Sailor Steps Up To Challenge
(May 5, 2011) |
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Navy Seaman James Q. Beheler, a corpsman with the provincial
reconstruction team in Afghanistan's Kunar province, puts a bandage
on an Afghan boy's leg at Zagrano Bando School, April 14, 2011. |
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KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan, May 2, 2011 – Deployments often afford
service members an opportunity to experience situations and perform
duties outside of their comfort zone. One person who has broadened
his skill set during his tour in Afghanistan is Navy Seaman James Q.
Beheler.
As an active-duty sailor from Naval Medical Center
Portsmouth, Va., with only two years in the service, the hospitalman
experienced a lot in his seven months with the Kunar Provincial
Reconstruction Team.
As a corpsman, Beheler works with a
forward surgical team operating a Level 2 care facility at Forward
Operating Base Wright in Afghanistan's Kunar province. The Roanoke,
Va., native said he was prepared for many of things he has seen at
the facility, and for others, he was not.
“It's been real
busy at times,” Beheler said. “When we've got operations going on in
our area, many casualties will come in through our [facility].
They'll use anyone with medical experience to help, and I really
wasn't prepared for that. I'm used to seeing things in the field,
not seeing things in a clinical setting. That took some getting used
to.”
Beheler, who received an Army Commendation Medal with
Valor for saving the life of a fellow provincial reconstruction team
member who suffered a gunshot wound, said being on patrols still is
the most challenging aspect of his job. |
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“When you're out doing missions, we are that medical asset,”
Beheler said. “I know that I can fight my way to you, treat
you and fight my way back with you. There's only one medical
corpsman on the crew, so you better know what you're doing.”
Navy Lt. Cmdr. Lynn Redman of San Antonio, nurse
practitioner with the team, said she's impressed with
Beheler's performance and that she is so confident in the
work he does, she would trust him to treat one of her
children.
“He's handled everything very concisely,”
Redman said. “He's consistent. He's bottom-line. I don't
have to wonder about him. He is my lowest-ranking corpsman,
but he is a hard-charger. He's very knowledgeable. He should
have been a doctor.”
Beheler said one of the best
things he's experienced has been the people he works with
and the friends he made within the unit.
Army Sgt.
Patrick Johnson of Worcester, Mass., said Beheler is a good
medic and a great listener and learner, and that this
experience will help Beheler in the future.
“He's
been a delightful subordinate,” Johnson said. “He's quick to
listen, learn and volunteer, and that is at the core of
being a great corpsman. He's going to leave here with so
much knowledge. He's also become a close, personal friend of
mine. I'm proud to have met and known him.”
Beheler
said his teammates are great to work with and have made his
experience rewarding.
“I couldn't have asked for any
better people to work with,” Beheler said. “There are three
corpsmen and one Army medic. We all have our little
specialty. We work really, really well together. There's a
mutual respect there that has a lot to do with it, too. We
actually care about one another.” |
By USAF TSgt. Chuck Walker
Kunar
Provincial Reconstruction Team
American Forces Press Service
Copyright 2011 |
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