Iraqi leaders visit civilian IED victims at Air Force hospital

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Lisa Spilinek
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) --  One day after a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device explosion devastated residents in the vicinity of the city of Balad, local Iraqi leaders came to the Air Force Theater Hospital here Feb. 11 to visit the attack's most critically wounded.

The hospital serves as the region's premiere hub for medical care as the medical staff treats both coalition force members and Iraqi civilians who would likely not survive without the technologically-advanced care provided there.

The group of visiting Iraqi leaders consisted of Amer Mrhown Al-obedy, mayor of the city of Balad; Col. Hamad Ali Jassim, the 3rd Iraqi Army Battalion commander; Col. Hussein Alwan Hussein Al Saady, city of Balad police chief; and Lt. Col. Faisal Malik, the national police commander.

The men were taken to the bedsides of 16 car bombing victims, including two children who had been airlifted to the hospital the evening before by Soldiers from Forward Operating Base Poliwada. The injured suffered serious injuries to include burns, shrapnel wounds and head injuries. Twenty patients were taken to the hospital, but four, including two children, suffered fatal wounds.

"It's a great honor to see the technology you have here," said Mayor Amer.  He also said the suffering "breaks his heart" and that he would like to teach people about not committing crimes against humanity.

Accompanying the group was an Iraqi television cameraman, and the mayor as well as Colonel Hamad provided statements denouncing the attack while surrounded by their injured countrymen.

"Innocent people were targeted. That is sabotage. I would like to see my country free and safe," Colonel Hamad said. 

Col. Timothy Halligan, the 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group deputy commander, credited the Air Force Theater Hospital doctors and nurses with saving the lives of the 16 car bombing victims.  The efforts made to save the lives of the patients involved nearly 77 hours in surgery by hospital doctors.

"It's an honor to take care of your people," Colonel Halligan said an on-camera for the Iraqi people. "This is a war we are fighting together."

As they made their rounds throughout the hospital's intensive care unit, the Iraqi leaders clasped hands with many of the patients and wished them well.

For one member of the group, the visit to the ward brought back personal memories. Colonel Hamad himself had been a patient at the hospital only two months ago following a serious car accident.

"Coalition forces are like angels -- the doctors and the nurses," he said through an interrupter. "Coalition forces are doing their best to care for our people. It is a good thing that coalition forces save not only our people, but also our culture."

Despite the attack, the colonel said security in the region has improved over the past six months thanks to the cooperation between concerned local citizens and coalition forces. He said the tips provided by concerned local citiziens have made securing highways and capturing terrorists easier tasks, adding that terrorists have been put "on the run."

"We are very grateful to coalition forces to help our people," Colonel Faisal said. 

"We thank you in the name of humanity," Mayor Amer said. "The people who are hurt are happy to know they're coming here because they know you have special doctors here to take care of them."

Colonel Halligan said that while he and the medical team at the hospital were more than willing to offer care to all those in need of it, he looked forward to the day that the hospital would be run by local people. 

"We will pray that very soon this will be an Iraqi hospital," he said. "We are working to establish a great friendship." 

(Staff Sgt. Mareshah Haynes from the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs contributed to this article)

Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link)

Click here to view the comments/letters page