Vol. 66, No. 18 Published in the interest of Division West (First Army) and Fort Carson community. May 2, 2008 Visit the Fort Carson Web site at www.carson.army.mil. Word of the month: Compassion Army surgeon general visits Carson by James H. Egbert Schoomaker presented a Purple Mountaineer staff Heart Medal and Bronze Star Medal with “V” device to two The Army’s top medical offi- recovering Soldiers. cer, Lt. Gen. Eric Schoomaker, “This is a terrific hospital, surgeon general of the Army and community and place to practice former commander of Evans medicine and to be a part of the Army Community Hospital, Army community. It’s great to be honored two Soldiers during a on an installation that represents visit to Fort Carson to assess the what’s great about our Army progress of the Wounded Warrior today,” said Schoomaker, “I have Transition Unit program April 29. to tell you that Fort Carson and During his visit, Schoomaker Evans Army Community Hospital toured the newly completed are doing a great job in helping facilities provided for WTU and the U.S. Army and me as the was briefed on the progress of commander of the Army Medical EACH facilities scheduled to be Command, in transforming the completed in coming months. manner in which we care for our Schoomaker toured the WTU warriors and their Families; how barracks which have been we encourage ‘return to duty’ for revamped to comply with the the Soldier to continue their Americans with Disabilities Act service and honor their oaths.” — essentially providing handicap According to Schoomaker, access to rooms and facilities to the WTU program was born of Soldiers and Family members the Army Action Plan that was who may be wheelchair bound. instituted only a year ago. Schoomaker commented on “The Army and its leadership the special amenities, such as are fully behind this program and wall mounted flat-screen TVs and seeing the program here, just broadband Internet access, shows that it is working,” said intended to give Soldiers access Schoomaker. to educational opportunities to Pfc. Jason Carten and Spc. help them during their recovery Jerry Cherini were honored at an and transition to return-to-duty award ceremony held in front of status or civilian life. He also the Evans Army Community stressed the importance that these Hospital as Family and fellow tools provided are also to help Soldiers looked on. Photo by Thea Skinner relax the Soldier and provide Carten was awarded the Lt. Gen. Eric Schoomaker, surgeon general of the Army addresses Soldiers and Families in some entertainment value. See General on Page 20 attendance of an awards ceremony at Evans Army Community Hospital. After his facilities tour, Petraeus, Odierno nominated to lead CENTCOM, Iraq by Donna Miles “I recommended him to the president because I in Iraq, but in Afghanistan and some of the challenges American Forces Press Service am absolutely confident he is the best man for the that we face elsewhere in the region in the CENTCOM job,” said Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. He area, are very much characterized by asymmetric war- The White House nominated Gen. David H. cited Petraeus’ in-depth understanding of the situation fare,” he said. “And I don’t know anybody in the United Petraeus, currently commander of Multi-National in Iraq as well as counterinsurgency operations, and States military better qualified to lead that effort.” Force — Iraq, to be the next U.S. Central Command the successes seen in Iraq under his leadership. See CENTCOM on Page 6 commander. “The kinds of conflicts we are dealing with not just II Community Sports Happenings NN SS II D D Carson remembers Holocaust. “Old School” wins. Flying high at aircraft museum. EE See Page 11 See Page 25 See Page 29-30 2 MOUNTAINEER — May 2, 2008 Opinion/Editorial MOUNTAINEER Commanding General: Maj. Gen. Mark A. Graham Soldiers give a helping hand Garrison Commander: Col. Eugene B. Smith Commentary by Pfc. Chelsey Watson whatever they could, including their tops. I started Fort Carson Public Affairs Officer: Mountaineer staff taking her pulse and asking what happened when a Dee McNutt sergeant came running up to us. He had a medical bag Chief, Print and Web Communications: It was raining on April 9 and I was riding back to post and said that he was a medic. I started briefing him Douglas M. Rule about 4 p.m. I saw a Soldier directing traffic. I thought on what happened and the vital signs I had gotten. We Staff Writer: James H. Egbert Thea Skinner there might be a wreck, so I asked my friend to pull over. stayed with the woman until EMS came. Her head was Spc. Daniel Donegan When I got out to see what was wrong, I noticed a bleeding badly. Pfc. Chelsey Watson woman lying in the middle of the road. I ran across the I am proud to be a Soldier in the U.S. Army, among Happenings: Nel Lampe street and saw four military personnel and two civilians a group of workers who always pull together together, Sports Writer: Walt Johnson surrounding this woman. I told them I was a medic and both on and off duty, to help unknown people. That day Layout/graphics: Jeanne Mazerall asked if I could help. They said, “Yes,” as I was the only really made me proud, because we did our duty, we medically-trained person there. helped a person in need. Even though there were only This commercial enterprise newspaper is One Soldier was holding her head to stabilize it two medical personnel there for a while, everyone played an authorized publication for members of the Department of Defense. Contents of the and another was on the phone with Emergency Medical their part and helped the woman out. Mountaineer are not necessarily the official view Services. I saw that they had covered the woman with To me that is what being a Soldier is all about. of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government or the Department of the Army. Printed circulation is 12,000 copies. The editorial content of the Mountaineer is the responsibility of the Public Affairs Office, Fort Carson, CO 80913-5119, Tel.: POST TALK (719) 526-4144. The e-mail address is POST TALK [email protected]. The Mountaineer is posted on the Internet at http://public.carson.Army.mil/ What does being a Soldier in the U.S. sites/PAO/mountaineer/archives/forms. 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