Seven women marines hurt in Iraq moved from Landstuhl to TX (burn unit)

[lebkuchen]

Seven female Marines wounded in Thursday’s suicide bombing in Iraq stayed at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center before being flown to the United States on Monday.

Medical evacuation crews flew the women to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, Landstuhl spokeswoman Marie Shaw said. She said she could not release the names of the wounded or their medical conditions. Brooke has a renowned burn center.

Eleven of the 13 troops injured in the ambush were women.

...cut...

Immediately after the bombing, the convoy came under attack by small arms fire, he wrote.

Six troops died in the ambush, the military said, including Lance Cpl. Holly A. Charette, 21, of Cranston, R.I. The Pentagon has not released the names of the other Americans who died.


http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=30025

[Not_Giving_Up]

1. BAMC is supposed to have one of the best burn units

Shit, at least these people are back on American soil, and getting the treatment that they need.

[lebkuchen]

2. Burns...one of the most painful of injuries

with long recovery time. I still think about all those who had lived through that fire in a bar during a rock concert w-the pyrotechnics...somewhere on the east coast...Rhode Island? So very sad.

[rodeodance]

3. and can be so disfiguring.

[lebkuchen]

4. a reality which won´t enhance the summer recruitment program

not that losing an arm or leg or section of the brain is any less appealing.

[TahitiNut]

6. Amputations are just one of the consequences of major burn injuries.

The infections that have to be fought as a part of burn treatment often lead to amputations. Ears, fingers, toes, hands, feet, arms, legs ... all are sometimes amputated. It's pretty horrific.

[sweetladybug]

7. lebkuchen, you are right, burns are very painful and recovery takes years

if it's serious burns. 4 years ago my husband had a cutting torch to explode. He was burnt over 50% of his body and was in a coma for about 6 weeks. He had so many skin grafts that I lost count of how many he had. The Drs thought they might have to remove his left arm but was able to save it (althought he had to have his left pinky finger remove.) He had physical and occupational therapy 4 times a week for several months. But, his mental health has taken the longest to recover. He still has depression on occasions (but he snaps out of it quicker now than before) I thank God every day for allowing my husband to live. He's the love of my life! My prayers are with the burn victims and their families.

[lebkuchen]

9. Your husband is so fortunate to have your love and companionship

Four years seems like a short psychological recovery period given the initial condition. Each year should see improvements in that regard, certainly under the loving care and support you have provided.

All the best to you and your husband.

[sweetladybug]

11. Thank you lebkuchen. My husband continues to improve. He was

even able to go back to work 3 months ago (and that has REALLY helped him mentally since he has always worked his tail off until he was injured)

[TahitiNut]

5. Yep. I was stationed there from July to December of 1968.

Fifth Army HQ (where I was assigned) was at Fort Sam Houston ... part of the same Army complex on the near north side of San Antonio. Brooke was the major burn center even then ... and held an array of disfigured troops that would make your gut churn and your eyes to well up with tears.

When I was sent there after the end of basic training, it was one of the frights of my life: I was told by the DI's it was probably to be trained as a combat medic. Man, talk about mixed feelings! :eyes:

[GoldenOldie]

8. Brooke - Major Burn Center throughout the world.

Having worked for 20years in US Army Hospitals I am aware of the excellence of this burn center is. If serious burn was received within an military facility, it had to be reported to Brook Army Medical Center. The military hospital who had initially received the burn patient could only stabilize the patient and the Brooke Burn Team was immediately flown to the whereever the burn patient is and they were/are the ones that had to prepare the patient for evacuation to the Brooke Burn Center, San Antonio, TX.

I am sure that the Burn Team from Brooke have been kept very busy with George W. Bush's war.

My heart aches for these troops, knowing they must not only survive their evactuation from Landstuhl but the months, years of burn treatments. Burn medics/specialists will give their all to help them through, no thanks to George W. Bush.

[lebkuchen]

10. The above article is the first I've read in Stripes about the Burn Center

Landstuhl and Walter Reed, yes.

I wonder Brooke`s funding is in any way compromised by Jim Nicholson`s utter contempt for his position in Veterans` Affairs specifically, and for vets as a whole.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

14. Funding for Brooke, Walter Reed etc. are part of regular "military"

funding and are completely separate for the money for Veteran's Affairs. The VA hospital and health care system is a completely separate part of the government, with separate funding, and its own doctors and nurses.

I spent 15 years of my career in military hospitals like Walter Reed and Brooke and never set foot inside a VA facility. Thank goodness I've never needed to, as a patient.

[DemoTex]

13. BAMC San Antonio: Has it been this busy since Viet Nam? I doubt it.

Just another link between these two fiascos that doesn't escape those-who-know.

BTW: I am trying to reform my spelling per TahitiNut's style sheet. I have lapsed into the lazy, incorrect spelling of that place he and I were 35+/- years ago (Vietnam). Viet Nam is correct. Either way, it is forever in our mind and in our blood.

Thanks TN.

Mac

[TahitiNut]

15. Brooke probably gets busy during fire season, too.

It's hard for me to imagine it more loaded than during those six months I was at 5th Army HQ, Ft. Sam. The medical staff there must've been miracle-workers ... but the guys sure were a somber reminder.

:evilgrin: Re: Spelling Viet Nam - I'm collecting pet peeves in the hopes that I can take 'em with me.
You're sure right about it being forever in our mind and blood. I sure don't think I'd be who I am without those experiences. I don't know if that's a grim thought or not. Strange.

[PassingFair]

12. The pentagon has not released....

the names of the other women killed, but their names are:
Ramona Valdez;
Regina Clark;
Veashna Muy;
the aforementioned Holly Charette; and another yet to be named.

Isn't 5 women KILLED, and 7 women seriously INJURED some kind of RECORD in the history of American warfare? Anyone? Have we EVER lost so many women at once? Ever?

Should be as iconic as the flag raisers at Iwo Jima.

Their faces should have been shown behind the chimperor as he spoke last night about how his gain was "worth it".

:puke:

[Theres-a]

16. You're absolutely right,some kind of record.

And you hear almost nothing about it.