Vol. II, Issue 43 Friday’s Online Edition June 20, 2008

victory timesonline

Task Force 115th assumes mission

Task Force 115th Combat Support Hospital formally assumed command 

of the split-based Combat 

Support Hospital covering three forward operating bases from Task Force 

31st Combat Support 

Hospital during a transfer 

of authority ceremony on 

Camp Cropper June 10. 

TF 31st, under the 

leadership of Col. Roberto Nang and Command Sgt. Maj. Garfield 

Skyers cased their unit 

colors signifying the 

conclusion of their 15-

month deployment and 

subsequent return to Fort 

Bliss, Texas, the ceremony marked the beginning 

of a 15-month deployment for TF 115th from 

Fort Polk, La., under the 

leadership of Col. John 

McGrath and Command 

Sgt. Maj. Shirley Hunt.

Col. Patrick Sargent, 

commander of Task Force 

62nd Medical Brigade 

spoke highly of TF 31st’s 

transition and mission accomplishments.

 “Colonel Nang and 

Command Sergeant Major Skyers, I would like 

to publicly commend 

you and your Soldiers on 

the flawless execution of 

your detainee and Level 

III medical support mission,” Sargent said.

Sargent noted the difficulty of the detainee healthcare 

mission, often developing 

new tactics and procedures 

during the mission. 

“Task Force 31st not 

only set the standard in detainee healthcare, it found 

itself in the position of having to write the standard. 

Unlike its sister combat 

support hospitals, Task 

Force 31st had the unique 

mission of working across 

the continuum of medical 

care, from developing wire 

medicine and detainee 

healthcare algorithms to 

providing primary, surgical and even rehabilitative 

care,” Sargent said. 

TF 31st deployed to 

two split-based locations 

in Iraq, encompassing one 

area support medical company and an ambulance 

platoon that provided exceptional medical support 

to the warriors fighting on 

the battlefield. 

“Task Force 31st’s 

dedication to the principles of protection, care, 

and respect of the enemy sick and wounded is 

testament to America’s 

respect for the humane 

treatment of our adversaries,” said Sargent. 

 “It’s a great day for a 

Col. Roberto Nang and Command Sgt. Maj. Garfield Skyers case Task Force 31st Combat Support 

Hospital’s colors, officially signifying the completion of its 15-month tour.

Photo by Capt. Heath Steele, public affairs officer, Task Force 62nd Medical Brigade 

Story by 

Capt. William Betts

TF62nd PAO

See MEDICAL, Page 2
Page 2 Victory Times June 20, 2008

Jumps

 

MNC-I Commanding General: Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III 

MNC-I Public Affairs Officer: Col. Billy J. Buckner 

MNC-I PA Sergeant Major: Sgt. Maj. Sharon Opeka

MNC-I Command Info Chief: Staff Sgt. Joy Pariante

Editor:Spc. Samuel J. Phillips

Staff: Staff Sgt. Jeremy D. Crisp, Cpl. Frances Goch, Pfc. Eric J. 

Martinez and Pfc. Eric J. Glassey

The Victory Times online welcomes columns, 

commentaries, articles and letters from our 

readers. Send submissionsor comments to 

joy.pariante@iraq.centcom.mil. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit for security, 

accuracy, propriety, policy, clarity and space.

The Victory Times Online is an authorized 

electronic publication for members of the 

Department of Defense. Contents of this 

electronic publication are not necessarily 

the official views of or endorsed by the 

U.S. Government or the Department of Defense. The editorial content of this publication is the responsibility of the Public Affairs 

Office of Multi-National Corps-Iraq.

transfer of authority and we are 

very glad and happy that this day 

is finally here,” Nang said.

Highlights of the 31st Combat 

Support Hospital’s deployment include administering over 62,000 

insulin treatments for diabetic deCivilian contractor, Dilliram Acharya, a native from Nepal and employee of FLUOR 18, works on the sidewalk near the Sports 

Oasis at Camp Victory June 17. The construction is part of an ongoing project to improve the roads and sidewalk throughout 

Camp Victory.

