Siete de Mayo...

What? What the heck is Siete de Mayo? Siete de Mayo is what happens if your Cinco de Mayo party gets ruined by an IED.

We've had a busy week here at the FST. Last Saturday we took care of 12 patients from a bus rollover. A true mass casualty, we had people from commands all over the FOB helping us manage so many patients. Sunday morning we figured we'd get a break but were awakened by a page that a Romanian MRAP had hit an IED. Sure enough, we took four patients, stabilized them, packaged them up, and sent them on to the next level of care. No sooner had we caught our breath than another page summoned us to take care of four locals who had been hit by an IED. So, back to the FST, evaluate, into the OR, stabilize, and call for MEDEVAC. It was a very busy weekend.

Monday morning brought news of UBL's death. Lot's of people back home have asked me what I thought about it so I'll give you the Reader's Digest condensed version...

Bin Laden was one man. Granted, he was an evil man responsible for the deaths of many innocent people, but he was still just one man. I don't believe for a second that his presence or absence in this world really amounts to much. I hope his death is the catalyst for Al Qaeda's downfall, but I doubt that will be the case. Nature abhors a vacuum, and there are plenty of bad guys over here who will fill the void and continue killing innocents in the name of their twisted religion. Until we no longer have guys getting blown up by IED's and spending months and years away from their families, I don't think a celebration is in order. In fact, the celebrations I saw on TV sickeningly reminded me of the screaming and dancing in Palestine when the towers fell. Truly sad. I will say "Bravo Zulu" to the guys from ST-6 who took him out, and thank God it didn't cost them any of their own!

Moving forward to the 5th. HM2 Medinareyes, who you met several posts ago, has been planning a Cinco de Mayo party from the day we arrived, and maybe even before that. Unfortunately, fate had other plans. A group of Romanians were out doing dismounted patrol, clearing IED's along A-1 (the main highway that runs from south to north through the country) when one of their soldiers stepped on an IED. An American medic from our combat engineers was the first responder. He placed tourniquets and started an IV as they rushed back here to try to save their wounded brother. Despite our best, most heroic efforts, this comrade in arms didn't make it. He was the first coalition soldier that we've lost during our time here and his death hit hard.

Friday they held a "Ramp Ceremony" at the flight line and we all attended. It was a somber event involving a solemn march of his flag draped body from the morgue to the waiting helicopter with a stop on the way for religious rites performed by a Romanian Orthodox Priest. Taking time to honor this man and his sacrifice made me proud of what we stand for as Americans and as a coalition. Please take time to pray not only for the Americans over here, but for our brothers in arms from around the world. We all share the danger and we all just want to make it home to those we love.

So that's how Cinco de Mayo became "Siete de Mayo"...

...and what a party it was!

We had all types of Spanish and Mexican food...

...and drank all kinds of Mexican drinks!

There were traditional (and not so traditional)hats and other adornments...

...pin the tail on the Burro

Smash the pinata...

...and even a dance party!

All in all, it was a great way to blow off some steam and forget some of the ugliness of the preceding week. A big thanks to Medinareyes for putting together such a fabulous event!

Surgical Techs!

Here at FST Lagman we perform lifesaving surgeries on US and coalition forces as well as Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police, and other local Afghan nationals. While we, as surgeons, are holding the knife, we are being backed up by three of the finest surgical technicians the Navy has to offer. These three have a special place in my heart because they stand where I did over 20 years ago as I started this whole Navy odyssey. So without further ado... our surgical techs!

When we all first met in New jersey there was significant concern over the fact that, despite the FST being assigned three surgical techs, we only had one actually going through training with us. This was HM2 Galloway. During the Fort Dix "experience" there was much joking about securing Galloway in bubble wrap to prevent possible injury to our only surg tech. Fortunately, he made it here safely and leads our team of techs with a quiet, hardworking, "can-do" attitude.

SSSS: What’s your full name?

Terranthium Yeney Galloway

SSSS: Code name?

Gladiator

SSSS: Why that one?

Wickersham gave it to me

SSSS: Where were you born?

Hattiesburg, Mississippi but I grew up in Wiggins.

SSSS: Married or single?

Married

SSSS: Any kids?

Arionna 8, Darion 6, Jeremiah 10 months

SSSS: How long have you been in the military?

9 years now

SSSS: Any tattoos?

One. (Sharon Johnson. The good die young.)

SSSS: What’s food do you miss most being here on the FOB?

McDonalds double cheeseburgers

SSSS: What’s your favorite food that they serve here?

Ribeye steak

SSSS: Any food that you absolutely won’t eat?

Broccoli

SSSS: What’s your favorite movie of all time?

Back to the Future

SSSS: Team Edward or Team Jacob?

Jacob I guess... I don't’ even know what you’re talking about.

SSSS: Star Wars or Star Trek?

Star Wars

SSSS: Mac or PC?

Mac

SSSS: Tupac or Biggie?

Tupac

SSSS: Astrological sign?

I don’t even know

SSSS: Briefs or boxers?

Boxers

SSSS: If you could teleport from here to anywhere in the world for 6 hours where would you go?

Back home

SSSS: Lowenbrau, Becks, St Pauli, or O’Douls?

O'Douls

SSSS: Are you a little bit country or a little bit rock-n-roll?

Rock and roll

SSSS: Did you get that last reference?

No

SSSS: What’s your favorite thing you’ve gotten in a care package?

