron aerial reconnaissance weather officer.

"The lower the altitude you are, the stronger the circulation is, so if it's a weak storm that is where you are going to find the winds," he said.

The aircraft collects weather data, to include temperature, wind speed, wind direction, humidity, and surface pressure data, continuously throughout the mission, said Baker.

Once a system becomes a tropical storm or hurricane, the Hurricane Hunters begin flying at higher altitudes, ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 feet depending on the severity of the storm, said Baker. Aircrews fly through the eye of a storm four to six times to locate the low-pressure center and circulation of the storm. During each pass through the eye, they release a dropsonde, which collects weather data on its descent to the ocean surface, specifically gathering the surface winds and pressure.

During the invest and storm flights, the aircrews transmit weather data via satellite communication every 10 minutes to the National Hurricane Center to assist them with their forecasts and storm warnings.

As of 2 p.m. Sunday, Cristobal was located near the southeastern Bahamas with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph, according to the NHC. Their models indicate that the storm will not hit the U.S. coast, heading northeast into the Atlantic.

The squadron will continue to fly the storm until no longer a threat and will operate from St. Croix until Aug. 29, said Baker.

Flash flood calls for quick rescue, inspires community to give back

by Tech. Sgt. Nadine Barclay
432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

8/25/2014 - CREECH AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- The sound of rushing water is still clear in Airman 1st Class Tyler Webb's mind, as he remembers with a heavy heart the moment he decided to see past his own situation to save others in need of his help.

On Aug. 4, Webb, an MQ-9 Reaper avionics specialist with the 432nd Maintenance Group, along with three Airmen from the 799th Air Base Group and three from the 820th Red Horse Squadron, braved the rushing waters of a Nevada desert flood to save the lives of a trapped elderly couple.

"It was a pretty normal day," recalls Webb. "Throughout the day there was very little weather happening, and I guess I just didn't expect it to rain."

As the duty day drew to a close, the storm clouds rolled in. With them came the rain - lots of it.

"I got caught up in a rain storm. It went from zero rain to zero visibility really, really fast. It just came in and left nothing for us to see," said Webb.

As the visibility lessened, Webb and other Airmen leaving Creech Air Force Base began to see others pull to the side of the road and stop as rushing rain water swept over U.S. Route 95, a two-lane highway north of Las Vegas.

"I realized the streets had begun to flood really fast," said Webb. "The right side was flooding faster, causing people to pull over to the left, so I followed everyone else."

As the water rose, escape to Las Vegas became less likely. Commuters began crossing to the northbound side of the road, and many people became stuck in a steep, sand-filled median. Webb was one of those commuters who became stuck.

Webb recalls a sense of panic as he rushed to try and free his green mercury grand marquis; a gift he says was given to him by his late grandparents.

"I tried to get my car out of the mud for a good five to 10 minutes before I finally heard someone yell at me to get out, because water began rushing over the side into the ditch," he explained. "I knew then it was too late for my car."

Feeling a sense of remorse at abandoning his grandparents' vehicle, Webb had just enough time to grab his Airman Battle Uniform top before he retreated to higher ground. He actually recalls a pang of guilt that he forgot to also grab his hat.

"As I turned, I saw a bunch of Airmen trying to help another car that was trapped," he said. "I didn't have enough time to focus on my car; I was worried about the other people. I saw that they needed my help, so I ran toward them and jumped into the water."

Webb rushed to the Toyota Prius, where Nellis Airmen struggled against the rising water to free the elderly woman trapped inside.

"At that point, the water was already knee high and climbing. The other Airmen already had the door partially open, so I grabbed it and pulled it all the way open. The other Airmen grabbed the older woman and got her out of the car," said Webb.

Luckily, the three Airmen were able to save the couple before their white Prius was swept downstream, where it eventually came to rest upside down against a concrete culvert, partially submerged in water.

"I wanted to double check their vehicle before leaving it," he said. "I was more worried about the couple and my fellow Airmen's safety than my own."

As Webb left the vehicle he recalled the water's force was so strong that he could feel rocks being pulled out from under his feet.

