Blog Posts from July, 2009

I just returned to Patch Barracks, Germany from Knin, Croatia where I had the unique opportunity to spend time with a few of the Airmen deployed from the 435th Construction and Training Squadron (CTS), stationed at Ramstein AB, Germany. They function as a rapidly deployable construction unit with capabilities such as: carpentry, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, pavement and road construction. After seeing them in action, I know that the previous list is just a portion of their skills.

The Airmen are there to support infrastructure initiatives and humanitarian assistance projects that encourage refugees to resettle in the local area.

When the Chief of the Office of Cooperation in Zagreb, LTC Chuck Davis, and I caught up with the Airmen, they were in the middle of a refurbishment project to the hospital in Knin which serves the local population of 15,000 and the surrounding communities. Now with the help of the U.S. European Command and United States Air Forces in Europe, this hospital and the local population are seeing tangible results and have another reason to take pride in this beautiful mountain town.

This project has garnered attention from the press. Scarcely an hour after our arrival, the press arrived to interview the director of the hospital, the Brigade Commander of the Croatian Guards Motorized Brigade - Brigadier General Fuzul, the Mayor of Knin, and LTC Davis.

Media interviewing hospital director in Knin, Croatia

All emphasized the importance of the project to the people of the area. A half hour after leaving the hospital, while we shared a lunch at a local restaurant, our Croatian hosts at one point quieted the table and asked the restaurant staff to turn up the radio - the story was being broadcast on local radio with the voice of the translator replacing that of LTC Davis. Their report was positive. I have been told that the newspaper coverage the following day was equally positive.

Fourteen members of 435 CTS have worked hard to improve the sanitation of the hospital by repairing and painting the walls throughout the hospital - this is not the kind of paint job that you or I would do on a weekend at home, but rather the complete sealing of the walls with a high-gross paint on a well prepped surface that can be easily cleaned and kept sanitary. As well, they installed reinforced steel edges on the walls to resist the erosion from the bumping of gurneys when transporting patients. Walking in the children's ward I rounded one of these corners destined for steel reinforcing, only to find two airmen with masks and sledgehammers making small work of the pre-existing bathroom: the new bathrooms will include rugged, commericial faucets that will conserve water, a precious commodity.

Two airmen suveying ventilation system of hospital in Knin, Croatia

The ventilation system is being brought back into function, allowing the system to circulate fresh air into the building and remove potential microbes in the air. The Airmen are also replacing radiators which had ceased to adequately heat because of rust and sediment build-up. The new ones will function better and have clearance from the wall to allow forquick and effective cleaning.

Two airmen from the 435th CTS offloading new radiators

This project is especially important because its focus is primarily the hospital's children's ward. It is a focus that the Airmen were proud to highlight by painting the ward in bright, cheerful colors, the kind of colors they would want their own children to have around them while they recuperate.

As this project winds down, I know that our airmen will leave with heavy hearts.

LTC Davis and BG Fuzul

Our thanks goes to the hospital staff, the people of Knin and our local military hosts for their hospitality throughout the visit of the professionals of the 435 CTS.

Hvala! Dovidjenja, vidimo se opet! "Thanks! See you soon!"

Major Eric Tramel, USAF
HQ US European Command
Humanitarian and Civic Assistance Program Manager