Bob Woodruff spent many many months having a slow painful recovery. Since the attack he has taken on the mantle of speaking up for Veterans injured both mentally and physically in the USA. He returned to Iraq for the first time the other day, but a severe sand storm disrupted his visit plans and the a/c was sent onto Kandahar.On a tour of the Coalition hospital in Kandahar, he was both surprised and happy to meet two of the medical team who had worked on him immediately after the IED. Lt Col Warren Dorbac and Lt Mike McCarthy, are now serving in Afghanistan.
Col Dorbac gave the credit to the initial first aid by the medics on scene stabilising Bob before transporting to Iraq Field Hospital then on to Landstuhle in Germany. Now three years later they meet face to face. His cameramna Doug Vogt is a three-time Emmy award-winning cameraman from Canada who has spent nearly two decades based in Europe covering global events. Has also made a full recovery. Bob Woodruff Doug Vogt
Not a day goes by in Kandahar hospital without someone having emergency surgery.The instability in the provinces shows a marked increase in Injured and dying civilians. 1000 local Afghans have been treated so far this year.
Including a 12 year old boy shot in the face and a 10 year old who lost his Mother Father and brother in a bomb blast. Our medics work in tragic circumstance to follow their creed of saving lives.They need steady hands and a mind set to work on the injuries before them. 60 to 80 % of treatments are for Afghan Civilians yes and they also include insurgents. These insurgents are given equal care to preserve life. They are worked on in a separate room in order that they cannot overhear any conversations.
Wounded and dying chilren are treated daily, this adds even more stress onto the shoulders of both soldiers and medics. Who save lives on a day to day basis, conflict after conflict.
To all who serve and to all medical personnel from the field medic to the senior surgeon may God guide your hands as you carry out your fine work.
Suffer the little children may God / Allah take care of them.
Split Second Decisions: .
An Afghan girl has been killed in an apparent accidental shooting by Canadian soldiers in Kandahar province.
Soldiers had dismounted from a convoy Tuesday in the volatile Panjwaii district when a motorcycle came speeding toward them, said Task Force Kandahar spokesman Maj. Mario Couture.When the driver did not heed signals to stop, a warning shot was fired and the motorcycle changed direction and sped away.Moments later, the soldiers noticed a crowd gathering and discovered that a girl, whose age was not disclosed, had been shot, officials said.Attempts to save the girl were unsuccessful.
In a separate incident about an hour later, three Afghan policemen were injured when Canadian soldiers inspecting a possible improvised explosive device fired on a vehicle that was approaching in the dark with its lights out.Couture said the soldiers used lights and a warning shot to try to stop the truck, but to no avail.
A shot was fired like it normally is at the ground to get their attention, Couture said. When that didn't work, soldiers fired on the vehicle, injuring three men inside.
They gave them first aid and evacuated them to the hospital [at the NATO base in Kandahar].
The behaviour of the motorcycle driver at the scene of the girl's death was also suspicious, Couture said.We know that insurgents want to drive a wedge between the coalition force and the population, so if they can make us make mistakes, then it serves their purpose, Couture said.
If we fire, it works in their favour. We're aware of that.
Joint investigations are underway by the Afghan National Police and the Canadian Forces' National Investigation Service.
Happy 109th Birthday to Canada's oldest Veteran and last surviving Veteran of WW1 John Babcock.
Please wear RED on Friday show your support for our troops
Nil Sine Labore
Robby