"I ended up getting swept away, but luckily Airman 1st Class Christopher Jones was there to pull me out," said Webb.

In a video shot by bystanders that went viral within days after the flood, Jones, fitness technician with the 799th Air Base Group, can be seen extending his hand to save his wingman during the rescue.

"When I got swept away my only thought was, 'man, now I'm floating away.' I remember Jones saying, 'grab my hand.' I grabbed his hand and he just yanked me out," said Webb.

Webb describes his thoughts after assisting in the rescue and evading his own close escape from the flood with great disbelief.

"I remember feeling a lot of adrenaline. I honestly didn't feel anything for my car until after the experience was over with, and I saw it floating down the river. Then, I just thought, 'that's not good, that's my car right there.'"

In the aftermath since the flood, Webb has had plenty of time to reflect. Although he's glad everyone survived the flood, he still expresses great sadness at the loss of his car, and how his one simple choice changed so much.

"My grandparents were soul mates," he said. "They passed within hours of each other; my grandmother on Thanksgiving Day and my grandfather the next morning."

Webb recalled that his car was the last thing he had to remember his grandparents by.

"After everything was done, I was left having to pay the impound fee for a totaled car that meant so much to me," he said.

Unfortunately, Webb is no stranger to this type of disappointment. A few months before the flood, he was the victim of a home burglary, which left him with financial hardship and forced him to replace many of his valuables that had been stolen.

"After my car was destroyed too, I was worried how I would make the trip to Creech," said Webb. "My parents were just happy that I was ok and offered to come and help me get back on my feet."

Although the journey has been difficult, there is a silver lining to Webb's story. His parents, who traveled to Las Vegas to support him, established a website where supporters are able to donate funds to help him buy a new vehicle, at www.gofundme.com/cpimbk.

"I was surprised that people I had never met, in states I had never been to, wanted to donate to help me," said Webb. "I was really touched by that; I guess what we did inspired them."

In total, more than $6,000 was donated in less than eight days, which Webb then used as a down payment for his replacement vehicle - a used 2006 Honda Accord.

Webb said he was deeply touched by all the supporters and that he'd like to thank everyone who donated to help him.

"I'm no hero, I just did what I was trained to do and [what I think] everyone else in that situation would do," he said.

For Webb and his fellow Airmen who risked so much to save others, the experience has left a lasting impression.

"I would definitely do it again, but next time I'd stay on the road," he jokes.

According to the National Weather Service, 82 deaths were attributed to flooding in the United States in 2013. More than half of victims were driving at the time of the floods.

Drivers are reminded not to risk driving through flooded roadways, since rescues are not always possible.

USS Momsen Holds Change of Command Ceremony in Seattle

By Ensign Vanessa Berry, USS Momsen Public Affairs

SEATTLE (NNS) -- The crew of Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Momsen (DDG 92) welcomed their new commanding officer during a change of command ceremony in Seattle, Aug. 21.

Cmdr. Javier Gonzalez relieved Cmdr. Elaine Collins, completing her 18-month command tour.

Collins led Momsen through a four-month deployment to the 7th Fleet Area of Operations to participate in exercises Talisman Sabre, Silent Banchee, and Cooperation and Readiness Afloat Training (CARAT), various successful inspections and an efficient transition into a dry-dock maintenance availability.

"I am honored to have served as the commanding officer of USS Momsen," said Collins. "It was an experience of a lifetime to command this mighty warship with the finest crew a captain could ask for. I have complete faith that Cmdr. Gonzalez, along with the officers, chiefs, and crew will continue to propel Momsen to new heights."

Collins' next tour will be at the office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington, D.C.

Gonzalez previously served as the executive officer on board Momsen and will assume command through the Executive Officer to Commanding Officer Fleet-Up program. Cmdr. Jason Kipp has assumed the duties as Momsen's new executive officer.

"Momsen is a ship that isn't afraid to take on any challenge and excels at overcoming them," said Gonzalez. "I cannot thank Cmdr. Collins enough for her leadership, mentorship, and friendship over the past 18 months. The success Momsen has enjoyed was laid by the efforts of Cmdr. Collins and her team."

