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!
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