The 934th FST left Balad air base to make a “house call” at a farm with an extended family. The purpose of the visit was to check a young man (on the right) for a shrapnel wound he suffered when Coalition jets bombed a MiG parked in the front yard. The wound was minor but this gave the FST an opportunity to check all of the family members for illnesses or injuries. The FST made several similar house calls in the area around Tikrit later in the tour.
EOD had found unexploded ordnance near the farmhouse and accompanied the FST in order to detonate it. This young boy, afflicted with cerebral palsy, was traumatized by the sound of the explosions and tried to plug his ears.
Siblings afflicted with cerebral palsy.
Major Tom Joseph, a physiatrist, examines the children with cerebral palsy while the parents and Major Hal Walker look on. Upon returning to Balad air base, Dr. Joseph scavenged enough parts to construct wheelchairs for both children which the team delivered a few weeks later.
Major Hal Walker befriends a young boy with cerebral palsy.
A man presents his niece to Major Tom Kelly to evaluate her rash and fever.
This family provided a warm welcome for the 934th. Photo was made while ordnance was being detonated by EOD, causing loud explosions.
The 934th Forward Surgical Team made several humanitarian trips to private homes to make health and welfare assessments. Children surround Sergeant Justin Gibb. (Photograph by Jeff Moline.)
