Tyndall's Heroes: A battlefield medic takes action in Iraq Published Nov. 6, 2007 By 1st Lt. Amanda Ferrell 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- One brief conversation with Tech. Sgt. Clifford Hodge about his experience while deployed, and the role of an Air Force medic on the battlefield is brought into sharp focus. While assigned to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Group in Balad, Iraq, Sergeant Hodge prepared for another eventful week of medical operations by stocking supplies and preparing Balad's medical treatment facility for Operation PHANTOM FURY. "Our medical staff anticipated that a tremendous influx of personnel would be arriving to the facility in need of care following the combat operation, but we had no clue how many casualties to expect," said Sergeant Hodge. "We needed to prepare well in advance to ensure our folks would be given the best chance if injuries were sustained from enemy fire." The sergeant ordered four times the standard amount of medical supplies, while personally hoping his team of medics would never encounter a situation where they would be needed. The sergeant and his team expanded the emergency room and inpatient wards and modified the three existing operating rooms to accommodate for six surgeries en masse. When the first helicopters thunder down with wounded personnel, the sergeant's medical team would be ready. Sergeant Hodge had been in country for months and thought he had already seen the most tragic cases, but the greatest challenge of his career lie ahead. "As we ran to the helipad to collect the first patients from Fallujah, a brief glance at the sky foretold our future," said the sergeant. "The sky resembled an enraged bee hive - there was a swarm of helicopters waiting for an open space on the pad to drop off the casualties being transported to our facility." The onslaught of battle-injured patients was relentless. Within the first hour following the initial phase of emergency care for wounded troops, the emergency room floor was so saturated with blood, medics had to lay down sterile blankets to soak it up. The operating rooms overflowed with patients. Adrenaline kept the medical team focused and driven during the overwhelming, high-stress situation. A single lapse in judgment could have cost the life of a military hero, and Sergeant Hodges recognized the intense pressure he was under. Eighteen hours later, the sergeant's shift came to an end - he could no longer focus without rest. Trauma care continued for seven days. While Sergeant Hodges lacks a clear memory outlining the details of the event, he vividly remembers one patient. "I recall an 18 year-old Marine who suffered a large caliber gun shot wound to his leg. The chance of keeping the limb healthy enough to heal was bleak, so amputation was the probable outcome to his situation," said Sergeant Hodges. "Before I could stop the Marine's leg from bleeding he yelled, 'Stop working on me, and take care of my sergeant!' The Marine's selflessness truly amazed me." The Marine was more seriously injured than his sergeant, but he had tremendous respect and discipline, recalls Sergeant Hodges. He was more concerned with the life of his NCO than with his own, the sergeant said. Sergeant Hodges was talking with a young Marine about the battle in Fallujah when the Marine, wounded in battle, asked when he would be released back to his unit. When Sergeant Hodges responded saying he would not return to duty, and that instead he would soon be on his way back home, the Marine began to cry. "This was the first time I saw the Maine express any sign of pain whatsoever," said Sergeant Hodges. "He was so dedicated. He put the mission before himself, and I will never forget that." By the end of the week, Sergeant Hodges and his team of medics had treated approximately 350 American troops. "The lives we saved and the people we treated are the real heroes," said Sergeant Hodges. Do you have a story to share about your experiences while deployed? If so, please contact the Public Affairs office at 283-4500 to share your story with fellow Airmen.