Medivac team helps heal unseen wounds

Published Aug. 21, 2012
By Staff Sgt. Shawn Rhodes
927th Air Refueling Wing

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Shrapnel, open chest wounds, missing limbs - they'd seen it all before. On this flight, Capt. Esma Etan and her aeromedical evacuation team from MacDill's 45th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron had to care for an invisible wound.

The injured Soldiers aboard her plane accepted the risk of being injured or killed when they enlisted. What they hadn't counted on was dealing with fear.

"I was told the hospital was still moving five New Zealand coalition Soldiers from a forward operating base after engaging in a gun fight with the enemy," said Etan, a flight nurse with the 45th AES, deployed with the 10th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Flight. "That fight took the lives of two of the coalition Soldiers."

Etan's team had been performing these missions every week for three months from Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan to Ramstein Air Base, Germany. They knew what to expect when they got the call in August to prepare to transport the survivors of a firefight.

To make sure warriors quickly receive the medical care they need, the Air Force relies on aeromedical evacuation teams. These highly skilled teams are trained to treat combat injuries in-flight while transporting patients from field hospitals to advanced medical care at Ramstein. The Soldiers on this flight sustained injuries to the chest, head, hips, face and extremities and survived field surgery.

"What we excelled at as a crew was the additional time that we devoted to listening to the patients' concerns and then realizing they were afraid," Etan said. "It was not that patients were in pain, but that they were unsure as to what had happened from a medical standpoint and what would happen to them when they arrived in Germany."

The Soldiers had been through a lot by anyone's account, but it quickly became clear that what was causing the most pain for the wounded warriors was fear of the unknown. Etan recalls her astonishment when she realized her words were more powerful than the bandages and pain medication.

"I remembered making rounds ... one of the coalition forces Soldier trying to ask for help," Etan recounted. "I walked over to him, bent down to his level and tried to understand what he was trying to say. To my surprise he was just trying to understanding what had happened to him."

The Soldier needed someone to tell him using language he could understand what had happened to his body and what awaited him when the plane landed.

"For the better part of 15 minutes, I explained to him the treatment he had received thus far, what his status was with us in-flight and what would be done to determine whether he would need surgery or not," Etan said.

The care Etan and her crew provided to the New Zealanders caught the attention of American and New Zealand military leaders.

"Your efforts in caring for and getting the wounded New Zealand Soldier from that same battle to higher medical care resulted in a note of thanks from the Chief of the Royal New Zealand Air Force to (former Air Force Chief of Staff) Gen. Norton Schwartz," said Gen. Raymond Johns, commander of Air Mobility Command.

"The commitment and responsiveness of the U.S. military has been exemplary and been a great demonstration of the strength of the relationship. So thank you most sincerely," said Air Vice-Marshall Peter Stockwell, Chief of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. "It means a lot to know we have such a strong friend in times of need. Please convey our deep appreciation to
all those United States Air Force personnel involved in the operation."

Johns echoed the sentiments of the New Zealander.

"These bonds with our closest allies are forged and maintained with the grit, determination and commitment to excellence of Airmen such as yourself," Johns said. "And you do this every day. I simply cannot be more proud or thankful. It is an honor to serve with you."

For Etan, the letters of thanks come as a surprise. She doesn't see herself as a hero, but as a member of a team that helped fellow servicemembers in pain.

"This mission was not so much about performing heroic acts of life-saving measures, but more so about the human heart and spirit," Etan said. "Sometimes what we need most is a compassionate voice and a comforting hand to get us through that rough journey."