MCLB corpsmen return from Iraq
USMC News
Submitted by: MCLB Barstow
Story Identification Number: 2003710141051
Story by Cpl. Joshua Barhardt
MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE BARSTOW, Calif.(July 10, 2003) -- Eleven corpsmen from MCLB Barstow were deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Some of those who were attached to forward Marine units have started returning home. Their experiences over there are just some of the many shared by U.S. service members during the war.
"I was deployed with 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, Lima Company," said Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Jay-R Enguillado, a corpsman attached to MCLB Barstow's Branch Medical Clinic. "We went into Iraq at night time and went all the way to Baghdad."
Enguillado said they didn't really encounter major resistance.
"We only had two major battles on our way to Baghdad," said Enguillado. "We stayed where Saddam's statue was torn down."
Enguillado said the Iraqi people destroyed the statue.
"When we got there the statue was gone," said Enguillado. "The people took the head off and it disappeared."
Even though they saw some fighting, Enguillado said he only treated minor wounds on Marines.
"I only had to treat a couple shrapnel wounds," said Enguillado. "I treated mostly civilians who stepped on land mines or got shot by their own people."
"The worst thing I saw was a 5-year-old kid with his face all burnt up," said Enguillado. "I wrapped it up for him and sent him on his way because that's all I could do for him."
Enguillado said the civilians knew he was medical personnel.
"I guess they figured out our rank or something, but the civilians would always know I was a corpsman and come to me for help," said Enguillado.
Enguillado said he had enough Meals Ready to Eat to last him a lifetime.
"I don't ever want to eat M&M's or Skittles again," said Enguillado.
Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Phil Alexanian was deployed with 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, India Company. He said he was there to watch the Saddam statue come down.
Alexanian said combat wasn't fierce, but it still will stay with him.
"I saw enough," said Alexanian. "I saw all I wanted to see."
"The worst thing I saw was actually the first thing I saw," said Alexanian.
He said he went into an area after it was attacked by an AH-1W Cobra helicopter and came across an 8-year-old boy who was missing the bottom half of his face.
Alexanian said the boy was probably injured during the attack. If the boy was injured during the attack, it's an example that it was nearly impossible to eliminate collateral damage even though the U.S. military went to great lengths to limit civilian deaths and injuries and to minimize damage to nonmilitary facilities.
"When I came home, my wife and mother had it on video tape because one of the embedded reporters was there and it got put on the news," said Alexanian.
He said that he heard the boy survived because the boy was airlifted to a hospital for medical treatment.
Alexanian was among many American combat medics who treated scores of Iraqi civilians and service members throughout that country.
On April 8 it was reported that there were nearly 300 wounded Iraqi soldiers and civilians being treated in coalition hospitals, and many more were being treated medics on the battlefield.
Alexanian said the Iraqi people were really happy to see them.
"All the Iraqi's were full-on happy we were there when we came into Baghdad," said Alexanian. "They kept saying, 'Good Bush.'"
When the armed forces took over Baghdad, Alexanian said the looting was pretty serious.
"It made the L.A. riots look like a joke," said Alexanian.
Chief Petty Officer Dave Bockelman was attached 1st Battalion 7th Marines Headquarters and Service Company. He helped set up battalion aid stations and get them ready for triage and other aspects of medical care for when the United States moved into Iraq.
He said there is definitely things he will remember.
"Well I definitely remember getting shot at with RPGs," said Bockelman. "That's something you don't forget.
"A lot of the trauma was with Iraqi soldiers and civilians," said Bockelman. "That was because the Republican Guard were setting up their civilians in areas they knew we were going to hit."
Bockelman said when they got to Baghdad, they were in charge of some presidential palaces.
"I got to go into Saddam's closet and look at his stuff," said Bockelman.
The following corpsmen were sent to Iraq from MCLB Barstow's Branch Medical Clinic: Enguillado, Alexanian, Bockelman, Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Dominic Topete, Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Terry Morocco, Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Jimmy Oglesby, Hospitalman Micah Davis, Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Advinto Alejo, Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Jay Angle, Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Allen Maluto, and Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Dave Pope.
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