Okinawa-based Marines, sailors respond to Indonesian earthquake
(05/31/2006)

Photo by: Lance Cpl. Warren Peace

Lt. Cmdr. Carlos Godinez checks the pulse of Siti Nuriyami, in Bantul, Indonesia, May 31 after a 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck the island of Java. Nuriyami suffered broken ribs and a arm during the earthquake. Godinez is a III Marine Expeditionary Force surgeon.

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Okinawa-based Marines, sailors respond to Indonesian earthquake

Submitted by: Marine Forces Pacific
Story Identification #: 2006531192225
Story by Lance Cpl. Warren Peace

JAVA, Indonesia (May 30, 2006) -- Medical experts from the III Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa, Japan, visited hospitals and medical clinics near Bantul, Indonesia, May 31 in the wake of a 6.2 magnitude earthquake that struck near the ancient city of Yogyakarta. While at the medical facilities, the service members helped treat patients injured from the disaster.

The team of about 100 Okinawa-based Marines and sailors continue to arrive at the Indonesian government’s request for assistance, and those already present also saw their first patients today in temporary medical facilities they established in a soccer field in Sewon, near Yogyakarta, to help relieve the overflow of patients from local hospitals. Victims treated included those with fractures, burns and other injuries sustained during the earthquake.

The temporary facility will be fully functional tomorrow, complete with surgical, acute and primary care, laboratory, dental, x-ray and preventive medicine capabilities.

“The physicians here are doing an excellent job,” said Lt. Cmdr. Carlos D. Godinez, a III Marine Expeditionary Force surgeon stationed in Okinawa, Japan. “Their biggest problem the Indonesian hospitals are having is an overflow of patients. I expected orthopedic injuries, but not of this severity. It’s almost overwhelming.”