KMC medical battalion thankful for support

Lt. Col. James Signaigo
226th Medical Battalion commander


***image1***Greetings from Iraq! Up front, I’d like to praise the KMC, our great family members, our outstanding Family Readiness Group and our rear detachment for their devoted, unwavering support during this deployment, it has really made a huge difference.

For the 226th Medical Battalion, this adventure began in January, when the battalion deployed two of its three companies to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. We serve as Iraq’s sole provider of medical supplies, medical equipment repair and service, optical fabrication and blood management and distribution. We have unit members stationed in every significant region in Iraq and have distinguished ourselves by providing world-class medical logistics support for every major operation that transpired.

Along the way there have been many triumphs as well as many tribulations, but through it all, 226th Soldiers have always lived up to our motto, “Support the Healers.”

This begins and ends with our two company commanders captains Shawn Gelzaines and Samantha Hinchman and their NCOs, led by Command Sgt. Maj. Pedro Class and first sergeants Ronnie Barber and Scott Lubag. However, the real tribute goes to our Soldiers in grades E-4 and below who have spent seven of 10 months wearing full body armor while toiling in extreme heat, working 12 to 14 hours daily, six days a week and all the while continuously enduring rocket and mortar attacks.

Along the way we have received, processed and distributed more than 31,000 wooden pallets of medical supplies; repaired and serviced more than 3,000 pieces of medical equipment; made more than 4,000 pairs of glasses, as well as issued about 2,100 gallons of blood. As a service to our camp, we sponsored the outdoor swimming pool and the flag football league. We also sponsored the renovation of two local Iraqi schools. Most recently we moved our entire operation without any disruption in service to more than 250 customers.

In closing, I’d like to express my sincere appreciation to the 226th family members for their support. There isn’t a day that goes by that you are not in our hearts and minds, we love you and miss you and can’t wait to see you. Take good care of each other, keep the faith and we’ll see you soon.