Human Interest - Soldier comforts Iraqi child

Last November, this moving photograph made its way around the internet showing Chief Master Sergeant John Gebhardt, serving at the time with the 332d Expeditionary Medical Group in Balad Air Base, Iraq, holding an injured Iraqi girl. 

According to the Air Force News, “the girl's entire family was executed by insurgents. The killers shot her in the head but she survived. The girl received treatment at the U.S. military hospital in Balad, but cried often. According to nurses at the facility, Chief Gebhardt is the only one who could calm down the girl, so he holds her at night while they both sleep in a chair. “ 

When interviewed, the Chief stated that he saw a situation to help out any way he could. He figured holding a baby that needed comforting would help free up others that could be providing care to more critical patients.  

"I pray for the best for the Iraqi children," he said. "I can't tell the difference between their kids and our kids. The Iraqi parents have the same care and compassion for their children as any American."  

As you might imagine, his actions are not unique.  He mentions that “working 15-hour days, six days a week is the standard for everyone here, and yet about 400 volunteers from across the base still find time to volunteer in the hospital on their only day off.” 

Chief Master Sgt. John Gebhardt is currently back in the United States at his unit at McConnell AFB, Kansas, but he proudly stated: "I'm a better person for the time I spent over there with those people." 

References:

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123031670

http://www.balad.afnews.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123021518

http://www.wethankourtroops.com/halloffame/gebhardt.html

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=358&sid=663280