"Momsen is a complex machine of war," Gonzalez told his Sailors after assuming command. "You, the Momsen Sailors bring her alive, and the families who support you, are national treasures. I respect and thank you for your service. I am extremely proud to be your commanding officer, and I look forward to our continued success. Rise Above!"

Momsen is currently undergoing a scheduled dry dock maintenance period and is dry docked at Vigor Shipyards in Seattle. Momsen is assigned as part of Destroyer Squadron 21.

USNS Henson Supports 7th Fleet in Warfighting Readiness

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brannon Deugan, Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs

BUSAN, Republic of Korea (NNS) -- Military Sealift Command oceanographic survey ship USNS Henson (T-AGS 63) collects and analyzes oceanographic data that is used to support U.S. Navy warfighters.

Henson is a multipurpose oceanographic survey ship that conducts hydrographic, acoustic, oceanographic and bathymetric survey operations worldwide and is currently operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet.

"Henson is a multifunction ship," said Steven Faber, Mine Warfare Fleet Support lead. "We provide data that assists in the decision making for everything from mine warfare to anti-submarine warfare."

Data collected by Henson will be analyzed and utilized in numerous different products specifically requested by U.S. 7th Fleet to meet mission requirements.

"Henson paints a picture of the environment on the floor of the ocean," said Brian Hartley, Henson's data manager. "This is important because it gives warfighters the ability to make decisions based off timeline data the oceanographic survey ships like Henson have collected over the years."

Henson was designed to provide multiple capabilities including physical, chemical and biological oceanography; multidiscipline environmental investigations; ocean engineering and marine acoustics; marine geology and geophysics; and bathymetric surveying. These capabilities provide an in-depth understanding of ocean conditions, which then helps prioritize search efforts in areas such as mine warfare.

"With the capabilities available to us in our equipment, we can understand how the environment and terrain affects the use of mine warfare in the future," explained Hartley. "If we know an area is silt and the laying of a mine there would cause the mine to simply sink into the bottom, searching there would be more problematic, say, than for an area with sandy terrain and several hazards. That would be an area to really do an extensive search for mines in the future."

Henson serves as a platform for surveyors with the Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO). NAVOCEANO has technical control of Henson and four other survey ships and uses a variety of platforms, including ships, aircraft, satellite sensors and buoys to collect oceanographic and hydrographic data from the world's oceans. Henson is operated by the Military Sealift Command for the Commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command (CNMOC).

NAVOCEANO, the largest subordinate command within the CNMOC, is responsible for providing oceanographic products and services to all elements of the Department of Defense.

Over 1,400 Hondurans receive medical care from U.S. Army medics

by Capt. Steven Stubbs
Joint Task Force-Bravo Public Affairs

8/22/2014 - SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras -- Joint Task Force-Bravo's Medical Element (MEDEL), with support from JTF-Bravo Joint Security Forces and Army Forces Battalion, partnered with the Honduran Ministry of Health and the Honduran military to provide medical care to more than 1,400 people and performed 11 surgeries over three days in the Department of Santa Barbara, Honduras during a Medical Readiness Training Exercise (MEDRETE) and Mobile Surgical Team (MST), Aug. 11-15, 2014.

The expeditionary MEDRETE team convoyed to the communities of San Juan del Sitio and Correderos while the MST group convoyed to the Santa Barbara Hospital to perform the surgeries.

"The communities of San Juan del Sitio and Correderos are greatly underserved medically," said U.S. Army Maj. Daniel Gardner, mission commander and pharmacist with MEDEL. "Some residents received timely and effective treatment for acute conditions that potentially could have produced long term problems. Examples include antibiotics for acute infections, respiratory treatments, and dental extractions."

The JTF-Bravo team, the Honduran Ministry of Health, and the Honduran military worked together to provide important preventative medical information, anti-parasitic treatment, much needed dental services, and a range of primary care services, including treating and controlling a head lice outbreak in San Juan del Sitio, resulting in improved overall health for the communities.

An unusual case presented to the MEDRETE team required the removal of a bullet located in a man's chest that has been there for two years.

