Docs celebrate 110th Birthday in Iraq

AL-ASAD, Iraq (June 17, 2008) – Navy corpsmen served alongside Marines storming beaches, tucked in trenches, raiding houses, and raising an American flag on Mt. Suribachi. Their eyes see a grueling side of war and their skillful hands provide critical interventions that save lives.

Today marks the 110th anniversary of the Navy Hospital Corps, a day to reflect on noteworthy accomplishments of the medical personnel both home and abroad.

“The Navy Hospital Corps’ birthday is special to me in a number of ways,” said Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Rodrick Jones, a corpsman with Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 4, Marine Central Command (Forward). “The Hospital Corps’ history is incredible and being here in Iraq and doing what we are supposed to do makes this day great.”

Corpsmen have contributed during peacetime emergencies and conflicts dating back to the early 1900s.

“Any place Marines go, beside them you will find a Navy corpsman: into battle, a night on the town or just hanging out at the barracks,” explained Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Sean Dustman, a corpsman with Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd MAW (Fwd.). “With us beside them, they know they have someone at their back to take care of them no matter what. And in return, they take care of us.”

According to http://www.corpsman.com. these heroes have earned 22 Medals of Honor, 174 Navy Crosses, 946 Silver Stars, 1,582 Bronze Stars and 31 Army Distinguished Service Medals.

“Some of the best Marines I have ever served with, have been Navy corpsmen,” said Sgt. Maj. David Devaney, the sergeant major for Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 4, Marine Central Command (Fwd.).

In some cases, such as the Battle of Iwo Jima, the corpsmen casualty percentage tallied more than that of the Marines in their care. Nonetheless, they continued to answer the call of “Corpsman up!” According to www.hotym.org/ymnavy.html, During World War II, 97 out of every 100 wounded men recovered due to corpsmen involvement.

“Whether I’m performing basic sick call or ensuring the daily health of the Marines, I like being there for them when I’m needed,” said Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Eric Locke, a corpsman with Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd MAW (Fwd.). “Simply being called ‘Doc’ really gives me a sense of pride.”

Marines learn skills to save lives

Cpl. Jessica Aranda

AL ASAD, Iraq (June 14, 2008) – Marines deployed with 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) recently became certified lifesavers after completing a class hosted by Navy corpsman here June 13.

The combat lifesaver skills course is designed to train non-medical personnel the basics of emergency care, enabling them to step in and provide assistance to patients and corpsman in a combat environment.

“While conducting combat operations, there could only be one corpsman assigned to an entire unit of Marines,” explained Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Rodrick Jones, the course instructor and corpsman with Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 3, 3rd MAW (Fwd.) “So when an emergency arises, these combat lifesavers become integral to stabilizing patients and assisting the corpsman.”

During the 40-hour course, instructors teach students enhanced first aid, such as clearing an airway and maintaining breathing and circulation. With hands-on activities, Marines learned how to stop bleeding, start an IV, stabilize patients with spinal injuries and treat heat casualties.

“This course gave me the confidence to help my buddies should any emergency situation arise,” said Cpl. Fabian Reynolds, a communications and navigations radar technician with Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 4. “I now have a better chance of saving their lives instead of running around frantically wondering what I need to do.” explained Reynolds, a native of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

At the conclusion of the course, Marines had the opportunity to apply all the procedures they learned during a mock-casualty drill. During the drill, students arrived on scene to find simulated patients with unknown injuries. With assistance from instructors, students had to assess injuries and decide how to treat victims based on the care methods they learned during class.

“I am hoping that each student takes away a general knowledge of how to treat injuries,” explained Jones, a native of Gaston, Ala. “Not just emergencies that could happen in Iraq, but emergencies that could occur in the home or in a traffic accident they may happen to arrive at. If they apply what they learned in this course, they could make the difference between life and death for a patient.”

Lioness Program

Navy docs extend treatment to local village

Cpl. Jessica N. Aranda

AL-ANBAR PROVINCE, Iraq (May 15, 2008) – Medical personnel attached to Marine Wing Support Squadrons 172 and 274 visited a local village to participate in a cooperative medical engagement here today.

CME missions are dedicated to providing health care to local nationals who lack adequate facilities while simultaneously raising awareness on the people’s health conditions to the Iraqi government.