Creating new paths 

Photo by Pfc. Eric J. Glassey, 13th Public Affair Detachment 

tainees; immunizing over 30,000 Soldiers, coalition forces and detainees 

during the influenza medical campaign; and teaching numerous Combat Life Saver Courses to firemen, 

Army and Air Force Exchange and 

Kellogg Brown Root employees. 

“I know that Colonel McGrath 

and the great men and women of 

Task Force 115th will take this mission, build upon what we have accomplished and do even bigger and 

greater things for Task Force 134 

and Task Force 62,” Nang said.

Medical, From Page 1
feature

June 20, 2008 Victory Times Page 3

Crush addiction: tobacco cessation class can assist

Task Force 62nd Medical 

Brigade provides tobacco cessation classes every Saturday 

10:00 a.m. at the 785th Medical Support Company’s Combat Stress Control office.

The class covers the health 

risks that smokers face and 

the benefits of quitting. It is 

open to all personnel stationed 

on Victory Base Complex. 

 “The class shows how much 

your health is affected by smoking and tells you what you are 

putting into your body,” said Pfc. 

Leanna Goodrum, mental health 

specialist, TF 62nd Med. Bde.

“Most people increase the 

amount of tobacco they use when 

in combat,” said Maj. Sejal S. Patel, psychiatrist, 98th Medical Detachment. “Quitting will help you 

find a better way to manage stress.”

Finding a reason to quit 

and a proper plan of action is often the hardest part 

of the cessation process. 

“When you have a brain that 

wants nicotine, you have to 

go back and gain control of it 

again,” said Lt. Col. Ronald D. 

Ross, preventative medicine officer, TF 62nd Med. Bde.

“In the class, we discuss ways of 

quitting that participants may have 

not tried in the past,” Goodrum 

said. “You can slowly start cutting 

back on the amount of tobacco you 

use everyday. Find something else 

to do instead of a smoke break. 

You can combat the addiction 

with a combination of medication and a good plan of action.”

If participants choose, they can 

take advantage of nicotine gum, 

patches or the medication, Zyban. 

“There are various tools to help 

you stop smoking that all work in 

different ways. Nicotine patches, 

gum and medication aren’t magic. 

They’ll only work if you develop a plan to quit,” Ross said.

“Zyban helps to fight the chemical dependence and withdrawals associated with tobacco,” 

Patel said. “You aren’t just going to take the pill and then be 

smoke free. It has a lot to do 

with your motivation to quit.”

“Stopping smoking is important at any point after you’ve 

started. If you want a doctor’s 

advice, quitting smoking is always a home run,” Ross said.

Story by 

Pfc. Eric J. Martinez

13th Public Affairs 

Detachment

Photo illustration by Pfc. Eric J. Martinez
Page 4 Victory Times Online June 13, 2008

U.S. news

PARADISE, California- High wind on Saturday continued to stoke fires across Northern 

California that had destroyed dozens of homes 

and forced thousands of residents to flee.

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Tom Brokaw lifted a 

bottle of Rolling Rock beer in tribute to fallen colleague Tim Russert, part of a day of tributes that 

brought the nation’s top journalists and politicians 

and even Senetors Barack Obama and John McCain together. Russert, the NBC “Meet the Press” 

anchor who died of a heart attack Friday at the age 

of 58, was eulogized at his funeral and a memorial 

service that was televised on MSNBC.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa-The dark, filthy water that inundated the entire downtown of Iowa’s 

second-largest city was receding Saturday after 

forcing 24,000 people to flee, but those who remained were being urged to take draconian measures to avoid overwhelming the city’s only remaining drinking water source.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska-Two women missing 

for days in Denali National Park have been found 

and returned to park headquarters. Park spokeswoman Kris Fister says the women were found 

Wednesday afternoon outside the park’s boundaries on the northern side.