Nikki Tucker and Tucking Into Steaks!

Today I'd like to introduce you to Captain Nikki Tucker, United States Air Force! Nikki is one of our nurses here at FOB Lagman. She hails from Oklahoma and uses her Oklahoma attitude to help keep us all in line! She works on a trauma team here and aside from providing outstanding care for all our patients, she has a great sense of humor and a quick wit about her. She even came up with the winning slogan for our command coin! Captain Tucker is an integral part of our team and I couldn't be happier to be able to introduce you to her!

SSSS: What’s your full name?

Nikki Michelle Tucker

SSSS: Code name?

Snowflake

SSSS: Why that one?

Well, I could say it’s because I’m kinda pale with dark hair. The other reason is that the former team said some of the Army girls were going make me their girlfriend so it was like a prison name!

SSSS: Where were you born?

Oklahoma City

SSSS: Married or single?

Married

SSSS: Any kids?

A 2 year old son named Seth

SSSS: How long have you been in the military?

9 years in July

SSSS: Any tattoos?

No. I think I'm one of the few people on the FOB without one!

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

Pizza... Real pizza.... Old Chicago Pizza!

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

I guess the Omelets are pretty good...

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

I'm very picky so I won’t eat most of it.

SSSS: Picky Nikki?

Yeah... I guess!

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

No idea. There are so many I can’t pick one.

SSSS: Team Edward or Team Jacob?

Well... I read all the books so, even though I know Bella ends up with Edward and everything I still like Jacob better!

SSSS: Star Wars or Star Trek?

Star Wars

SSSS: Mac or PC?

What’s the difference?

SSSS: Tupac or Biggie?

Biggie

SSSS: Astrological sign?

Aries

SSSS: Briefs or boxers?

Boxer-briefs!

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

An island in the Carribean.

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

St. Pauli

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

Both

SSSS: Did you get that last reference?

Yeah. It’s those brother and sister group people… I forgot their names

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

Pictures of my son.

SSSS: Is that really your favorite or just the only one you're willing to tell me about?

The only one I'm willing to tell you about!

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

It’s been exciting to be here! I'm glad I came but am so ready to come home!

So now that you have gotten to meet Nikki I wanted to tell you about an AMAZING lady who, along with her husband, runs a family farm in Virginia. First, the background...

Getting good, properly cooked, fresh meat out here is extremely difficult. The DFAC does the best they can but it's pretty much impossible to cook for 500 people plus and get it perfect. A few weeks ago, Christian began researching places that might ship fresh meat, packed in dry ice, to APO addresses. It turns out that very few companies are willing. Ultimately, he was able to contact Robin Rider of Rider's Backfield Farm, in Etlan, VA and, after some discussion about the logistics, she agreed to help us out!

Sunday afternoon at mail call our dreams of fresh beef came true! Two T-bones, two Porterhouse, two Ribeyes and two Sirloins in addition to 6 pounds of ground beef, four pounds of sausages, and a "goodie box" full of jams, jellies, and homemade soap arrived! The meat was all still cold and some was still frozen! Needless to say, we immediately fired up the barbecue and went to work!

The result was amazing! The grassfed beef from Rider's, rubbed with a little olive oil and seasoned with just salt and pepper came off the grill sizzling and juicy! The first bite was like heaven and the beef just melted in our mouths! We were two VERY happy surgeons by the time we put down our forks, gnawed on the bones, and licked the juice off the plates! A HUGE THANKS to Robin and her husband Jimmy there at Backfield! You are the best! Anyone looking for top quality grass fed beef please contact Jimmy and Robin at the link above. You won't be disappointed!

The Gas Passers...

No. This entry is not about flatulence. As I continue to introduce you to the team, it sometimes makes sense to clump people together by the job they do. Sometimes it has more to do with who I've actually interviewed so far. In any event, today I'm featuring our anesthesia team. We (usually) can't do surgery without anesthesia and, since we ARE a forward surgical team, we would be relatively crippled without these two "gas passers", as we affectionately refer to them.

LCDR Wade Vincent is our anesthesiologist coming jet fresh from the island of Oahu where he practices at Tripler Army Medical Center. Funny thing about Dr. Vincent; when we were at NMPS on the first official day of this deployment, a somewhat familiar looking guy approached me and knew my name. Obviously it was Wade, and he recognized me as having been a year or so ahead of him it Utah and then again at USUHS. Small Navy! Anyway, Wade runs the anesthesia for the team and is also my partner in crime when it comes to the (not so) urban farming operation we're trying to get off the ground here as we long for good veggies. So without further ado... LCDR Vincent!

SSSS: What’s your full name?

John Wade Vincent

SSSS: Code name?

Morpheus

SSSS: Why that one?

