Pakistani sailor rescued by U.S. Marine

Clark Lane/USN

By

Kanwal Abidi

Makin Island has the largest afloat medical facility in the U.S. 5^th Fleet area of operations and houses medical and dental facilities to support surgery, military and civilian casualties.

It is the flagship of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) with the embarked 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and is operating in the Gulf of Aden – with the support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.

The Makin Island ARG is comprised of Makin Island, the command ship for Amphibious Squadron 5 and the 11th MEU, as well as the amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD 25), which is embarking on its maiden deployment, and amphibious dock landing ship USS Comstock (LSD 45).

It offers services for stabilizing complex trauma injured patients and general heath care for members of the amphibious ready group and marine expeditionary unit.

The Pakistani naval vessel PNS Tariq requested medical assistance from Commander Task Force 51 for a sailor experiencing abdominal pain.

The sailor was transferred to the dry / ammunition ship USNS Amelia Earhart (T-AKE 6) and later flown to Makin Island by the embarked “Blackjacks” Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 21 on Friday evening.

Makin Island’s medical team, along with embarked members of Fleet Surgical Team (FST) 5 began assessment and treatment after receiving the patient on 20^th January, Friday night.

“The capabilities our medical professionals bring to the theater greatly increase the chances of patient survivability by mitigating the risk of loss of limb, life or eyesight of our Sailors, Marines, partners and allies,” said Makin Island Commanding Officer Capt. Mark Melson.

“We are thankful that we were in the right place at the right time to help a fellow mariner”.

The crew on PNS Tariq expressed “gratitude to the surgical team aboard Makin Island” for the rapid medical response and promptly looking after the medical needs of the Pakistani sailor.

Kanwal Abidi

Washington based Pakistani journalist covering the White House and The Pentagon.