“The Marine Corps is often involved in special task forces, so humanitarian efforts like this one are not a foreign concept to the military,” said Navy Lt. Cmdr. Christina M. Williams, the medical officer for MWSS-274.

We go to the community to screen patients, share resources and report our findings back to the Iraqi Minister of Health, explained Williams.

During the mission, personnel set up a clinic at the town’s school where locals met with medical staff to discuss health issues.

While examining more than 30 Iraqis, doctors discovered a myriad of illnesses ranging from hypertension and respiratory infections to intestinal diseases, a consequence of drinking unsanitary water.

To treat these illnesses, the medical personnel distributed bottled water and antibiotics. The CME team also passed out toiletries, demonstrated how to brush teeth and taught locals the importance of proper hygiene.

“I think the people were very happy to see us here,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Traci Inniss, the senior petty officer for MWSS-274. “We brought them medicines they can’t afford or they don’t have the means to get because there is no local doctor.”

The long-term goal of CMEs is to give the Iraqi people a sustainable medical program of their own.

“We do not want the communities to become dependent on us because they will feel abandoned after we leave,” explained Williams. “We are assisting them in assisting themselves. We are teaching them to take care of their own so the Iraqis see their own people as a source of help.

“Like the saying goes, ‘If you give a man a fish, he’ll eat for a day. If you teach a man to fish, he’ll eat for a lifetime.’ We are doing just that,” added Williams.

The medical personnel plan several follow-up CME visits to the village in the future.

Ten to one

Cpl. Jessica Aranda

AL ASAD, Iraq (May 1, 2008) –He’s traveled to countries including Japan, Saudi Arabia, Hungary and Australia since his enlistment in 1982. But when he received the deployment roster for his current assignment, he noticed something unique about his upcoming duty here.

Master Gunnery Sgt. Sean P. Jevning’s unit, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 13, would be deploying with MALS-11, the parent command of his son, Cpl. Robert S. Jevning.

Both father and son work in aviation ordnance, but since Robert’s enlistment two years ago, the duo decided to keep their careers separate to maintain professionalism. Now, they both contribute to the daily missions of MALS-16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward).

“We have never worked together until now,” said Sean, who is on his tenth deployment. “We both wanted the same job but we didn’t want our careers interfering with each other. I was cautious when I first found out we would be here together, because of the idea of preferential treatment.”

Robert was born in California when his father was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro. From there, he followed his father’s career to Seattle, Wash., Beaufort, S.C., and Okinawa, Japan.
“Growing up, I was fairly adamant about not becoming a Marine,” said Robert. “But as I got older, I got wiser. I made the decision, and haven’t looked back since.”

“I was very proud of my son’s decision,” said Sean. “I expected it, even though he didn’t.”

Robert, who is on his first deployment, recently won the combat meritorious sergeant board for the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and is scheduled to be promoted Friday.

“To have my dad here and be able to tell him I won face-to-face was indescribable,” said Robert.

Accomplishments like this one represent how ordnance Marines stand out amongst their peers for their professionalism, explained the father and son.

“I am both professionally and personally proud,” said Sean, a native of Pflugerville, Texas. “I consider myself lucky because of the professionalism and accomplishments of all my Marines. There is also a father’s pride that can’t be described.”

The two Marines say the company of a family member has made the deployment easier for them, and their family back home.

“I think my wife has a good level of comfort knowing we are both here, taking care of each other,” said Sean. “To have him here makes me one of the luckiest men around. Not many people get to go war with their son.”

‘Batting’ a thousand

Cpl. Jessica Aranda

AL WALEED, Iraq (April 20, 2008) – A small team of lance corporals, corporals and one sergeant augmented from units of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) hold the responsibility of screening 100 percent of personnel coming through Iraq’s second busiest port of entry.

The “BATS” Marines, nicknamed after the Biometrics Automated Toolset electronics system they use, photograph, document and scan the fingerprint and irises of each person crossing the border.

Programmed into their BATS system are the profiles of highly-valued individuals and wanted insurgents. The equipment alerts the Marines when a profile matches that of a terrorist or foreign fighter and they call Multi National Force – West headquarters for guidance on detaining the suspect.

Should MNF-West deem detainment necessary, the Marines have 24 hours to deliver the detainee to Camp Korean Village, and 48 hours to transport them to Al Asad Air Base.