He is the Roman God of Dreams

SSSS: Where were you born?

Provo, UT. Utah Valley Regional Medical Center

SSSS: Married or single?

Married

SSSS: Any kids?

Nine kids! Adam 24, Aimee 22, Aaron 20, Aubree 16, Allee 10, Abbee 8, Aiden 6, Austin 4, Avaree 2. It’s a lot of fun! Never a dull moment… and if there is, it means they’re into something!

SSSS: How long have you been in the military?

Almost 25 years. I was prior enlisted as a DS – Data Systems technician.

SSSS: Any tattoos?

No

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

Pizza. Hawaiian pizza.

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

I like the fresh fruit. Especially the pineapple! Closest to Hawaiian that I’ve ever had!

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

No. It’s funny… we don’t go out to restaurants very often but some of the places I’ve been with you guys opens my eyes to why people really “like to eat”!

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

Avatar. In 3D The 3D blew me away! I think I saw it 3 times in 3D.

SSSS: Team Edward or Team Jacob?

Oh gosh…. Ummmm.. I like Jacob. Edward's a little too yuppie for me. I like the Indians but don’t care for yuppies too much.

SSSS: Star Wars or Star Trek?

Star Wars

SSSS: Mac or PC?

I would say Mac but I’m too cheap to own one. You could say that I have Mac envy.

SSSS: Tupac or Biggie?

I don’t know either one really…

SSSS: Astrological sign?

Gemini

SSSS: Briefs or boxers?

Briefs

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

Back home to Hawaii

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

Rock-n-roll

SSSS: Did you get that last reference?

Born and raised in Provo... DUH!

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

It’s either the grow-light or this small bullet blender my wife sent. I get enjoyment out of both every day!

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

I appreciate all the support. It means a lot. None of us do this job for the money but we believe in what we do and when people back home share their appreciation for what we do it means the world to me.

Wow! Great to get to know Wade a little better! But hang on folks! Dr. Vincent is only half of our anesthesia team here on FOB Lagman! Coming to us from Florida by way of San Diego is the one and only LT Gerald Gambala. Gerald, or "Gamba" as we often refer to him, is a certified registered nurse anesthetist. He provides great anesthesia for us and loves to teach our corpsmen, as he was once one himself! He is part of the local branch of the Filipino mafia and comes with navy heritage as his Dad was in the Navy too! Let's get to know the other man behind the blood brain barrier a little bit better...

SSSS: What’s your full name?

Gerald Tolo Gambala

SSSS: Code name?

Hypnos

SSSS: Why that one?

Greek god of sleep

SSSS: Where were you born?

Milton, Folrida

SSSS: Married or single?

Married

SSSS: Any kids?

Two. A 13 year old girl and a 6 year old boy

SSSS: How long have you been in the military?

20 years. Started as a corpsman for 11 years, then got out, got my degree and came back.

SSSS: Any tattoos?

Two. My favorite is the dragon on my left shoulder. I got it free for helping save the guy's life who owned the tattoo parlor. He coded on the cardiac cath table.

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

Anything Filipino. My favorite Filipino food is Kare-Kare (peanut butter oxtail stew)

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

Everything’s edible when the menu’s on a weekly rotation.

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

Anything with curry. Not a big fan of curry.

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

I don't really have one. I enjoy all movies.

SSSS: Team Edward or Team Jacob?

I’m gonna say I’m uh… Team Jacob. Ask my wife.

SSSS: Star Wars or Star Trek?

Star Wars

SSSS: Mac or PC?

I have both. Just bought the Mac and it already broke down

SSSS: Tupac or Biggie?

Tupac

SSSS: Astrological sign?

Scorpio

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?

Home

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

St. Pauli

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

Rock –n -roll

SSSS: Did you get that last reference?

I have no idea.

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

Anything from my wife. She and my son sent easter cards.

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

Hello to my family and friends. All is well. Five more months to go. Love to my wife and kids.

Indiscriminate

IED: An improvised explosive device (IED), also known as a roadside bomb, is a homemade bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action. It may be constructed of conventional military explosives, such as an artillery round, attached to a detonating mechanism.

The above entry is from Wikipedia. If you want to read more about them go here.

Most IED's are set off with pressure plates, trip-wires, or other passive means so they don't discriminate who they injure or kill. The evil men who place them either don't care who they kill or are too short-sighted to consider that they might kill their own people.

Today, an IED exploded outside a mosque in a nearby town. We received four casualties from the blast. All four were children under the age of 10 and only two survived. We take as much comfort as we can in the knowledge that we did everything we could to save them but that doesn't really make it any better. I can only pray that the two who survived will remember the kindness we showed them.

How we can win a war against people who will sacrifice their own children in order to win is beyond my understanding...

A new month... and more team members!

