A soldier in the United States Army embraces loyalty, duty,
respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal
courage. These traditional core values define soldiers as
individuals and as a unit. Yet there are so many other values
that give definition to our fighting force. Values that imply
sympathy to those in distress like charity and mercy. Amidst all
the atrocity and reality of the war on terror, the men and women
serving in Task Force Med 344 Combat Support Hospital, Army
Reserve, upheld those benevolent values.
Recently returned from Forward Operations Base Abu Ghraib, Iraq,
the 344th embraced all aspects of a combat support hospital. The
unit handled health care operations providing first rate
treatment to soldier, detainee, and civilian alike, including
children. No unit military wide was better tasked for it. Much
of the non-commissioned officer ranks hold careers with NYPD,
FDNY, EMS, and correctional services. Their dedication to their
civil service professions enhances their skills as sergeants for
the military. Sadly, we lost one of its own on September 11th.
His name was Captain Mike Mullan. He was FDNY. We honored his
memory everyday through our labors.
Most of the nurses, doctors, and surgeons practice in emergency
room departments within the tri-state area. The wealth of health
science knowledge coordinated every hospital duty to the
standard expected, and that standard was so very high due to Abu
Ghraib's high profile.
Before U.S occupation Abu Ghraib was well equipped with torture
and death chambers. Tours of its hard site tells of its sadistic
history. More than 20,000 were executed there. Many were victims
of Saddam Hussein's paranoia. Even his sons partook in the
brutal slayings. However the tragedy it is known best for is the
abuse scandal. It is almost ironic. Although the soldiers
involved have answered for their misconduct and crimes a heavy
imposition was brought on the soldiers that came to serve in the
scandal's aftermath, such as the 344th. Upon our taking of
command of Abu Ghraib, detainee rights were not only reinforced
as they should be, they were extended and given privilege equal
to that of the soldiers. They were outfitted with brand name
apparel and garments suitable to their culture and for the
season. The detainee camps were accommodated with running
showers, porter johns, camp sanitation management from outside
sources, air conditioning in their tents, and even a plasma
television with surround sound. An official law of armed
conflict is to care for all wounded. Task Force 344 is gifted in
innovation and medicine. From controlling diabetes,
tuberculosis, heart disease, and epilepsy, from major surgery to
outpatient rehabilitation, from dental care and optometry all
the way down to standard sick call procedures, the 344th used
their gifts regardless of politics to bless a people that health
care was practically nonexistent to. Each soldier in their
section of the hospital and within the camps labored as if the
mission depended on their care alone fulfilling their oaths as
service members and medical providers. A nearly overwhelming
feat given their surroundings.
Situated between Baghdad and Fallujah, in the volatile Anbar
Province, Abu Ghraib was prone to attacks by the insurgency.
Mortar rounds, roadside bombs, vehicle born improvised explosive
devices, rocket propelled grenades, and small arms fire
threatened Abu and its operations daily. Task Force 344
responsibilities included trauma care. We had seen our share of
the fight on terror and treated many from Coalition forces. Not
all of them could make it.
Although faceless, soldiers walk in a state of grace. Although
nameless until our ascension into heaven it is not us that
experiences death; it is the loved ones abruptly left behind.
Our thoughts are always with the families of our fallen. Over
3,000 families will never be the same. For what they must
forever endure we regard them as the true heroes of war.
Operation Iraqi freedom has similar characteristics to the
Vietnam Conflict; an insurgency, a drain on the finances and
morale of Americans, a feeling that it will go on forever. The
difference now is there is no draft. All service members vowed
by their own free choice to risk their lives. Knowingly and
willingly they go into harm's way. Mass media is a reliable
source that allows the world to know of every danger in the
Middle East. And in today's military if a soldier feels they can
not take the pressures of a forward area commands will not force
them. The last thing leaders want is a liability that could cost
lives. Indeed, soldiers would not be there if they did not want
to be. It takes a sense of character and strength to go
overseas. The 344Th carried on as if they were serving right out
of their home base in Fort Totten, Queens. They are gifted in
innovation and medicine. Our greatest strength is that we were
immersed in diversity. All of this can be contributed to our
status as Long Islanders
The armed forces of the United States are a library of souls.
Many members of 344 are of ethnic background. Being bilingual,
retaining their heritage was diligence that helped them make
adjustments to the new culture in Iraq. The Army has assisted a
few of the soldiers gain U.S. citizenship. Many service members
face the trials of being away from their spouse during wartime
yet there were two couples in TF 344 that took the vow for
better or worse to a whole new plateau by venturing the mission
together.
There is no other way for a person to dignify their family,
their country, their faith, and lastly their self than by being
a soldier. Task Force 344 MED braved the trials of the everyday
duty associated with Operation Iraqi Freedom. They came face to
face with some of the world's most dangerous insurgents, they
risked contracting contagious diseases, all in the hope to bring
a share of liberty and health to the Iraqi people. They worked
successfully at restoring what was lost in Abu Ghraib.
- Spc. Esposito