“I think our job is very important,” said Cpl. Kevin Davis, a member of the team and Dallas native. “The transition teams here are enforcing rules and training the Iraqis, but we are the only team dedicated to finding and eliminating terrorists from entering the country.”

The team goes out at different times to avert possible threats and suicide bombers from planning any operation against the BATS Marines. Once they patrol to the port, the group stops all vehicles and begins scanning the irises of each passenger.

The Marines “BAT” thousands of individuals each week, ensuring no terrorist crosses through the border by hiding in the realms of innocent citizens.

“We catch as many people as we can to prevent them from endangering the Marines and Iraqi people down the line,” said Cpl. Conrad Keoni, the BATS noncommissioned officer in charge and a Farmington, N.M., native.

The BATS team is a 60-day augment, and the Marines do most of their training on the job. In their short time here, they have learned basic the basic Arabic language and customs, and honed combat skills.

“Being a part of the BATS team is completely different from my job,” said Cpl. Steven Aguilar, a San Antonio, Texas, native and administrative clerk with Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38. “I got the opportunity to obtain real combat experience. I also learned that the Iraqi’s are very hospitable people verses what is shown on TV. ”

Marines assist Iraqi brigade to secure Western borders

Cpl. Jessica Aranda

AL WALEED, Iraq (April 17, 2008) – Border enforcement, the foundation in building a nation’s security, is an important line of defense against threats entering Iraq.

The Marines of the Border Transition Team for the Iraqi 5th Brigade, 2nd Region train, mentor and advise Iraq’s Department of Border Enforcement on a daily basis, ensuring security of the region.

The BTT members, all augments of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, work most frequently with the Desert Wolves, the headquarters of the 5th Brigade, who heads three battalions responsible for deterring all illegal cross-border activity in their area of operations.

The mission of the Desert Wolves includes securing the Iraqi-Jordanian and Syrian borders; preventing terrorists and smugglers from entering the country. They work out of border forts— small cement structures located just inland of the border, to prevent any illegal entries.

“By degrading the enemy’s access to weapons and reinforcements into the country, the Desert Wolves are establishing a safer place for the free-Iraqi people and the coalition forces here to support them,” said Capt. Wade Fairbanks, the operations officer for the BTT.

“We are trying to train the Desert Wolves to function effectively as a unit and support their subordinate units,” continued Fairbanks. “Instead of providing solutions for our counterparts, our focus is helping them develop their own solutions.”

The BTT trains the Desert Wolves in every aspect; from logistics and communication to the fundamentals of leadership. They teach them the importance of working through a chain-of-command and documenting all work procedures.

The team, along with members of the U.S. Border Patrol, monitors all training evolutions to ensure technical and tactical proficiency.

When working with the Desert Wolves, the BTT conforms to the Iraqi custom of becoming friends with the unit’s personnel before conducting business. Friendships and familiar faces create trust, and teaching begins once that trust is established.

Since the Department of Border Enforcement rotates shifts regularly the Marines face challenges in making progress with the new staff.

To combat the complexities of the continuously fluid environment, the Marines use ingenuity and wit to accomplish their mission, explained Fairbanks.

“Our daily presence is what is making a difference,” explained WO1 Oscar Gonzalez, the logistics officer for the BTT.

As the Iraqis begin adapting the procedures taught by the Marines, the BTT can assume the role of a supervisor. One example of success for the Desert Wolves is their first Iraqi-planned and executed convoy from Al-Waleed to Baghdad, some 550 kilometers away.

“The Marines have made most of the soldiers here become ‘real soldiers’ by pushing them into a military way of life,” said Iraqi Staff Col. Attia Al-Ali, the superior officer for the Desert Wolves.

“The Marines provide my guys with constant training in communications, logistics, medical training, inspections and even ethics.”

We now have a unit that can secure and control the borders of Iraq, explained Al-Ali.

“We could not do our job without the help of the Marines and the coalition forces,” he concluded.

Marines, UN visit Palestinian refugee camp

Cpl. Jessica Aranda

The Border Transition Team of the Iraqi 5th Brigade, 2nd Region, made up of Marines from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, escorted staff from the United Nations to assess the living conditions of more than 1700 Palestinian refugees here.

