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Combat Medic Responds to Soldier's Call for Help

Jan- 6-2006 » Filed Under: 172nd SBCT

Link to Full Article with Photo
Maj. Michael Smith
172nd BSB

OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM — In January of 1945, the Department of the Army authorized the Combat Medical Badge to recognize those medics who served alongside the infantry in combat.

The requirements have changed over the past 60 years, but one thing has remained constant.

To earn the Combat Medical Badge, the medic must perform his medical duties under fire while assigned to a ground combat unit.

Spc. Fernando Mendoza, a medic with the Brigade Support Medical Company, 172nd Brigade Support Battalion, of the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, performed those duties on the evening of Nov. 30.

Deployed forward in direct support of the 4th Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, Mendoza was returning to his combat outpost when his Stryker struck an improvised explosive device.

Inside the vehicle, everything went black as Soldiers and equipment bounced around in the wake of the blast.

Over the noise and chaos, the voice of a wounded Soldier called out, “I’ve been hit.”

Working with other members of the squad, Mendoza helped extricate the wounded from the burning Stryker and move them to a safe area to initiate treatment.

His trauma rucksack, packed with the critical medical supplies needed to provide care, was destroyed in the initial blast.

He collected the medical supplies from the Stryker Improved Medical Pack carried by each Stryker Soldier, and began treating the wounded Soldier.

As the vehicle continued to burn, ammunition began to cook off and explode.

Mendoza continued to take care of the wounded, disregarding his own personal safety. A second Stryker vehicle approached the scene and positioned itself to shield the medic from the explosions as he worked on his patient.

While providing treatment, Mendoza worked with the radio-telephone operator to provide information to the medical evacuation crew which was enroute.

He packaged the wounded Soldier for the flight and provided a detailed briefing to the flight medic on the nature of the injuries and the care provided.

As the DUSTOFF helicopter left with its patient, Mendoza returned to his squad, collected what was left of his gear, boarded the second Stryker and continued on with his mission.


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