A small story about a Missouri National Guard unit called the "Houn Dawgs" and their Medical Section during their deployment to Iraq.

The 203rd ECB (H) medical section deployed with their unit from Southwest Missouri to Iraq on May 22, 2003 during Operational Iraqi Freedom to provide medical support for the units 600 plus soldiers. That in itself is a pretty big order considering the section consist of one PA and eight Medics. Little did they know that when they arrived at the Baghdad International Airport they would become the medical support systems Level I aide station for close to 2000 more troops.

With only one ambulance these citizen soldiers whose civilian jobs consist of: Robert Matson a Physician's Assistant, Jake Marbough a Medical Lab Manager, Linda Smith a Registered Nurse, Charles Bidwell a Psych. Tech., Tim Orr a Computer Programmer, Johnathan Brents a College Student, Desiree Barnhart a Trucking Safety Office Administrative Assistant, Jim Smith a Factory Metal Lathe Operator, and Missy Harden a Stay At Home Mom, went to work. The section saw over 6000 soldiers in their aide station in the first 11 months plus another 1000 or more soldiers on the job site, countless Iraqi civilians, transporting ill or injured soldiers and civilians to Level II medical or specialized care facilities when necessary. The section provided work sites medical support for the numerous missions their unit had been tasked in and around Baghdad plus several bases outside of the Baghdad area.

Providing medical support for that many soldiers takes a great deal of organization and most of that fall at the feet of the PA, CPT. Robert Matson from Texas, and a Vietnam Veteran, Ex Navy/Marine Corps Corpsman now Army Staff Sergeant Jake Marbough. Between the two of them the section was able to give flu and Anthrax shots for 2000 plus soldiers on time while dealing with a variable ton of Chronic Illness medications, medical supply issues, as well as training and recerting hundreds of Combat Lifesavers.

Being a small medical section supplies were always an issue and when supplies were low all medical sections personnel were pushed hard to find a new source by networking with other units. Sometimes members of the section even went to an Army supplies collection point over an hour away by convoy, and spent the entire day in the blazing hot sun digging through boxes of supplies turned in by exiting units.

This small section functioned from sun-up to well past sun-down on most nights and into the early morning or over night on those occasions when there were sick patients in their three bed patient hold area. When the Medics got a day off were are always emergencies or walk-ins to deal with so there was never a day when the section could actually say their work was done. From convoy support, into some of the most hostile parts of Baghdad, to delivering excess medical supplies to civilian clinics surrounded by children (where the medics handed out candy) the medics and PA worked tirelessly to keep up the fighting strength as well as taking every opportunity they could to use the Army's concept of winning the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people. Providing any help they can to a people that, until the arrival of the US Forces have had only poor medical care.

Just days before three of the section were to re-deploy back to Ft Leonard Wood, Missouri and only a month before the rest of the unit was to re-deploy back to the states the 203rd was given the news they would be extended for 90-120 more days in country. But that was not all of the surprise by a long shot. The Battalion was going to split into Companies working in three different locations with more separations possible after that. Bravo Company with one medic split off and went south to build up a base to house troops, Charlie Company with one medic stayed in place and assist in engineer operations on and around the airport in Baghdad, and Headquarters Support and Alpha Companies along with six medics and the PA went South to start a new base while at the same time renovating two other bases. The Headquarters Company used one medic for convoys to and from Baghdad for supplies and mail for the unit, while Alpha company used a medic for job-site and one medic for convoy support.

Soon after arriving at their new base of operations the Medical Section's PA with the assistance of the Medics took on the duty of medically screening detainees and improving the living conditions of their holding areas. This in itself was a very hard task since the detainees were one of the major factors in the unit's extension.

Even though their tour was not over these soldier medics continue to carve a name for themselves in Iraq as professionals in the field of medicine by following the long held motto of "Conserving The Fighting Strength." Fighting heat, dust, insects, diarrhea from local food sources, along with a list of other medical, dental, and mental health issues with the most important ammunition they brought with them; teamwork, skills, and inventiveness.

Each member of this section left family and home to do the job they were asked to do. Even though they missed their families (many with small children) they were determined to do the best job they could for their fellow soldiers and hometown friends. Even though they are what the Army calls "Weekend Warriors" and "Part Time Soldiers" they performed their duties as well as or better than any Active Duty unit in the country. They may not make the history books to be read about for generations to come but they know they were there on the ground for the troops when they were needed each time they were needed. 

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