Profiles in Courage: aeromedical angels of mercy

  • Published
  • By 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq --  Air Force Reservists from the 920th Rescue Wing's aeromedical staging squadron are scattered around the globe on deployments in support of the War on Terror. A group of them are serving as near to the tip of the proverbial spear as one can get: Balad, Iraq. 

Once labeled as the second-busiest airport in the world, the base's medical facilities gained a measure of renown when Discover Magazine reported in February 2007 that  
the medical staff at Balad had achieved a 96 percent survival rate.

Here, we provide a brief glimpse at three Airmen who typify the service taking place at the desert base every day, and represent the dedication of Air Force Reservists everywhere.

Master Sgt. James Brown
Sergeant Brown is the first sergeant of the 920th ASTS but deployed as the NCOIC of mental health at the 332nd CASF. He helps support the mission by taking care of the mental health needs of members from all branches of the military. With military members at war, being exposed to conditions of a foreign environment -- all while separated from their families for an extended period of time -- mental-health care is vital.

Maj Denise G. Deatherage
Major Deatherage has been a member of the 920th Rescue Wing since 1995 and is the officer in charge of mental health at the unit's aeromedical staging squadron. She has lived in Brevard County for 16 years and was previously deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba as a mental health nurse in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Currently, she's deployed to Joint Base Balad, Iraq, where she is serving as the officer in charge of mental health at the 332nd Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility (CASF). She assesses Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors and Marines with mental health issues within the theater of war and facilitates their evacuation out of theater for further evaluation and care. 

Lt. Col. Julie Steele 
Colonel Steele is the night shift officer in charge of the CASF, coordinating assignments for the various roles medical Airmen perform. Several 920th Reservists work in the CASF, stabilizing and transporting patients from Al Udeid and Kuwait in theater as well as to Ramstein Air Base. The CASF in Balad is the busiest in the world, with several flights in and out of the base each week. The 920th has representatives from various specialties, such as physicians, psych, office personnel, nurses/techs and a critical care team (CCATT), all working as a team to efficiently and safely transport our wounded warriors to definitive care.