Mothers Day JBB style

HAPPY LATE MOTHERS DAY! I'm so thankful to have the two beautiful, lively daughters I have.  I'm blessed to have the most wonderful mother myself, always been such a role model for me and always there for me when I need her.  I can only hope to be the kind of mother to my girls she is to me.  I hope everyone gave their mother a hug or gave them a call on their day if that was possible. 

Here in Iraq, I put together a little "spa day" for our mothers.  It was open to men and women, and we had a set up to do manicures or pedicures.  It was a LOT of fun and people had a good time.

Here are some pictures!



Hand/Foot sea salt scrubs





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Pedicure area, tubs already filled with goodies







My co-worker doing her manicure




My good friend Yatika doing my toes :) YAY FOR ME



Manicure Table

                                                                                                                                                         

Wounded Warriors return to JBB for visit......

Warriors walking through Hero's Highway....unlike before on a litter

I had the honor of being here when the wounded warrior program sent 6 amazing soldiers back to Joint Base Balad for "closure" on their part.  These soldiers had been stationed throughout Iraq between 2003-2010 and were injured during combat, causing them to have to be med-evaced (by helicopter search and rescue that I showed in the previous blog) to our hospital here on JBB.  Two of the soldiers were even here in Iraq on 2 different tours and injured BOTH times having to come through our trauma hospital to be stabilized in order to survive to make it to Germany for surgery.  These hero's are physically wounded, one was blind, another blind in one eye, two with prosthetic legs, one with a bullet in his head for life.  They came and talked about what they could remember about their journey, told us their stories.  They were very emotional and so humble.  It was amazing to see a strong bond they all had just for the fact they were all "saved" in the hospital here, they all lost brothers in combat, they all serve with honor STILL helping other wounded soldiers recover/recuperate.  I cannot imagine the battle they have been through, and am so grateful for each of them.  Iraq is a different place than it was when they were here, and it's because of their sacrifice  I am not exposed to the same "life" they were then.

Hero's Highway is the "gateway" where over 30,000 injuried warriors have traveled from their rescue helicopter into the Joint Base balad Emergency Room for life saving treatment.  Once stable enough to travel they return back through Hero's Highway onto a helicopter to Landstuhl Germany for care before going back to the U.S.

Helicopters are coming in...there were 4 helicopters total



332nd EMDG personnel waiting for the arrival.
We stood in line then cheered as the wounded
warrior walked from Hero's Highway into our Emergency Deparment, unlike the time they
traveled through before via litter.



Helicopter landing on other side of Hero's Highway

Stopping for a group photo and quick video clip for TV news

Each warrior told us his story, there wasn't a dry eye in the room. 
They were all so humble, and greatful for the care they received.   Many talked
about their family back home, the progress they've made, and their
fellow brothers who did not survive.

Helicopter Tour

So i had to go out to a shop to do a health risk assessment.  We go out and get a listing of current personnel who work in the shop, what PPE they wear, what chemicals they work with, what noise equipment they have, any radiation, radio frequency, ergonomic issues, respirators, confined spaces and so on.  We make sure workers aren't doing anything that could cause harm to their health.  I am the Air Force equivilant to what Occupational Helath and Safety does in the "civilian world".  SO this shop I went ot visit is helicopter maintenance.  They are kinda like a nascar team because they all come to deployed sites with all their people, equipment for their specific aircraft/helo from their home statoins.  This crew here now is from Nellis and it's the HH-60 helo that is used during search and recovery operation.  Luckily they aren't that busy having to do search and recovery operations here...so I got my own personnal photo shoot with the helo's while I was there! It was super fun!!!  Here they are! Enjoy



With the "mini-gun", the Minigun is a 7.62 mm, multi-barrel heavy machine gun with a high rate of fire (2,000 to 6,000 rounds per minute)

 




Me in the hot seat




They said I needed to "look tough" if I was shooting the mini-gun so this is as close as I could get!