Hey all! It's April! One month closer to home! Today, I'm going to do two posts in an effort to keep up the pace in getting you all acquainted with the team. I can't say enough times, how grateful I am for what an amazing group of people we have here. Today, I'm going to feature two of our Air Force colleagues; MSgt McElvaney and 1st LT Sommerville. Even though they are chAir Force, we're lucky to have them on the team!

MSgt McElvaney (Mac for short) is our second most senior enlisted member and brings a wealth of information, experience and leadership to our group. He bleeds orange and blue and is a great all around guy to have on the team. He likes long walks on the beach and... well, never mind... here we go!

SSSS: What’s your full name?

Gregory Thomas McElvaney

SSSS: Code name?

Jimmy Neutron

SSSS: Why that one?

I don’t know. The old team did it.

SSSS: Where were you born?

Kenosha, WI

SSSS: Is that a real place?

Yes. It’s a real place.

SSSS: Married or single?

Married

SSSS: Any kids?

Two boys. Tyler and Christian

SSSS: How long have you been in the military?

17 years 10 months

SSSS: Any tattoos?

Gator

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

Wow. Good question… Italian Beef from Lukes in Phoenix

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

Eggplant parmesan

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

Insects

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

Goonies

SSSS: Team Edward or Team Jacob?

Neither

SSSS: Star Wars or Star Trek?

Star wars

SSSS: Mac or PC?

PC

SSSS: Tupac or Biggie?

Neither

SSSS: Astrological sign?

Sagittarius

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?

Home

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

Haven’t had all four but probably Becks… in a bottle… not a can… Actually St Pauli girl

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

Country

SSSS: Did you get that last reference?

Yes (Whispered) Donnie and Marie

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

Cards/letters from wife

SSSS: Is that really your favorite thing or is it just the best one you can mention?

Really

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

Don’t have one… Oh the Air Force is real… and we do deploy!

Solid work, Mac! Now, on to 1st LT Sommerville! Ms. Sommerville is one of the amazing nurses we have here at the FST. She makes sure our blood supply is what it should be and takes incredible care of the patients we see. She NEVER disturbs the surgeons at night and ALWAYS has a smile on her face! LT Sommerville is another example of how our team consists of only the cream of the crop!

SSSS: What’s your full name?

Natasha Sommerville

SSSS: Code name?

Betty Boop

SSSS: Why that one?

Always liked the character… I like cartoons!

SSSS: Any favorites?

Family Guy and Simpsons.

SSSS: Where were you born?

Mount Holly New Jersey. I'm an Air Force kid. My Dad was in aircraft maintenance at McGuire AFB.

SSSS: Married or single?

Single. Watch out!

SSSS: How long have you been in the military?

2 years.

SSSS: Any tattoos?

One. A heart that says "Always"

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

Taco Bell... and Airheads…

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

The spaghetti with meat sauce. I eat all of that

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

White gravy.

SSSS: (GASP!) What about biscuits and gravy?

No! White gravy is unnatural… that’s nasty.

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

The Lion King. Still makes me cry…

SSSS: Team Edward or Team Jacob?

Team Jacob. Cuz he’s a real wolf! I think he’s cute. He seems stronger.

SSSS: Star Wars or Star Trek?

Star Trek… Next Generation… Captain Piccard

SSSS: Mac or PC?

PC

SSSS: Tupac or Biggie?

Biggie. East Coast!

SSSS: Astrological sign?

Aquarius

SSSS: Briefs or boxers?

It’s so hard to say…. Briefs?

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

I would go to Mexico… Cancun!

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

Rock and roll

SSSS: Did you get that last reference?

Yeah

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

Lotion. Smelly lotion…. I like that….

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

Live life to the fullest. Live every day like your last.

Don't mess...

Today's features team member is HM3 (FMF) Todd Cecil. Cecil is a Fleet Marine Corspman, a former member of the US Navy Marksmanship team, and an all around good guy. Here at the FST he works on trauma team one and has been my go to guy for help with ortho patients. (Mainly because he's the biggest guy on the team! What can I say, we knuckle draggers have to hang together!)

Cecil also manages to stay popular by picking up mail and keeping the guys in the mail room working so that we actually GET mail. He recently re-enlisted and honored me with the privilege of administering his re-enlistment oath. I hope you all enjoy learning a little more about HM3 Cecil!

SSSS: What’s your full name?

Todd Russell Cecil

SSSS: Code name?

El Diablo also known as the fightin’rooster!

SSSS: Why that one?

Shake and bake

SSSS: Where were you born?

Lubbock, TX. God’s great state in the republic of Texas!

SSSS: Married or single?

Married

SSSS: Any kids?

Daughter age 1 yr, Caralee

SSSS: How long have you been in the military?