Humanitarian assistance projects such as this complement the security provided by the Border Transition Team and symbolize how the Marine Corps reaches past their normal operations to assist local nationals.

Because of a continuous influx into the camp, Multi National Force – West tasked the Marines at Combat Outpost Waleed to support the U.N's High Commissioner for Refugees' mission. The Marines escorted the U.N. staff to the refugee camp, in an effort to offer a safe, sanitary way of life.

"We provided the logistical, transportation and security support for U.N. personnel in order to allow them to conduct humanitarian aide efforts," said 1st Lt. Michael Miller, the mission commander and intelligence officer for the Border Transition Team of the Iraqi 5th Brigade, 2nd Region.

The mission lasted two days, allocating the representatives enough time to conduct a detailed survey of the area. The Marines transported the staff in a convoy both days, posted security during the mission and provided billeting for the staff at the outpost.

"We came here in a combined effort to do technical assessments to improve the water, hygiene and sanitation conditions of the camp," said Marilyn Virrey-Raguin, a U.N. representative. "Because of the war, we have many challenges in accessing sites like this one, so the security protocols provided by the Marines were critical to our mission."

All of the displaced personnel once fell under the regime of Saddam Hussein. After his fall in 2003, the men, women, and children were forced by the Iraqis to flee Baghdad. With no where else to go, they found a safe haven just minutes away from the Iraqi-Syrian border.

Their camp consists of a mass of tattered tents in the open desert, surrounded by trash and a small, gapping concertina-wire boundary. To outsiders, this may look like a third-world great depression, but for the Palestinian children, it is all they know.

After walking around the camp and talking with the refugees, the U.N. representatives head back to their respective headquarters to report their findings and begin planning for improvements.

"Walking around the camp, you see these tough Marines become soft-hearted at the sight of these kids," said Gunnery Sgt. Christopher Hurst, the intelligence chief for the BTT. "I think it’s a good thing we are doing this and we are happy to be a part of any mission to help them.”

The BTT Marines escort the U.N. to visit and assess the camp each month.

Feeding the wolves

Feeding the wolves

Lance Cpl. Jessica Aranda

AL ASAD, Iraq (March 21, 2008) – The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) keeps supplies stocked across the area of operations through weekly resupply missions, including deliveries to “feed” the Marines at Combat Outpost Timberwolf.

Located in the mountainous terrain near the Euphrates River, the outpost is supplied by Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 and a Helicopter Support Team.

The HST Marines load pallets of supplies, guide the helicopter into the landing zone and externally connect the cargo to the helicopter.

“We assure the Marines working in remote areas have their necessities when they need them,” said Sgt. Eric Solano, the Arrival/Departure Air Control Group staff noncommissioned officer-in-charge. “Loading the supplies externally ensures the aircrew can fly into a hot-zone and hover overhead without having to touch the deck. Airlifts are faster than convoys and they alleviate the risk of putting Marines in harm’s way.”

“If it takes two hours for a convoy to deliver these supplies, then that’s two hours the Marines are exposed to potential threats,” added Solano, a San Fernando Valley, Calif., native. “We eliminate that risk.”

To rig each external load, the landing support-specialists attached to the HST withstand hurricane-like winds as the massive helicopter hovers above their heads.

While focusing on properly connecting the load to the helicopter, the Marines also focus on the safety of the team.

“As the safety NCO, my main job is to keep an eye on everyone and everything that’s going on,” said Cpl. Michael Hernandez, a landing support specialist with Combat Logistics Battalion 6.
Each resupply is a chance for us to put our training into play, explained Hernandez.

The helicopters most commonly transport pallets of bottled water, food, fuel and mail.

“External lifts are the fastest way to transport equipment,” said Capt. John Mitchell, a pilot with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361. “We can carry larger things which wouldn’t otherwise fit inside the helicopter. By supporting outposts such as Timberwolf, we are giving the Marines the necessary sustenance to maintain their post and do their job.”

