thedrifter
03-05-05, 07:45 PM
3/8 provides medical aid to Al Karmah
Submitted by: 1st Marine Division
Story Identification #: 2005351954
Story by Lance Cpl. Athanasios L. Genos
AL KARMAH, Iraq (Feb. 25, 2005) -- Elements of Company I and the Battalion Aid Station, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, set up a medical assistance point in the town of Al Karmah.
The Marines and sailors used the medical assistance point to build a better relationship with the locals by providing minor medical aid for the local community.
“We are here providing an opportunity to help some people who may not have received any help at all,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class, Daniel W. Hosaka, a corpsman with 3/8 and a native of San Jose, Calif.
More than 25 patients were seen in the short amount of time the medical staff was at the facility. Men, women, children and babies were seen for conditions including respiratory infection, sore joints, along with other common colds.
“The humanitarian aid mission gave us an opportunity to show the more gentle side of the military,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Darren S. Piniero, a native of Indian Rocks Beach, Fla., and a corpsman with 3/8.
Before performing routine checks on the patients, Piniero and his fellow smiling corpsmen explained to the children and other family members how they planned to help them.
“We showed them what we are going to do on ourselves first before we do it to them,” said Piniero.
The corpsmen handed out medication to those who needed it. Antacids, anti-inflammatory and other assorted medications were a few different types of medications given to locals.
In order to break through the language barrier and make sure the patients understood what was happening, corpsmen used interpreters to give guidance about what actions needed to be taken for certain sicknesses, along with making sure the medications already possessed were properly used.
“A lot of the medical problems were beyond our capabilities. However, it was still good to provide what we could for what we knew,” said Piniero.
Being the main medical staff for the battalion’s main camp, the corpsmen enjoyed being out in the local villages. Helping patients and seeing them go away with a smile gave them a good feeling about what they do and why they do it.
“After helping a child with his earache and giving him a piece of candy, he waved goodbye as he walked out the door with a smile,” explained Hosaka. “It’s part of our motivation and a morale booster being out here and helping people get well.”
During the exams, the Marines provided crowd control and handed out candy, jerseys and stuffed animals to the young children.
The children seemed most eager to be there. The children came up to the Marines and Sailors with no hesitation wanting candy or just to have their picture taken.
“When we were playing with the children, we were accepted well by everyone who was there,” said Lance Cpl. Julio Alonzo, a radio operator and a native of Harvard, Ill.
Loading up everything they brought with them, they returned to their base after a successful day treating locals. The Navy corpsmen of 3/8 finished their tasks and looked to the future for more operations similar to this one.
“After doing our job, it is nice to see the children playing, it makes the job worth while,” said Capt. Tom Shea, an air officer and native of Boston, Mass.
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/20053512843/$file/050225-M-5341G-001low.jpg
Working with the locals who came to get medical attention, Petty Officer 2nd Class Darren Piniero, corpsman, is given an opportunity to hold an infant waiting to be seen. Photo by: Lance Cpl. Athanasios L. Genos
Ellie
Submitted by: 1st Marine Division
Story Identification #: 2005351954
Story by Lance Cpl. Athanasios L. Genos
AL KARMAH, Iraq (Feb. 25, 2005) -- Elements of Company I and the Battalion Aid Station, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, set up a medical assistance point in the town of Al Karmah.
The Marines and sailors used the medical assistance point to build a better relationship with the locals by providing minor medical aid for the local community.
“We are here providing an opportunity to help some people who may not have received any help at all,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class, Daniel W. Hosaka, a corpsman with 3/8 and a native of San Jose, Calif.
More than 25 patients were seen in the short amount of time the medical staff was at the facility. Men, women, children and babies were seen for conditions including respiratory infection, sore joints, along with other common colds.
“The humanitarian aid mission gave us an opportunity to show the more gentle side of the military,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Darren S. Piniero, a native of Indian Rocks Beach, Fla., and a corpsman with 3/8.
Before performing routine checks on the patients, Piniero and his fellow smiling corpsmen explained to the children and other family members how they planned to help them.
“We showed them what we are going to do on ourselves first before we do it to them,” said Piniero.
The corpsmen handed out medication to those who needed it. Antacids, anti-inflammatory and other assorted medications were a few different types of medications given to locals.
In order to break through the language barrier and make sure the patients understood what was happening, corpsmen used interpreters to give guidance about what actions needed to be taken for certain sicknesses, along with making sure the medications already possessed were properly used.
“A lot of the medical problems were beyond our capabilities. However, it was still good to provide what we could for what we knew,” said Piniero.
Being the main medical staff for the battalion’s main camp, the corpsmen enjoyed being out in the local villages. Helping patients and seeing them go away with a smile gave them a good feeling about what they do and why they do it.
“After helping a child with his earache and giving him a piece of candy, he waved goodbye as he walked out the door with a smile,” explained Hosaka. “It’s part of our motivation and a morale booster being out here and helping people get well.”
During the exams, the Marines provided crowd control and handed out candy, jerseys and stuffed animals to the young children.
The children seemed most eager to be there. The children came up to the Marines and Sailors with no hesitation wanting candy or just to have their picture taken.
“When we were playing with the children, we were accepted well by everyone who was there,” said Lance Cpl. Julio Alonzo, a radio operator and a native of Harvard, Ill.
Loading up everything they brought with them, they returned to their base after a successful day treating locals. The Navy corpsmen of 3/8 finished their tasks and looked to the future for more operations similar to this one.
“After doing our job, it is nice to see the children playing, it makes the job worth while,” said Capt. Tom Shea, an air officer and native of Boston, Mass.
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/20053512843/$file/050225-M-5341G-001low.jpg
Working with the locals who came to get medical attention, Petty Officer 2nd Class Darren Piniero, corpsman, is given an opportunity to hold an infant waiting to be seen. Photo by: Lance Cpl. Athanasios L. Genos
Ellie