Photos

When a mass casualty incident occurs in the Al Anbar Province, it can be a stressful time for Cpl. Timothy M. Cord and the rest of Taqaddum Surgical?s staff. Cord, a 21-year-old native of Saginaw, Texas, takes a breather April 27, 2006 during a rough afternoon of treating more than a dozen patients. Cord and the staff of Taqaddum Surgical treated soldiers of the Iraqi Army after a recent insurgent attack. Several Iraqi soldiers were wounded in the attack along with two American service members attached to the unit?s Military Transition Team. Taqaddum Surgical is classified as a surgical shock trauma platoon, because it has two main elements: a shock trauma platoon, which serves as an emergency room, and a forward resuscitative surgical suite ? a battlefield operating room. The MTT is a small group of American military personnel tasked with training and advising the Iraqi soldiers as they take control of their country.