Marines transport precious cargo, reunite healthier toddler with family

Lance Cpl. Jessica N. Aranda

AL ASAD, Iraq (March 7, 2008) – Assets of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) assisted in reuniting an Iraqi child with her family March 7.
Humanitarian assistance missions are just one of the ways 3rd MAW contributes to building a stronger bond between the Marine Corps and local nationals throughout al-Anbar.
“These types of missions demonstrate our willingness to partner with the Iraqi people,” said Lt. Col William T. Bufkin, the 3rd MAW (Fwd.) future operations officer. “It shows that we support Iraq as a whole. Anytime the Aviation Combat Element can serve more than a military need, it only strengthens our cause here.”
Three-year-old Amenah Fattah returned from Nashville, Tenn., after receiving open-heart surgery to repair a defect, as there were no Iraqi facilities capable of executing the extensive medical procedures.
The Marines of 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment first discovered the toddler during a routine patrol through Haditha in 2007. The Marines noticed the girl’s blue lips and fingers and sought help.
“To see someone in need and want to help is human nature, and typical of a Marine,” said Sgt. Maj. Frank Scott, the 3rd MAW (Fwd.) sergeant major. “It was simply the right thing to do. The people are our main focus here, and Operation Amenah shows that.”
After discovering the child’s potentially fatal condition, the concerned Marines raised more than $30,000. The surgery performed at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt came to no cost to the family.
A year after Amenah’s first encounter with the Marines, she arrived home with good health and another chance at life.
A KC-130J Hercules belonging to Marine Aeriel Refeuling Squadron 352 transported Amenah’s father to Baghdad, where he reunited with his wife and daughter. From there, the family traveled to Al Asad, where they boarded an MV-22 Osprey to Haditha.
Utilizing air assets allowed the family to travel with the highest margin of safety, explained Capt. John A. Sax, an MV-22 pilot with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263.
During the flight, the air crew made the voyage as comfortable as possible and succeeded in safely delivering the precious cargo.
“I felt extremely fortunate for the role that we played in delivering this daughter with her family after a successful surgery,” said Sax, a Nashville native himself. “I think it means as much to the Marines who set up the operation and orchestrated the fundraising as it did to the people who know her. We were all glad to bring her home.”

Maintenance Marines ‘make it happen’

By Lance Cpl. Jessica N Aranda

AL ASAD, Iraq (March 11, 2008) – A bird’s anatomy – its feathers, hollow bones and intricate wingspan— enables the animal to take to the skies, soaring hundreds of feet above the earth. Other types of “birds,” like those powered by the ignition of three turbine engines, fly because of the behind-the-scenes work performed by Marines in coveralls.

These often grease-covered Marines continue to meet the daily challenges of keeping the aircraft of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 at the ready.

In conjunction with the other maintenance departments of the unit, the “flight line” crew works an average of 20,000 man hours per month, an operational tempo seven times higher than stateside procedures.

Their efforts keep the squadron at an 88.3 percent mission capability rate, one of the highest in the area of operations, explained Capt. Jason Mitchell, a pilot for HMH-361.

“The maintenance department is the heartbeat of the squadron,” said Mitchell. “You could get rid of every other shop, but without maintenance, we wouldn’t be flying.”

Because of the fast-paced flight schedule, the flight line Marines are constantly on the job, crawling atop the large helicopters to repair and replace anything from gear boxes to rotor heads.

The mechanics work in the desert’s extreme temperatures, turning wrenches until they accomplish their assigned missions. The safety of the aircrew and passengers depends on them, and collateral duty inspectors ensure the integrity of each job.

Before a flight launches, the air crew looks over the aircraft once again, making sure it’s ready to go.

“We are in direct support of combat,” said Sgt. Tony Garavaglia, a collateral-duty quality assurance representative. “These birds are the work horses of the Marine Corps. Whether troops need to be moved or supplies need to be delivered, we have the capabilities to make it happen.”

Other than trouble-shooting and repairing broken parts, the maintenance Marines make it a priority to train their subordinates.

“We teach them to fulfill the roles of the more experienced mechanics so they can take over once we leave,” said Garavaglia, a St. Louis native.

After showing them how to do a job, the senior Marines take a step back in supervision, allowing the newer members of the unit to do the work until they are proficient enough to do it on their own.

“I enjoy being a part of this shop,” said Lance Cpl. William B. Shultz, a CH-53E engine mechanic. “The level of discipline and camaraderie allows us to function like a fined-tuned machine.”

