Facing the Horrific Every Day (Army Hospital Baghdad)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A20034-2003Nov28.html

<snip>

Since the largest U.S. Army hospital in Iraq opened its doors on April 10, nearly all U.S. casualties have passed through its first-floor emergency room. Some come already dead. Some arrive with one arm instead of two, a shattered leg or a face wiped away by an explosion.

Assaults on U.S. troops have numbered as many as 45 a day in recent weeks. For the staff at the 28th Combat Support Hospital, located within the U.S.-led occupation authority's headquarters at one of former president Saddam Hussein's palaces, that translates into a dozen patients some days. Twenty-four hours in the hospital's emergency room with soldiers stripped of their uniforms and gritty exteriors revealed the physical and emotional toll.

About 70 percent of the hospital's patients are wounded soldiers; the rest are Iraqi civilians and prisoners, along with a small number of U.S. civilian contractors, said Maj. Mark White, director of patient administration.

The number of soldiers treated for serious combat injuries is not publicly disclosed. Instead, the hospital releases statistics on patient admissions -- a total of 1,659 U.S. soldiers through Oct. 30. The combined number of U.S. soldiers and Iraqi patients admitted per month has increased since September, and this month was expected to reach about 400, White said.

<snip>

The worst that Maj. Michael Hilliard, 33, an emergency physician, saw back home in San Antonio were car crash and gunshot victims. Here, he estimates that he has treated the broken bodies of more than 1,000 U.S. soldiers.

"The injuries are horrific," he said. "They are beyond anything that you see in a textbook, and they are the worst that I have ever seen."

[IndianaGreen]

1. A story that could have been written for M*A*S*H

Except it wasn't the 4077th MASH of television, but reality, Baghdad style.

Fans of the series would recognize the characters among the doctors, chaplain, and patients.

Universal themes.

What a waste war is!

[teryang]

2. Pvt. Kurt R. Frosheiser, 22, of Des Moines was dead

He won't be getting back into the fight.

There is no law that can bring him back. No technology. No new tactic. No media spin. I sincerely hope that no more follow him "learning what to expect in Iraq."

[IndianaGreen]

3. Fatality Date: Saturday, November 08, 2003

Army Private Kurt R. Frosheiser
Age: 22
From: Des Moines, Iowa
Assigned To: 2nd Bat., 6th Inf. Reg., 1st Armored Div.
Based In: Baumholder, Germany
Fatality Date: Saturday, November 08, 2003
Fatality Cause: Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack
Fatality Location: Baghdad, Iraq

Here is the Pentagon's press release:

No. 838-03
IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 10, 2003

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DoD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Pvt. Kurt R. Frosheiser, 22, of Des Moines, Iowa, was killed on Nov. 8 in Baghdad, Iraq. Frosheiser was the driver of a vehicle on mounted patrol when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device. Frosheiser was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany.

A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter went down on Nov. 7 in Tikrit, Iraq. There were six soldiers killed in action on board the helicopter. The names of four soldiers killed in the incident were previously announced on Nov. 9. Also killed were:

Capt. Benedict J. Smith, 29, of Monroe City, Mo. Smith was assigned to 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Command Sergeant Major Cornell W. Gilmore I, 45, of Baltimore, Md. Gilmore was assigned to the Judge Advocate General Office, Headquarters Department of the Army, Pentagon.

These incidents are under investigation.

http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/2003/nr20031110-0632.html

[IndianaGreen]

4. You might be interested in other casualties not reported by WP

November 28, 2003
Release Number: 03-11-34C

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOLDIER DIES FROM GUNSHOT WOUND

AR RAMADI, Iraq (November 27, 2003) — Early Thursday morning, a soldier from Task Force “All-American” died as the result of a gunshot wound. The soldier was in his barracks when the incident occurred.

An Army medic responding to the shot, found the soldier without a pulse, but was able to revive the soldier. The soldier was rushed to the nearest medical center where the soldier later died as a result of the wounds.

This incident is currently under investigation.

http://www.centcom.mil/CENTCOMNews/Casualty_Report.asp?CasualtyReport=20031134.txt

November 28, 2003
Release Number: 03-11-35C

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ONE SOLDIER KILLED IN MORTAR ATTACK

MOSUL, Iraq -- A 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) soldier was killed just after 11 a.m. today in Mosul during a mortar attack on the division headquarters here.

The name and unit of the soldier involved in the incident are being withheld pending next of kin notification.

The incident is under investigation.

http://www.centcom.mil/CENTCOMNews/Casualty_Report.asp?CasualtyReport=20031135.txt

[jpgray]

5. Please edit your title to add (must-read), people will not want to miss it

This is an in-depth article on the suffering of the troops, and what a heartbreaking tale it is. If there is any way to re-energize the batteries to go on fighting this *business* of war, articles like this one will do it every time.

[IndianaGreen]

6. This is a must-read article

which multiplied by the 2,444 American wounded (as of today) will give you an idea of the human tragedy that does not make the news.

For more info on casualties and wounded:

http://lunaville.org/warcasualties/Summary.aspx

[RamboLiberal]

7. Sorry - got back to this to late to add must read

But it is an important article - we can keep it bumped for a few days. :kick: