Airmen reflect on 6th anniversary of Operation Iraqi Freedom

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Dilia Ayala
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq (AFNS) --  Airmen in the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing here took a moment to reflect on previous deployments here and the progress that's been made since 2003 to mark the six-year anniversary of Operation Iraqi Freedom March 19.

Some take note of the physical changes in the base, the hardened facilities and the concrete T-wall barriers, while others think back on how far Iraq has come in the last six years.

Deployed here for the second time since 2005, Maj. (Dr.) Chris Connaughton, a 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group colorectal surgeon, reflected on his first deployment here.
"The last time I was here, we were in the old green tents and we upgraded to the newer beige tents," said the surgeon, who's deployed here from Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. "This time, of course we have the (Air Force Theater Hospital). Overall, the capabilities are very similar as far as what types of surgeons we have, what type of equipment is used. It's more amazing what we could accomplish in the tents as opposed to what we are doing now in this fixed facility."

Lieutenant Col. (Dr.) Jerry Pratt, a 332nd EMDG cardiothoracic surgeon, also recalled his time here during a past deployment in 2007.

"A lot of the tents have disappeared since then," Dr. Pratt said. "There's a lot more construction. The operating rooms were sort of what we have here in the hospital except they were in (metal storage containers). They were set up a lot like they are now, but what we have here is about a third bigger than those operating rooms.

"Before, it was a lot dirtier, and the wind would blow through the walls," said the native of Midlothian, Va., deployed from Travis AFB, Calif. "You could hear the helicopters constantly. If it was 120 degrees outside, it was 90 to 100 degrees in the tent. We were kind of in an austere environment at that time."

Six years later, the quality of life on Joint Base Balad has also improved.

"The facilities are definitely better than the last time I was here," said Staff Sgt. Daniel Wentz, a 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle maintainer who is deployed here for the second time since 2005. "Our maintenance facilities have really improved. We used to work out of one (hardened air shelter) on the flightline. Now, we've actually spread out into three or four different buildings where we work, and we have a lot better equipment."

Another change noticed by Airmen previously deployed here is a difference in their sense of safety.

"Before, there wasn't that sense of safety that you have now," Dr. Pratt said. "There were no overhead barriers in the operating rooms. The mortars could come through the roof at any point and time. I think it's safer here now."

Sergeant Wentz, who hails from Cutztown, Penn., and is deployed here from Eielson AFB, Alaska, agreed.

"There are a lot less attacks now," he said. "We used to have an (indirect fire attack) on average, one or two a day. Now it's a lot less."

The downward trend is also reflected in the large decrease in the number of trauma patients admitted to the Air Force Theater Hospital.

"The biggest difference between now and my previous deployment is the significant decrease in the number of casualties," Dr. Connaughton said. "When I was here the first time, sort of toward the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom, we were getting somewhere between 15 to 25 major traumas per day. Now it's surprising if we get more than a couple a day, one or two maybe.

In addition to infrastructure and security changes in the last six years, there has been a notable change in the relationship between U.S. forces and the Iraqi people.

"Our relationship with the local nationals has also dramatically improved," Dr. Pratt said. "They come to the gate all the time to get help because they feel that they get better health care here than they would at the local hospitals.

"I think we are making a big difference," he continued. "I think the fact that we treat everybody the same way we treat our own has a lot to do with it. When I was here last, we treated a sheik's son and after that, in his section in the western province, there were no more improvised explosive devices that went off. We still hear stories that if we help this individual or family things get better in that area. We've made a dramatic impact, saving a lot of people who otherwise may have not been saved. I think in the long run it's had an impact on the locals as to how they feel about us. It is my hope that all this will continue to further our relationship with the local nationals; that they will see us in a brighter light."

In an effort to enhance health care in Iraq, doctors here are currently working with local physicians.

"We are currently working on a program to interact with local-national physicians," Dr. Connaughton said. "It's more of a knowledge-sharing sort of venture. We will certainly be trying to educate them on what we are doing, but also they'll be telling us what their capabilities are. They really don't have any difference in their knowledge base than we do as far as things they are trying to accomplish from a medical and surgical standpoint."

There have been both triumphs and tragedies in the course of Operation Iraqi Freedom. According to the Department of Defense, 4,260 U.S. servicemembers as of March 16 have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Of those, 47 served as part of the 332nd AEW here at Joint Base Balad. The memorial in front of the wing headquarters building stands as a testament to the fallen Airmen.

While much has changed here since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom, one thing remains the same: Airmen remain committed to combat excellence and focused on mission accomplishment.

"I was looking forward to coming back to Balad to see how much it's changed," Sergeant Wentz said. "Balad and Iraq have come a long way since my previous deployment and will continue to progress as time goes on." 

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