FORT McCOY, Wisconsin - After treating more than 20,000 patients and being recognized as the highest volume medical company in Iraq, the 213th Area Support Medical Company (ASMC) of the Arkansas Army National Guard is finally home.
"Our main job was to take care of all sick calls, emergency incoming and mass [casualties] on the base," said Sgt. 1st Class Mark Ross of Hope. "We did everything from X-rays, PDHAs, which is a pre-deployment health assessment, to your daily medical assessments and we also had a 911 crew."
The 70 Soldiers from the North Little Rock and Dumas based unit served as the healers on the battlefield providing 'level II' medical care to all of South Central and Southeast Iraq.
"The only exception between us and regular 'level III' hospital care was we didn't have a chaplain, didn't have a radiologist on staff and we didn't have a dietician, but all the other services that you would get in a hospital, we have," said Maj. Gary Hinkle, commander of the 213th. "Everything from a pharmacy, physical therapy, optometry, dental, a vet, everything else involved in a hospital, we have."
The 911 crew didn't limit its support to American forces. It was also a valuable asset to our allies in need on the battlefield. "We provided [Emergency Medical Services] for all coalition forces, U.S. forces and [third country nationals] that were on post," said Sgt. Jerry Claggett, of Conway, Ark. "We were also in charge of triaging any personnel that were coming onto post, most of those were Iraqi Soldiers and Iraqi police.
"I think it was very important," he said. "It shows that we are not just there to fight; we're there to care."
Based in Tallil, Iraq, the vast medical services provided by the unit kept them extremely busy over the past year. "We outdid four of the [Combat Support Hospitals] there as far as patient load and workload," Hinkle said. "We have a single X-ray guy, who averaged over 650 X-rays a month by himself. They did an outstanding and excellent job."
Providing such a service on the battlefield is significant enough, but the unit achieved another great feat while working to help others. "We completed the mission without any Class A, B or C incidents or accidents, which is a good accomplishment in itself," said Hinkle. "We went through the whole deployment without any injuries to Soldiers or any accidents."
As with any deployment, this one didn't come without its sacrifices. "After waiting 12 years to see your son graduate and not getting to go, it's kind of heartbreaking." said Ross, who missed a key time in his son's life due to the deployment. "Makes you feel guilty."
Despite this disappointment, Ross went on to discuss the importance of the mission in which he participated.
"It's good to go over and help and know that you done something in life, in the military, to help somebody else across the world," he said.
Ross was one of more than half of the unit who had just completed their second tour of duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the majority of which deployed with the state's 296th Medical Company from Hot Springs in 2003.
With the return of the 213th, the Arkansas National Guard continues to have about 3,000 Soldiers and Airmen deployed overseas in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Since Sep. 11, 2001, Arkansas has supported the Global War on Terror with the mobilization of over 11,200 troops, many of the troops represented in this number have served on multiple deployments.