~ 720th Military Police Battalion Reunion Association History Project ~

 

Coalition Forces Military Police give aid to local Iraqi boy

 

        "You got to see this," said CPL Nicholas Butler, nativeof Peoria, Illinoise, and team leader with the 401st Military Police Company, 92nd Military Police Battalion, 18th MilitaryPolice Brigade, over a hand held radio to his squad leader while performing Police Transition Team operations at the Ghazalia local police station in the Mansour Distirct on 1 December 2007.

        Squad leader and native of Hamilton, Ohio SSG Jonathan Stanifer rushed to the scene of a local Iraqi boy and hisfather. The boy four and a half year old Muntadher Basem Fahed was born with a birth defect known as Gastroschisis that placed his intestines on the outside of his stomach.

 

        "Basem Fahed Mzeal (the boys father) told me that his son was born with his intestines outside of his body. I took down the information and told them I couldn’t promise anything but I would see what I could do," said Stanifer, "When I returned I immediately notified my chain of command about the event that took place."

        SGT Paul Adams and CPL Joel Hastings, also a team leader, both with the 401st Military Police Company, 92nd Military Police Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade piece together a wheel chair for an 4-year-old Iraqi boy with a birth defect at the Ghazalia police station on 7 December 2007. US Army Photograph.

 

        The 92nd Military Police Battalion and 401st MP Company responded with medical supplies, wheel chair and some toys to help the boy. With the supplies ready all they had to do was notify the family who lived in the area of Shullah, which is known for heavy insurgent activity.

 

        The family was brought to the Ghazalia station on 7 December, where native of Lometa, Texas CPL Mary Schultz, a combat medic with the 401st treated the area and covered it to prevent further infection.

        The boy was also given toys and a wheel chair that was put together on site by members of the 401st Police Transition Team (PTT) squad. The unit is now further investigating ways the boy may get surgery to further treat his defect.

        Members of the 401st Military Police Company, 92nd Military Police Battalion, and 18th Military Police Brigade Police Transition Team pose with the family of 4-year-old Muntadher Basem Fahed, at the Ghazalia police station on 7 December 2007. US Army Photograph.

 

        By SGT Daniel Blottenberger,18th MP Brigade Public Affairs, Courtesy of The Tripple T, Too Tough Times,  Telling The Story Of The 18th MP Brigade, Volume 1, Issue 3, January 2008, page 6.

 
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