Cobra Gold troops win hearts
and minds with medical, dental care
By Fred Knapp, Stars and
Stripes
Fred Knapp / Stars and Stripes
Army Capt. Samara Rutberg examines Chalaw Wirigitpanit in a medical clinic during Cobra
Gold exercises in Thailand. |
VAD NONG PHAYOM, Thailand — A long line of people wait patiently
in the sticky heat outside the old village schoolhouse here. Inside, Pasip Pusa’s
turn has come.
Sitting quietly, Pasip murmurs to an interpreter as U.S. Army Capt.
James Truong, an optometrist, passes a series of lenses before her eyes. It is the first
eye exam ever for Pasip, who is in her late-30s.
As Troung has her try on a pair of black-rimmed glasses, Pasip breaks
into a broad smile.
“I love it … clear!” she explains.
Pasip is one of thousands of people U.S. military doctors have
examined and treated in clinics in nine Thai villages during this year’s Cobra Gold
exercise.
The clinics — along with several construction projects —
are part of the humanitarian aid U.S. troops are offering the people of Thailand.
Pasip’s case shows the value of the medical civic assistance
projects, said Maj. Larry Connell, a medevac helicopter pilot based at Fort Sam Houston,
San Antonio. Connell was in charge of setting up this year’s clinics.
“When you make a pair of glasses for someone who hasn’t
seen in five years, and you see the smile from ear to ear, you know you’ve done your
job,” Connell said.
But the humanitarian efforts have some political implications, too.
“We’re here to win the hearts and minds of the
people,” Connell said.
If a clinic dentist extracts a rotten tooth, the benefits are both
immediate and long-term, Connell said. “Now his jaw is feeling better … he
remembers the Americans did that.”
The clinics are also good public relations for the Thai military that
co-sponsors them, rotating the responsibility among the various services.
Fred Knapp / Stars and Stripes
Army Capt. James Truong tries a sample pair of glasses on Pasip Pusa in a village medical
clinic as part of Cobra Gold exercises in Thailand. |
“Today is the Thai Air Force’s chance to show they are
taking care of the village,” said Lt. Col. Ken Comer, deputy 1st Corps civil affairs
officer from Fort Lewis, Wash.
“Reciprocity is sort of the key to this,” he said.
“The U.S. doctors get to see some stuff they probably never get to see in their
clinics at home. We enable the Thai military to connect or reconnect with some of the
rural areas.”
Some of the clinics held during this year’s exercise were in
villages near the Thai-Burmese border, where ethnic differences and efforts to suppress
drug trafficking have created tensions.
But the villagers lined up here have more immediate concerns. Chalaw
Wiragitpanit, who was being examined by Capt. Samara Rutberg, a physician at Fort Lewis,
has headaches, diarrhea, and vomiting.
“She’s probably really dehydrated,” said Rutberg,
adding that the woman will be given Tylenol, a Gatorade-type drink, and multivitamins with
iron. “We’re finding a lot of the villagers don’t drink much water, and
we’re educating them.”
There are obvious limits to the problems the clinics can address.
“We’re only there for a very limited amount of time —
eight hours, really — and what can you do in eight hours?” Connell asked.
“It’s pretty much a glorified sick call … rather than inpatient health
care.”
Those limits can be frustrating, said Lt. Col. Craig Shakespeare,
commander of the 673rd Dental Company at Ft. Lewis.
“Every case that walks in this office is an $8,000 to $12,000
treatment plan,” Shakespeare said, referring to the wide variety of dental problems
presented by the villagers.
But there is no time for that kind of work. Given the limitations,
“the most good for the most people is surgery — taking teeth out,” even if
it may lead to other problems later, Shakespeare admitted.
Still, judging from the long lines of people, the villagers are eager
to take advantage of the free care.
The day of the clinic also included a dedication ceremony for a new
school building, a concrete-floored cinderblock building of about 1,500 square feet with a
steel-framed, ceramic-tiled roof.
“Hopefully, it’ll be here for a while,” said Capt.
Mark Montgomery of the 86th Engineering Battalion from Fort Lewis, whose Company B built
the structure in 28 days while living at the site.
And despite the fact that it is only for one day, Connell said
holding the clinic was well worthwhile.
“From a ‘Win the hearts and minds’ perspective,
it’s worth it.”
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