A flying look into women’s history

By Lance Cpl. Jessica N. Aranda

AL ASAD, Iraq (March 13, 2008) – From Amelia Earhart’s solo trans-Atlantic flight in 1932 to Marine Capt. Sarah Deal’s achievement as the first-ever female Marine Corps pilot in 1995, the spectrum of women’s aviation history continues to expand.

Women’s history month celebrates these and other amazing accomplishments with the theme, “Women’s Art: Women’s Vision”.

One Marine’s visions, most commonly viewed through the windshield of a tiltrotor aircraft, contribute to the growing list of women’s firsts.

Captain Elizabeth A. Okoreeh-Baah, attached to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263, is recognized as the very first female MV-22 Osprey pilot.

“To be the first female anything is kind of shocking,” explained Okoreeh-Baah, who views all of her successes as an opportunity to give something back to others.

Okoreeh-Baah began piloting toward new opportunities for the generations behind her long before her first MV-22 flight.

The Nashville, Tenn., native graduated from the Naval Academy in 2000, as one of the first females with a Marine Corps aviation contract.

After more than five years flying the CH-46E Sea Knight, including a yearlong combat deployment, Okoreeh-Baah’s unit, then Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 263, began replacing the CH-46Es with the MV-22s, and she hopped onboard the transition process.

The 28-year-old completed the transition and made her historic flight March 13, 2006, two years ago today.

“She’s an integral part of the squadron, just like any other pilot,” said Maj. Eric Garcia, a pilot with VMM-263. “Being recognized historically as the first female is a big accomplishment.”

Okoreeh-Baah thinks women’s history month is another chance for the future of society to see examples of who they can view as role models.

“It’s good to have individuals who set the bar and encourage us to become better Marines,” said Gunnery Sgt. Jeanette Santoro, the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) career retention specialist and president of the Women Marines Association here. “It allows us to know what goals we can accomplish and gives us something to strive for. It also shows the billets female Marines are now filling.”

Everything we do affects women’s history, the fact that we’re out here in Iraq easily visible to the international press and other Marines sets an example, explained Okoreeh-Baah.

“People will never know the possibilities if no one ever aspires to do them,” she added.

Marines transport precious cargo, reunite healthier toddler with family

Lance Cpl. Jessica N. Aranda

AL ASAD, Iraq (March 7, 2008) – Assets of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) assisted in reuniting an Iraqi child with her family March 7.

Humanitarian assistance missions are just one of the ways 3rd MAW contributes to building a stronger bond between the Marine Corps and local nationals throughout al-Anbar.

“These types of missions demonstrate our willingness to partner with the Iraqi people,” said Lt. Col William T. Bufkin, the 3rd MAW (Fwd.) future operations officer. “It shows that we support Iraq as a whole. Anytime the Aviation Combat Element can serve more than a military need, it only strengthens our cause here.”

Three-year-old Amenah Fattah returned from Nashville, Tenn., after receiving open-heart surgery to repair a defect, as there were no Iraqi facilities capable of executing the extensive medical procedures.

The Marines of 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment first discovered the toddler during a routine patrol through Haditha in 2007. The Marines noticed the girl’s blue lips and fingers and sought help.

“To see someone in need and want to help is human nature, and typical of a Marine,” said Sgt. Maj. Frank Scott, the 3rd MAW (Fwd.) sergeant major. “It was simply the right thing to do. The people are our main focus here, and Operation Amenah shows that.”

After discovering the child’s potentially fatal condition, the concerned Marines raised more than $30,000. The surgery performed at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt came to no cost to the family.

A year after Amenah’s first encounter with the Marines, she arrived home with good health and another chance at life.

A KC-130J Hercules belonging to Marine Aeriel Refeuling Squadron 352 transported Amenah’s father to Baghdad, where he reunited with his wife and daughter. From there, the family traveled to Al Asad, where they boarded an MV-22 Osprey to Haditha.

Utilizing air assets allowed the family to travel with the highest margin of safety, explained Capt. John A. Sax, an MV-22 pilot with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263.

During the flight, the air crew made the voyage as comfortable as possible and succeeded in safely delivering the precious cargo.

“I felt extremely fortunate for the role that we played in delivering this daughter with her family after a successful surgery,” said Sax, a Nashville native himself. “I think it means as much to the Marines who set up the operation and orchestrated the fundraising as it did to the people who know her. We were all glad to bring her home.”