Ron Barr and Sports Byline USA LIVE from Iraq

BY RON BARR

August 24, 2010-- Each one of these trips I've taken has had a pace and a feel of its own. This one has started out more frenetic because of the unique traveling we did to get here. Now that we're in Baghdad, this one too is beginning to set its own tempo and feel. However, the one constant is it's still about the soldiers. Continue story...

After a morning briefing about our schedule and what we would be doing here, I asked to visit the military CSH. CSH is the hospital. Another indication the war in Iraq is different is evident at the hospital. During the heavy combat years the Baghdad CSH was a hectic center of medical action to save lives and repair to some degree the physical damage to the soldiers. The CSH was the first stop after IED explosions, combat casualties and the Iraq war's physical and mental damage. At the height of the war doctors and nurses worked around the clock to save lives and limit the damage. An HBO documentary called “Baghdad ER” captured the intensity, frustration and life and death moments. Watching it I was struck at how the medical personnel contained their emotions and maintained their focus. They kept those emotions bottled up, but I wondered how they dealt with the trauma they witnessed and what toll it might have taken on them. With that as the backdrop, I looked forward to visiting the CSH.

With the wind down in American combat action, the Baghdad ER is less frenetic and intense and is now located on Camp Victory. Originally located in the Green Zone, that facility has now been turned over to the Iraqis to use. Walking through the doors it felt more like a clinic instead of a combat medical center that once was teaming with 24-hour medical action. Still evident though was the attention to detail and a caring and compassionate attitude.

Our meeting with critical care medical personnel, doctors, nurses and support staff quickly turned from just another celebrity tour and visit to fun, stories and laughter. Bob Delaney, Antonio Freeman and Jim Miller quickly won over the CSH staff and everywhere we went pictures were taken and embraces and handshakes shared. And, again Freeman's and Miller's Super Bowl rings were an immediate hit and magnet. One thing on all my trips I've found is that sports transcends all boundaries and everyone has their favorite team and players. The shyest person will open up when they talk sports. For me this visit to the CSH was personal. I had been treated at one for a broken leg in my first visit to Iraq and after seeing “Baghdad ER” I just wanted to watch, listen and take in this special moment.

Armies are made up of men and women, and armies are led by Generals. I first met Lt. General Bob Cone on a flight from Washington D.C. To Kuwait. He was based in Afghanistan at the time. A year later we met again as I visited Afghanistan with Sports Byline and at the time 49ers head coach Mike Nolan and former defensive back Eric Davis. I've always been struck by his quiet, strong, in control demeanor. It was also evident from the time we spent with him in Afghanistan that he had the respect of his soldiers. Now one of the top generals in Iraq under commanding General Ray Odierno, we meet again. In Afghanistan, General Cone made sure we visited and saw soldiers who rarely got to see and meet entertainment or sports personalities. These were the small and out of the way Forward Operating Bases and they enjoyed and appreciated the time we spent with them. As one said, “You came all the way here to see us?” Thanks to General Cone, the answer was “yes.”