Fort Bliss Monitor

Local restaurant feeds 31st CSH welcome home dinner
30 Bronze Stars awarded for performing beyond all expectations

1st lt. Craig Cunnigham
31st ADA Bde.

The 31st Brigade Combat Support Hospital recently returned from a year long deployment in Iraq. The unit was greeted with an awards ceremony and a steak lunch, courtesy of a local restaurant. The 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Commander Brig. Gen. Richard McCabe attended the event to present awards and celebrate the unit’s accomplishments. The 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade Commander Col. Jeffrey Oeser and 31st Brigade Command Sgt. Maj. William White were also present.

First and foremost, 31st CSH “performed beyond all expectations” while deployed in Iraq, according to Commander Col. Richard Beitz.

The Soldiers’ accomplishments were not overlooked by the Army, as 30 Bronze Stars were awarded. Further, many of the supported units such as the 1st Cavalry Division were extremely glad to have the 31st CSH around when a Soldier was injured.

“The unit was a primary reason for our Soldiers having the highest combat survival rate in history. If a Soldier had a pulse and was breathing when admitted, chances are that 91 percent of the time they would leave the facility alive,” said Beitz. “In comparison, the survival rate in Vietnam was only 78 percent, which makes the achievement only more remarkable. It is certain there are many Soldiers alive today because of the unit’s efforts, and 31st Brigade is truly fortunate to have them as an asset.”

The 31st CSH performed more than 4,200 surgeries, treated more than 26,000 Soldiers, and transfused more than 10,000 units of blood in Baghdad alone.

Beitz had nothing but kind words for his Soldiers. He stated he was “very proud” of his unit, and added that they were the “best Soldiers in the Army.” Although glad the deployment is over, Beitz further noted that the Army kept their promise of a year’s deployment, and indeed the unit was overseas for 366 days.

The meal was well received by the Soldiers, and are just another sign of how supportive American citizens are of our military. It was refreshing to see that many people are willing to offer a small token of appreciation for the sacrifices that so many of our Soldiers make today. The 31st CSH is a prime example of excellent Soldiers in action: making history by saving Soldiers’ lives.



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	February 3, 2005

<map name="boxmap-b4"> <area shape="rect" coords="0, 589, 120, 600" href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm/privacy-policy.html?o=1" > <area coords="0,0,10000,10000" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=&creative=92501&camp=8117&link_code=dl1&path=subst/misc/amazon-cobrand-cc/v3/marketing-from-associates-step1.html/ref%3Db1_assoc_29" > </map>	Local restaurant feeds 31st CSH welcome home dinner 30 Bronze Stars awarded for performing beyond all expectations 1st lt. Craig Cunnigham 31st ADA Bde. The 31st Brigade Combat Support Hospital recently returned from a year long deployment in Iraq. The unit was greeted with an awards ceremony and a steak lunch, courtesy of a local restaurant. The 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Commander Brig. Gen. Richard McCabe attended the event to present awards and celebrate the unit’s accomplishments. The 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade Commander Col. Jeffrey Oeser and 31st Brigade Command Sgt. Maj. William White were also present. First and foremost, 31st CSH “performed beyond all expectations” while deployed in Iraq, according to Commander Col. Richard Beitz. The Soldiers’ accomplishments were not overlooked by the Army, as 30 Bronze Stars were awarded. Further, many of the supported units such as the 1st Cavalry Division were extremely glad to have the 31st CSH around when a Soldier was injured. “The unit was a primary reason for our Soldiers having the highest combat survival rate in history. If a Soldier had a pulse and was breathing when admitted, chances are that 91 percent of the time they would leave the facility alive,” said Beitz. “In comparison, the survival rate in Vietnam was only 78 percent, which makes the achievement only more remarkable. It is certain there are many Soldiers alive today because of the unit’s efforts, and 31st Brigade is truly fortunate to have them as an asset.” The 31st CSH performed more than 4,200 surgeries, treated more than 26,000 Soldiers, and transfused more than 10,000 units of blood in Baghdad alone. Beitz had nothing but kind words for his Soldiers. He stated he was “very proud” of his unit, and added that they were the “best Soldiers in the Army.” Although glad the deployment is over, Beitz further noted that the Army kept their promise of a year’s deployment, and indeed the unit was overseas for 366 days. The meal was well received by the Soldiers, and are just another sign of how supportive American citizens are of our military. It was refreshing to see that many people are willing to offer a small token of appreciation for the sacrifices that so many of our Soldiers make today. The 31st CSH is a prime example of excellent Soldiers in action: making history by saving Soldiers’ lives.