Bracelet from bodybuilding.com... I order from them a lot...

SSSS: What message do you want to share with everyone reading?

Don’t take anything for granted!

By the time we arrived in Kandahar, a second tech had been identified who was going to be "loaned" to us until others arrived. HM2 Venegas was originally assigned to the role III hospital at Kandahar and was a somewhat familiar face as he'd been going through training with the large group that was a week ahead of us at Fort Dix. When we flew from Kandahar up to the FOB, he came with us and quickly became a valuable member of the team. He brings experience and a cool head to the OR and we quickly realized he was a "keeper". Consequently, we asked for, he agreed to, and the role III approved a permanent transfer to keep him with us for the entire deployment. Ladies and gentlemen... HM2 Venegas!

SSSS: What’s your full name?

Rigoberto Venegas

SSSS: Code name?

Rico

SSSS: Why that one?

It’s simple

SSSS: Where were you born?

Houston, TX

SSSS: Married or single?

Married. Married for two years in May.

SSSS: Any kids?

No

SSSS: How long have you been in the military?

5 and a half years

SSSS: Any tattoos?

One

SSSS: What’s food do you miss most being here on the FOB?

My wifes carne asada tacos

SSSS: What’s your favorite food that they serve here?

Crab legs and lobster tails

SSSS: Any food that you absolutely won’t eat?

I’m not really picky. I’ll eat anything actually.

SSSS: What’s your favorite movie of all time?

Empire Strikes Back

SSSS: Team Edward or Team Jacob?

Team Edward. Just cause my wife. She’s even got a t-shirt.

SSSS: Star Wars or Star Trek?

Star Wars

SSSS: Mac or PC?

PC

SSSS: Tupac or Biggie?

Biggie. I like Biggies raps. More like a story

SSSS: Astrological sign?

Gemini

SSSS: Briefs or boxers?

Boxer-briefs

SSSS: If you could teleport from here to anywhere in the world for 6 hours where would you go?

Katy, TX. HOME

SSSS: Lowenbrau, Becks, St Pauli, or O’Douls?

I haven’t had any of them

SSSS: Are you a little bit country or a little bit rock-n-roll?

Rock-n -roll

SSSS: Did you get that last reference?

Now I do because explained

SSSS: What’s your favorite thing you’ve gotten in a care package?

Sweet bread. Pan dulce.

SSSS: What message do you want to share with everyone reading?

May God bless everybody!

Last, but certainly not least, I'd like to introduce you to HM2 Buchner. Our most recent, and probably final, addition to the team. Ms. Buchner has been with us for nearly two weeks now and has integrated into the group well. She's a breath of fresh air in our male dominated OR and she keeps us all on our best behavior. Another experienced surgical tech who clearly knows her stuff, HM2 Buchner rounds out our crew of outstanding surgical techs!

SSSS: What’s your full name?

Morgan Justine Buchner

SSSS: Code name?

Jergan

SSSS: Why that one?

My boyfriend’s name is Jeremiah and mine is Morgan so it’s a merger of the two

SSSS: Where were you born?

Sacramento, CA

SSSS: Married or single?

Single

SSSS: Any kids?

No

SSSS: How long have you been in the military?

7 years this July

SSSS: Any tattoos?

Two. A tribal design on my lower back which is the same as my great grandfather had around his arm. He was in the Navy in WWII. He passed away when I was about 14 and I knew I would get that tattoo. I was naive when I got it and didn't realize tattoos in that location were called "tramp stamps"... And the turtle on my foot is for my brother. Mom picked an animal for each of us when we were little. She'd give us gifts with that particular animal theme. So my brother’s animal was a turtle. Mine was a monkey. My Mom's nickname for me was “Monkey Mo”!

SSSS: What’s food do you miss most being here on the FOB?

Chipotle. I eat it every other day back home.

SSSS: What’s your favorite food that they serve here?

Scrambled eggs with ham and cheese

SSSS: Any food that you absolutely won’t eat?

I don’t eat pork. … except the little bits or shredded ham in the scramble!

SSSS: What’s your favorite movie of all time?

Sixteen Candles. I'm a big Molly Ringwald fan. Only her 80’s movies though.

SSSS: Team Edward or Team Jacob?

I have no idea. I’ve only seen the movie once. I don’t know the difference between the two.

SSSS: Star Wars or Star Trek?

Spaceballs. I’ve never watched Star Wars OR Star Trek!

SSSS: Mac or PC?

PC. But I’ve been told I should convert!

SSSS: Tupac or Biggie?

No idea.

SSSS: Astrological sign?

Cancer

SSSS: Briefs or boxers?

Boxers. I’ve had the same pair since eighth grade, Mom bought them for my brother and they were too small for him so I got them.

SSSS: If you could teleport from here to anywhere in the world for 6 hours where would you go?

Greece

SSSS: Lowenbrau, Becks, St Pauli, or O’Douls?

Lowenbrau

SSSS: Are you a little bit country or a little bit rock-n-roll?

Country

SSSS: Did you get that last reference?

No

SSSS: What’s your favorite thing you’ve gotten in a care package?

Haven’t gotten one yet. But when I was deployed to Kuwait my favorite was trail mix.

SSSS: What message do you want to share with everyone reading?

If you have a good team you can get through most things. We had a fun positive group in training and the transition to being here has been good because everyone here has been welcoming and nice!