Fort Bliss Monitor

Soldiers return from Iraq
More than 200 make it home safely from OIF

Clarence Davis III
WBAMC Public Affairs

Soldiers with the 31st Combat Support Hospital exit the plane at Biggs Army Airfield. The unit provided resuscitative surgery, post operative treatment and stabilization of patients for medical evacuation or return to duty.

Dec. 22, with temperatures below 40° F, family members and well wishers were at Biggs Army Airfield to welcome back more than 200 Soldiers who had safely returned from Operation Iraqi Freedom II.

Even though the flight was delayed several hours, everyone braved the elements to welcome back the Soldiers who had been deployed for nearly a year.

As the Soldiers exited the plane, the welcoming party that included the leadership from Fort Bliss, Great Plains Regional Medical Command at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio and William Beaumont Army Medical Center shook the arriving Soldiers hand, welcomed them back and thanked them for their service to the Nation.

Fourteen of the returning Soldiers are assigned to William Beaumont Army Medical Center. These 14 Soldiers were among the more than 350 Soldiers assigned to the 31st Combat Support Hospital who left BAAF on Jan. 7, 2004, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II. In Iraq the Soldiers were assigned to Balad (Camp Anaconda) and Baghdad. “Each element operated an 84-bed hospital and provided resuscitative surgery, postoperative treatment and stabilization of patients for medical evacuation or return to duty,” said Maj. Eric P. Carnahan, executive officer. Units supported by the 31st included the 1st Armored Division and 1st Cavalry Div. in Balad while the Baghdad element supported the 4th Infantry Div. and the 1st Inf. Div.

In October, more than 200 members of the Balad element returned to Fort Bliss. Fifty-six of those returning Soldiers were members of the Beaumont staff. Most Soldiers who join the Army in the medical field expect to treat members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their family members. However, while deployed in support of OIFII, these Soldier-medics treated members of the Iraqi military, Iraqi civilians, security internees, third-country contractors, U.S. contractors and anyone else with a condition that would cause lost of life, limb or eyesight. “Our Soldier-medics were professionals who had a strong dedication to duty,” said Carnahan.

The remaining Soldiers from the 31st CSH are scheduled to return to Fort Bliss tomorrow. More than 50 of these Soldiers are assigned to Beaumont in various positions.



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	January 6, 2005

	Soldiers return from Iraq More than 200 make it home safely from OIF Clarence Davis III WBAMC Public Affairs Soldiers with the 31st Combat Support Hospital exit the plane at Biggs Army Airfield. The unit provided resuscitative surgery, post operative treatment and stabilization of patients for medical evacuation or return to duty. Dec. 22, with temperatures below 40° F, family members and well wishers were at Biggs Army Airfield to welcome back more than 200 Soldiers who had safely returned from Operation Iraqi Freedom II. Even though the flight was delayed several hours, everyone braved the elements to welcome back the Soldiers who had been deployed for nearly a year. As the Soldiers exited the plane, the welcoming party that included the leadership from Fort Bliss, Great Plains Regional Medical Command at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio and William Beaumont Army Medical Center shook the arriving Soldiers hand, welcomed them back and thanked them for their service to the Nation. Fourteen of the returning Soldiers are assigned to William Beaumont Army Medical Center. These 14 Soldiers were among the more than 350 Soldiers assigned to the 31st Combat Support Hospital who left BAAF on Jan. 7, 2004, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II. In Iraq the Soldiers were assigned to Balad (Camp Anaconda) and Baghdad. “Each element operated an 84-bed hospital and provided resuscitative surgery, postoperative treatment and stabilization of patients for medical evacuation or return to duty,” said Maj. Eric P. Carnahan, executive officer. Units supported by the 31st included the 1st Armored Division and 1st Cavalry Div. in Balad while the Baghdad element supported the 4th Infantry Div. and the 1st Inf. Div. In October, more than 200 members of the Balad element returned to Fort Bliss. Fifty-six of those returning Soldiers were members of the Beaumont staff. Most Soldiers who join the Army in the medical field expect to treat members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their family members. However, while deployed in support of OIFII, these Soldier-medics treated members of the Iraqi military, Iraqi civilians, security internees, third-country contractors, U.S. contractors and anyone else with a condition that would cause lost of life, limb or eyesight. “Our Soldier-medics were professionals who had a strong dedication to duty,” said Carnahan. The remaining Soldiers from the 31st CSH are scheduled to return to Fort Bliss tomorrow. More than 50 of these Soldiers are assigned to Beaumont in various positions.