Warriors in Peace Operations - Strategic Studies Institute - U.S. Army
Warriors in Peace Operations - Strategic Studies Institute - U.S. Army
Warriors in Peace Operations - Strategic Studies Institute - U.S. Army
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
e<strong>in</strong>g, load-bear<strong>in</strong>g equipment (LBE) would not be<br />
required. Upon completion of their protective mask turn-<strong>in</strong>,<br />
we released the soldiers to d<strong>in</strong>ner.<br />
I immediately went to USAREUR Forward Headquarters<br />
to meet with Lieutenant Colonel Moloff, V Corps<br />
Surgeon, to discuss what our <strong>in</strong>itial operational mission<br />
was. After some discussion, he stated that, at the current<br />
time, we would only have a sick call mission. I then<br />
proceeded to d<strong>in</strong>ner. We were provided with a hot meal for<br />
d<strong>in</strong>ner that even<strong>in</strong>g, the first s<strong>in</strong>ce we left home. This<br />
proved to be a great morale booster. At d<strong>in</strong>ner, I discussed<br />
our sick call mission with our senior physicians, nurses, and<br />
NCOs, and they then left to beg<strong>in</strong> locat<strong>in</strong>g and prepar<strong>in</strong>g a<br />
site suitable to provide sick call capability.<br />
Shortly after their departure, the Medical Brigade<br />
Sergeant Major came charg<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to the d<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g facility and<br />
stated that they had just had a meet<strong>in</strong>g with Brigadier<br />
General Bell, the Corps Chief of Staff, who stated that he<br />
wanted the “hospital up and function<strong>in</strong>g," with operat<strong>in</strong>g<br />
room (OR) capability, by close of bus<strong>in</strong>ess tomorrow. I then<br />
asked for clarification on “up and function<strong>in</strong>g” and was told<br />
that we should have a function<strong>in</strong>g emergency medical<br />
treatment (EMT) facility along with “some” <strong>in</strong>-patient<br />
capability. Because of this sudden change <strong>in</strong> requirements, I<br />
immediately called a staff meet<strong>in</strong>g with my key cl<strong>in</strong>ical and<br />
operational officers and NCOs to formulate a plan of action<br />
to meet these newly established requirements directed by<br />
Brigadier General Bell.<br />
The Medical Brigade had arranged a site directly across<br />
from the airfield on a concrete aircraft pad. The U.S. Air<br />
Force had been given all these aircraft pads prior to our<br />
arrival, but agreed to allow us to use one-half of one pad for a<br />
“temporary” site for our <strong>in</strong>itial facility until the ground<br />
could be prepared at a different site some one mile away.<br />
After our staff meet<strong>in</strong>g, a handful of us proceeded to the<br />
identified aircraft pad to lay out and measure a course of<br />
action for the follow<strong>in</strong>g day. It was now about 2000, and the<br />
222