Iraqi children to benefit from supply drive

Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Staff Sgt. Tracy Davidson holds an Iraqi child at the Scania Burn Clinic in Iraq. The clinic is operated by volunteer US military personnel and all supplies are donate.

Staff members of The Waters of Greencastle are collecting supplies to help US military men and women provide aid to burned children in Iraq.

The Convoy Support Center's Scania Burn Clinic treats Iraqi citizens who have suffered burns, and in many cases, been refused care in local Iraqi hospitals.

Volunteer U.S. military personnel operate the clinic but all supplies are donated.

The project was brought to the attention of The Waters by staff member Kori-Ann Curtis whose uncle is a volunteer at the facility.

The majority of burns are caused by household hazards like children pulling hot teakettles or pans from stoves onto themselves and gas explosions, said Corporal Barzeski, who is deployed from Fort Bragg, N.C., and is the NCO in charge of the clinic.

Though the clinic is not able to provide the level of care that a patient might receive in the U.S., the treatment they give exceeds the level of care that children might receive at an Iraqi hospital.

For help finding building supplies for the clinic, the soldiers have turned to their supporters at home.

"We're receiving tons of help from all over, people want to support this mission,' said Corporal Barzeski.

"It makes us feel good that we're really doing something to help these people. Even just to take a little tiny chunk of the population and make a difference, to make it so that people can come back and say the Americans helped us. That makes it all worthwhile."

Holly Wachtel, CEO at The Waters is spearheading a campaign to collect supplies like bandages, ointment, gloves and other medical supplies. She hopes other facilities will take the challenge and join the campaign to collect supplies.

"This is just the beginning. We can really make a difference," she declares.

Wachtel has arranged for drop off sites to include not only The Waters but also the Armory in Greencastle.

To make a donation of supplies contact The Waters of Greencastle for details.

For more information on the clinic, contact Corporal Barzeski at joseph.barzeski@us.army.mil.

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  • Thank you all for donating to the Soldiers in Scania. Corporal Barzeski is doing a great job up there. Being here and seeing and meeting the Local Iraqi's, they are no different than us, most are farmers eaking out a living off the land and livestock, some are small business owners just starting over from nothing and most have nothing. What we take for granted in our day to day life, these people can only dream of. So any service such as Corporal Barzeski and the rest are doing is very welcomed by the locals. As stated, their Hospital structure is such that sometimes they can't take care of the most basic needs and the badly injured are taken of by American MEDEVAC Missions and treated in US Military hospitals. But that is what we do as Americans and it pays off. When you take care of their most basic needs and show them that we care, they are more than happy to show us the bad guys or the planted road side bomb, in turn they are saving our lives by letting us know these things. A for instance is that one of our Sustainment Units vaccinated the local kids, the next day, as a Supply Convoy was going down the MSR (Multi-Service Road) in that village area, the locals pointed out a roadside bomb consisting of 9 EFP's (Explosive Formed Penatrators) these have the capiblitiy of ripping thorough a HUMVEE like butter. No Soldier was injured and the Iraqi's who planted these were captured off the information supplied by the Iraqi's flagging down the lead vehicle.

    They are just trying to get back to somewhat of a "Normal" life. You would not believe what these people endured under Saddam and now the Insurgents.

    It's not going to change overnight here, and make NO mistake, this is still a War Zone and some Iraqi's want us out or dead or both. But like I said, the vast majority are very thankful we are here. And it is slowly getting better. And through your efforts like aiding Scania, you are making a difference for those living and Serving over here. Thank You all back home for your support!!

    -- Posted by Afghan Contractor on Tue, Mar 11, 2008, at 12:45 AM
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