3 years

SSSS: Any tattoos?

Fourteen. My favorite is the one in Arabic on my calf. It means “Sons of Abraham”

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

Bangers and mash

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

Omelets

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

I have yet to find something I won’t eat. I’ll try anything at least 3 times.

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

Cool Hand Luke

SSSS: Team Edward or Team Jacob?

I know the reference but I’ve never seen the movie. I don’t even know who any of them are. I’d say team Edward because Jacob just sounds like a wussy.

SSSS: Star Wars or Star Trek?

Real men like Star Wars

SSSS: Mac or PC?

PC

SSSS: Tupac or Biggie?

Not a real big fan of either one

SSSS: Astrological sign?

Cancer

SSSS: Briefs or boxers?

Boxer-breiefs

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

My wife’s bosum.

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?

Yeah

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

Only got one. Protein was the only thing in it.

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

Don’t mess with Texas!

The Team... Medinareyes Edition!

Many of you have asked me about all the folks I work with here at the FST. I can honestly say that, without exception, we have a amazing group of men and women here! It is really impressive that so many people from such varied backgrounds can come together as a true team and make miracles happen. I wish I could introduce every one of you to every one of them, in person, but, given the fact that we are spread out all across the country and many of you don't even live near me, that would be an impossible feat. The next best thing is to introduce them all here. To that end, over the course of the next couple of months, I'm going to (try to) feature three team members a week on the blog including a photo or two and an interview with each one.

My first "victim" is the guy who, aside from being a super corpsman, makes all our administration run smoothly. Of all of us, he probably spends the most time of all actually in the FST answering telephones, typing memos, and keeping things flowing smoothly. HM2 Medinareyes is our admin corpsman extraordinaire, and the first team member to be interviewed for this new feature!

So here goes...

SSSS: What’s your full name?

Luis Enrique Medinareyes

SSSS: Code name?

Giggles

SSSS: Why that one?

Because I giggle. Actually it's "giggles" or the "mean queen". Both were given by Venegas and Simpson. Mean queen because I use lots of hair products.

SSSS: Where were you born?

Morelia, MX

SSSS: Married or single?

Single

SSSS: Any kids?

No

SSSS: How long have you been in the military?

6 years

SSSS: Any tattoos?

No

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

Bar food. Chicken wings especially. These traditional buffalo wings I had at a bar on Bourbon St. in New Orleans are the best I've ever had!

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

I look forward to the herbed potatoes they serve at breakfast

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

No

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

Kill Bill Vol. 1

SSSS: Team Edward or Team Jacob?

Jacob because he’s Hispanic or Indian... or something...

SSSS: Star Wars or Star Trek?

Star Wars

SSSS: Mac or PC?

Mac but because of the military I have to use a PC.

SSSS: Tupac or Biggie?

Tupac

SSSS: Astrological sign?

Capricorn

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?

Okinawa

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

Corona

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

Little bit country

SSSS: Did you get that last reference?

No

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

Cinco de Mayo decorations!

SSSS: Is that really your favorite thing or is it just the best one you can mention?

Really!

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

Keep praying for those of us that need it. Wish luck for those of us who don’t need it. I look forward to seeing you all six months from now.

So there you have it. HM2 Medinareyes (Giggles) in a nutshell! Hope you all enjoyed the introduction!

Until next time...

All work and no play...

On the wall just next to the door in my room, a few of the former occupants have channelled Jack Torrance from The Shining and crystallized FOB life into a single sentence. A typical day here can be truly boring if you fail to create little distractions for yourself. In general, a typical day goes something like this:

Wake up, get dressed, eat breakfast, go to muster, go to the gym, eat lunch, take a nap, read a book or watch a movie, go to dinner, Skype with family, go to bed.

Interspersed through the day we try to place little diversions... just to mix it up! The unscheduled "diversion" of a trauma call definitely takes up some time. That said, patching up another Afghan national who rolled his vehicle or ran over an IED is less than pleasant. These poor people live in unimaginable conditions and deal with terribly unpleasant "neighbors", (spelled T-A-L-I-B-A-N), on a constant basis. Worse yet is the constant nagging thought that the 14 year old boy you're working on who "blew his hand up with unexploded ordinance" was actually being trained by the surly "uncle" accompanying him to build more IED's... But alas, ours is not to reason why...

More fun than trauma calls are the bits of tomfoolery we engage in throughout the day... Recently, a couple friends

sent me a teen mag full of awesome posters! Not wanting to

hog all that adolescent cuteness for my self, we decided to share with Dr. Ortiz.

The funny thing is, he liked the posters SO MUCH that, rather than leave them on his door, he decided to give them a place of honor at the head of his bed. Now they are the last thing he looks at before he goes to bed each night!