ASTS helps care for the wounded warriors in Iraq

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tammy Cario
  • 911 AW/PA
PITTSBURGH AIR RESERVE STATION --  The air is cut by the continuous chopping of the helicopter blades, the deafening sound muffled through a tightly worn headset. Several soldiers open their eyes and realize they are no longer in the fight and that something must have gone wrong. 

One soldier shifts his weight in the litter and winces from the pain shooting up and down his leg. The ride to recovery is a rough one, but nowhere near as rough as where they had been picked-up. 

The flight medics gesture to let them know they have landed. The door slides open and the sight of an Airman in medical scrubs appears. As they are wheeled off through a tent with an American flag which spans the ceiling, it is now time to relax. Relieved that the firefight is over, above their head they hear someone say, "You're in good hands; we take care of our heroes here." 

Senior Airman Kayla Presley, a medical technician deployed to Balad Air Base, Iraq, from the 911th Airlift Wing Aeromedical Staging Squadron, saw many soldiers like these on her deployment. 

Senior Airman Presley was one of the Airmen who helped to transfer patients from the helicopter to the medical facility. "The first thing the patients saw was a huge American flag that covered the entire ceiling of the transfer facilities tent. This particular tent was affectionately called 'Heroes Highway,'" she said. "The intent was for them [the patients] to know they were being cared for by their fellow Americans." 

For 120 days, 23 Airmen from the 911th ASTS were deployed to Balad, Iraq. Balad is considered a Level 3 medical facility, due to the number of specialists and medical technology available. "Our mission was to stabilize the patients so they could be on their way to further care elsewhere," explained Senior Airman Presley. Along with unloading patients from the transport, she also helped coordinate flights for the patients to their next destination, whether it was to Al Udeid, Qatar, or on to Landstuhl, Germany, for those with more serious types of injuries. 

Master Sgt. Diane Douty, a health services manager with the 911th ASTS, was deployed to Balad at the same time as Senior Airman Presley. "We were responsible for the care of our wounded warriors and civilians who were awaiting transportation through the aeromedical evacuation system for further care to a long term medical treatment facility," she said. "We took care of all branches of the military as well as civilians." 

Master Sgt. Douty said she really enjoyed being there for the patients. "I liked helping them, even if it was just lending an ear to listen." She was also able to help transport the Iraqi patients from the gate to the Balad hospital for treatment. "I loved to listen to their stories about how they lived." 

Some parts of the deployment, however, were more difficult.
"One of the most moving things during the deployment was the ceremony for a fallen hero," Senior Airman Presley said. "They would drape a flag over a fallen hero who died in our hospital. It was a reality check of where we've been and what we've done." 

Senior Master Sgt. Carl Reitz, a health services manager with the 911th ASTS was deployed to Balad as the noncommissioned officer in charge of the command and control section. One day, a patient who had severe injuries caused by an improvised explosive device was being transferred. Senior Master Sgt. Reitz recalls this particular incident as being one of those moments he will never forget. "It was at that moment that I realized and understood the importance of being here," he said. 

"I work on the administrative side of the medical field," said Senior Master Sgt. Reitz, who works as a prison guard as a civilian. "Being deployed is completely different; 180 degrees different. When you are there experiencing it, it changes you."
"You really appreciate things more," said Senior Airman Presley. "I came back motivated to go to nursing school. [The deployment] was very rewarding."