The July 13th Bomb attack that killed more than 30 children.

Here is part of the story you have not heard.. and should, because its outstanding!

Published on July 25, 2005 By ShadowWar In War on Terror

FORWARD OPERATING BASE RUSTAMIYAH -- Since the July 13 car-bomb attack, which killed more than 30 children and one US Soldier in East Baghdad , many articles have been written about what was happening in the Iraqi hospital where most of the Iraqi children were treated.

Iraqi doctors, however, were not the only ones working to save the lives of the young innocent victims of the terrorist attack that day.

According to Task Force Baghdad officials, this is what happened at the U.S. medical treatment facility at Forward Operating Base Rustamiyah.

“At about 10:35 a.m., I heard a boom,” said Capt. Laura DePalma, commander of the medical company for the 26th Forward Support Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division. “I always look at my watch now when I hear a boom. Often it means I have to get my company ready to provide treatment and life-saving care to an American Soldier.”

In this case, a terrorist had deliberately targeted a group of Iraqi children who were standing near an American humvee. What DePalma did not know was the scope of the casualties.

“The first reports that were coming into the aid station said one casualty was on the way. Shortly, the reports kept growing and we really had no idea just how many casualties we would be facing,” she said.

“More than 50 medical personnel were mobilized to prepare for the incoming casualties. All the medics, orderlies and doctors were assembled for one purpose – to save the life of a fellow Soldier,” DePalma said.

The first casualties arrived on Bradley Fighting Vehicles. “You cannot imagine the power of a Bradley Fighting Vehicle charging into a FOB as the crew is fighting for every bit of time to save the life of one of their friends,” she said.

“When the Bradleys dropped their ramps, we were there to start triaging the wounded,” DePalma said. Three American Soldiers had been wounded and evacuated from the bomb site for treatment.

“My crew—medics, doctors, admin folks—immediately went to work to save the life the most critically injured. Spc. Benyahmin Yahudah was very seriously hurt, and he was our priority. We gave him every bit of attention and care that is possible to give, but were unable to save him. Two other Soldiers, with serious but non-life threatening wounds, were stabilized, and we immediately transitioned to consoling the other Soldiers who brought in their fatally-wounded comrade,” she said.

“A somber tone always fills the aid station when someone dies. We stay professional and focused on treating the living, but losing a life is not easy on us,” said Capt. Jeremy Edwards, a pediatrician and the surgeon for 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry.

In this case, many of the medics had been good friends of the deceased, for Yahudah, too, was a medic, Edwards said.

However, not all the care was focused on life-saving measures.

“Chaplains come in as part of the team. They have a job to do, too. They minister to the dead as well as providing comfort to the living,” he said.

Just as the medical staff began to relax from the trauma of trying to save a fellow Soldier, they were surprised by unannounced casualties.

“Just as we began to catch our breath from treating the wounded Soldiers, other Soldiers started to rush through the doors carrying wounded children in their arms,” Edwards said. “We had no warning that children would be coming through the door, but our philosophy is we will treat anyone who needs us.”

“Two children were being brought in with massive burn wounds, one with more than 90 percent of his little body covered in burns,” DePalma said.

Three children between the ages of 7 and 9 were eventually brought to the aid station. Edwards said two of the injured children were in very critical condition. The third child had serious, but not life-threatening, wounds.

“Fifteen minutes until air evacuation,” someone yells. “Fifteen minutes,” echoes the entire staff.

At Charlie Med, situational awareness is mandatory for those working trauma. Commands are often echoed so everyone knows what is happening, DePalma said.

The aid station was focused on stabilizing and treating the wounded while preparing them for air evacuation to a better-equipped hospital.

“Patients need eye protection and other measures before we put them on a flight,” Edwards said.

“Two of the children were unconscious while one child was awake, scared and in pain while we were treating them. I stroked his head and talked to him in soothing tones and he was able to calm down and let the pediatricians work on his wounds,” she said.

“Ten Minutes for MEDEVAC,” one Soldier said. “Ten minutes for MEDEVAC,” the entire aid station echoed.

“The work to treat the wounded continued. It looked like everything was happening in chaos, but it was all part of a well-orchestrated tempo,” said Capt. Julie Burmeister, incoming commander of the 26th FSB maintenance company. She was visiting her friend, DePalma, that day, and was able to observe the activity from an unused corner of the aid station.

“It was simply amazing to watch the care being provided to the Soldiers and children. Every worker in the aid station knew exactly what to do and no one got in anyone's way,” Burmeister said.

After the patients were stabilized, a sense of quiet and calm came over the aid station as they awaited the air ambulance.

“Five minutes for MEDEVAC,” one Soldier said. “Five minutes for MEDEVAC,” the entire aid station echoed.

As the personnel in the aid station continued to work, the MEDEVAC arrived.

Out of the dusty haze of Baghdad , the helicopter swooped down on FOB Rustamiyah to take all five of the wounded to the next higher level of medical care.

Fifteen minutes after the children arrived at the aid station, they were whisked away.

As the MEDEVAC lifted off, the staff of the aid station did what they always do when a fellow Soldier is being evacuated to a higher level of medical care – they saluted.

The two Soldiers who were hurt moved on to Germany for more treatment.

Two of the wounded children died and one survived. He will soon be returned to his parents.

“It was a difficult day for the Soldiers of Charlie Med, but they can be proud they did every thing they could to save the lives of Soldiers and Iraqi civilians. The terrorists committed an unspeakable crime but the Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition Forces Soldiers who worked to save Iraqi lives are heroes,” said Col. Joseph DiSalvo, commander of Coalition Forces in Rusafa ( East Baghdad ).

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