"One gentleman required surgical extraction of a bullet located superficially in his chest," stated Gardner. "The bullet was left over from an incident in 2012 and had worked its way up just under the skin. The procedure was straightforward and performed under field conditions by a physician assistant and medic."

U.S. Army and Honduran surgeons performed open cholecystectomy, hernia and appendectomy surgeries to include an emergency appendectomy. The operations provided to the underserviced and impoverished community didn't cost them anything while the surgical team also helped shrink the surgery waiting list, provided materials necessary to perform some procedures and helped local medical professionals repair medical facilities and equipment.

"These surgeries were provided to the patients at no cost which helped those that did not have the money to pay," said U.S. Army Maj. Karen Santiago, MST mission commander and MEDEL chief nurse. "The Santa Barbara Hospital had a 50 patient backlog that was reduced to 39 and they could not perform the hernia surgeries because they didn't have any MESH so we provided it."

Both medical teams commended the Honduran Ministry of Health and military personnel for a job well done even in the toughest of times.

"I was impressed by the high quality performance and professionalism of Joint Task Force-Bravo, Honduran Ministry of Health, and military personnel," added Gardner. "But I was also awed by the profound lack of healthcare resources available in these remote communities, and the ability of the Ministry of Health personnel to stretch those limited resources."

Joint Task Force-Bravo has been conducting medical readiness training exercises since Oct. 1993. They have treated more than 349,000 medical patients, 69,000 dental patients and 14,400 surgical patients throughout Central America.

Navy Doc Sails Into the 'Land of 10,000 Lakes'

By Lisa Johnson, U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery Public Affairs

DULUTH, Minn. (NNS) -- Navy Medicine leadership met with Minnesota's top medical professionals, public safety officials, and academic leaders to discuss the Navy's importance to global economics, Navy Medicine's capabilities and commitment to patient care during Duluth Navy Week 18-22 Aug.

Rear Adm. Kenneth Iverson, deputy chief, Medical Operations, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery was the top medical officer representing Navy Medicine during the week.

"I grew up in Minnesota, so it was truly my distinct honor and privilege to serve as the lead for Navy Medicine during Duluth Navy Week," said Iverson. "Minnesota has a rich history of supporting our military service members. Duluth Navy Week is a great opportunity to give back while also highlighting our Navy's capabilities for those who desire to be a part of our team."

During a visit to St. Luke's Hospital, the admiral met with hospital leaders and physicians involved in care for traumatic brain injury patients, followed by a presentation to the hospital staff.

"Visits such as Rear Adm. Iverson's are extremely important to St. Luke's as they are informative and used to educate physicians and staff on critical health care topics," said Linda Basara, St. Luke's director of education. "In addition, this visit supported our mission of 'the patient above all else' by showing us Navy Medicine's focus to serve those entrusted to its care."

During his presentation, the admiral informed the staff how Navy Medicine fits into the Navy's commitment to worldwide readiness and stability.

"We learned how expansive and crucial Navy Medicine is for its beneficiaries," said Basara. "The aspects of expeditionary care provided in the air, on and below the sea, and on land, were fascinating. The garrison health care, wounded warrior care and the humanitarian assistance/disaster response demonstrate the 'Global Force For Good' in real action."

During his two days of outreach, Iverson met with the Essentia Health chief operating officer and leadership team, visited the Duluth Vet Center, took a tour of the VA Clinic in Superior, Wisconsin and met with firemen, police officers and first responders in the Duluth metropolitan area.

"I graduated from the University of Minnesota at Minneapolis," said Iverson. "I've visited Duluth many times in my younger days and I was thrilled with the opportunity of returning to this city for an opportunity to share the Navy and Navy Medicine missions."

Navy Medicine is a global health care network of 63,000 Navy medical personnel around the world who provide high quality health care to more than one million eligible beneficiaries. Navy Medicine personnel deploy with Sailors and Marines worldwide, providing critical mission support aboard ships, in the air, under the sea and on the battlefield.

Duluth Navy Week is one of six Navy weeks across the country this year. Navy Weeks are designed to show Americans the investment they make in their Navy and increase awareness in cities that do not have a significant Navy presence.