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Cannon medics return from humanitarian mission

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kathee Mullins
  • 27th Special Operations Wing Public Afffairs
CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Cannon's Medical Group gathered at the base clinic August 3 to welcome home five Airmen returning from a recent deployment on the U.S. Naval Ship Comfort.
 
They were part of a joint services and civilian team that provided medical and dental care to individuals with few medical resources in seven Caribbean, Central and South American nations over a four-month timespan.
 
"Medics are the tip of the spears, said Col. Scott Corcoran, 27th Special Operations Medical Group commander, who welcomed thereturnees. "What these Airmen have contributed does good things for America; it does good things for Americans." 

The USNS Comfort's mission is part of the Continuing Promise 2009 tour for the joint services humanitarian mission for civic assistance operation. It is supported by U.S. and international military medical personnel, U.S. government agencies, regional health ministries and several non-government agencies. 

This  mission treated 100,049 patients, conducted 1,657 surgeries, filled 135,000 prescriptions, performed dental check-ups and restorations for 15,003 individuals and treated 13,238 animals. 

The five Airmen from here who participated in the humanitarian mission were Tech. Sgt. Carlos Ramos-Sanchez, 27 Special Operations Medical Support Squadron, Senior Airman Velia Bravo, Senior Airman Brittney Lakey, Senior Airman Carlos Guillen and Senior Airman Brett Manz, all with the 27 Special Operations Aerospace Medicine Squadron.

Sergeant Ramos-Sanchez, a pharmacy technician, said he learned a lot during the deployment and that this mission was an excellent team-building experience for the sister services and various civilian agencies involved. He added that the pharmacy staff was professional and were concerned about doing a good job, even though the hours were long. Each patient seemed grateful for the medications and the presence of the group. 

"One lady was 100 years old. Her two granddaughters were on either side of her, helping, as she walked in. I saw how she was still a vital part of her family. I told her granddaughters to hold on to her and give her a kiss every day," said Sergeant Ramos-Sanchez. "These people don't have the resources we have. They are trying to get the necessities, but they are happy and appreciate what we have come here to do for them." 

" These people are poor, without resources for medical care, and they realize we are here to help. We had patients come in with missing teeth and we were able to give them prosthetic teeth and the ability to smile," Airman Guillen, a dental technician, said. "Many of the people we saw are fighting for the basic necessities of survival rather than, 'Wow I like that shirt, so I will buy it, or a new cell phone.' This type of mission reminds you what you can really do for others, fosters relations (between nations) and shows we (United States) are here to help out." 

Airman Manz, also a dental technician, who had been on a previous humanitarian mission to Africa, said this mission boosted foreign relations and was a great way  to use resources to help the less fortunate. He added that at times the language barrier was a struggle, but through charades and demonstrating, he overcame the barrier for the most part. 

Filling prescriptions for the vast number of people, however, was only one part of the humanitarian mission. 

"They (patients) were amazing," Airman Bravo from flight medicine said, "They don't have much and would stand in line for hours, excited, full of hope.
"Before this deployment, I would see (fellow Americans) when I was in uniform and they would say 'Thank-you for your service," said Airman Bravo. "Until this mission I never felt like I deserved those words, now I feel differently, like I have earned their trust." 

"The patients who came in were so grateful," said Airman Lakey, also from flight medicine. "They would start lining up at 3 or 4 in the morning. At times there were so many, we would have to turn them away in the evening, and rather than get angry, they would just return the next day to wait again. It was obvious how much they appreciated what we were doing." 

"This is something I would like to be part of again," said Airman Lakey. 

"Continuing Promise 2009 and five Cannon Airmen spent four months trying to make the lives of many just a little better by giving and making that extra effort that makes America and Americans great," said Colonel Corcoran.

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