Injured Iraqi child flown to America

  • Published
TALLIL AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) --  A C-130 Hercules crew from here flew a critically wounded Iraqi child on the first leg of an aeromedical evacuation mission to the United States on Nov. 8.

The 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing crew’s mission was to help save the child’s life, officials said.

Nine-year-old Saleh Kahlaf was critically wounded in October when he and his 16-year-old brother discovered an Iraqi-made land mine near their school in An Nasiriyah. When the device exploded, Saleh lost one hand, an eye and suffered severe damage to his abdominal area. His brother was killed.

The boy was initially treated in a nearby city hospital, and he was subsequently moved to the 332nd Expeditionary Medical Squadron hospital here.

While here, Saleh underwent a number of stabilizing procedures. The complexity and extent of his injuries required a level of medical care not available in the region, officials said. Officials from the Coalition Provisional Authority, the Iraqi ministry of health and the U.S. Air Force worked to get Saleh permission to travel to the United States for advanced medical care.

During his 32-hour journey to the United States, critical-care transport team airmen accompanied Saleh and his father, Raheem Kahlaf. The team brought the Iraqis to Children’s Hospital and Research Center in Oakland, Calif., on Nov. 10.