256th-CSH personnel serve Army, community - Combat Support Hospital, Brooklyn, Ohio - Brief Article

Soldiers of the 256th Combat Support Hospital (CSH) from Brooklyn, Ohio, got a chance to do a lot more than serve their country as citizen soldiers recently -- they provided a much needed service to their community as well when they performed physical examinations for children in Canton, Ohio.

"When soldiers are allowed to do something as Army Reservists in the community, in uniform, it gives them the chance to show their pride," said Capt. Mary Burakowski, head nurse at the 256th. "Hands-on work with the community is what drives them. That's why they join the Reserve."

This is the second consecutive year the 256th assisted the Canton Community Clinic, a community-based free clinic for low-income people. Mary Cain, director of the clinic, sought the unit's assistance in an effort to get additional medical volunteers to give physicals to children from the area.

"The physicals are required so the kids can enter Headstart (a preschool program) and participate in sports," said Cain.

The first year Cain started the program at the clinic, 28 children received physicals. She said she knew that the need to service the community was much greater than her volunteer staff alone was capable of handling and that was when she came up with the idea of bringing in a MASH (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) unit to help.

She enlisted the assistance of U.S. Rep. Ralph Regula from the 16th District, Bethlehem Township, who contacted the 256th and the rest is history.

The Army Reserve augments her volunteer staff with 40 medical personnel and the clinic can now perform more than 400 physicals in a single day. "Hundreds, literally hundreds of kids in the community can now participate in sports or join Headstart on time," said Cain. "Low-income families often cannot afford the required visit to the doctor for their kids."

"Thanks to the Army Reserve's presence here augmenting my volunteer staff," said Cain, "this annual event is a huge success for the community."

The success stems from 256th's personnel operating seven stations: medical exams, dental, audiology, height/weight/blood pressure, urinalysis, immunizations and blood draw.

"This is so much better than normal drills at the unit," said Sgt. Brian King, an X-ray technician who operated the hearing test station during the event. "I love getting out in the community like this, especially in uniform."

The children, preschoolers, 3-5 and youngsters, 6-9, who want to play sports, packed the Canton Urban League facility to get their physicals, many of them with questions for the soldiers. "One little boy asked me if I carried a gun," said Maj. Lauralee Wilson, a nurse practitioner.

The 256th personnel hope they can continue to assist the clinic in this annual community event. "A lot of good feelings are generated between the people in the community and the soldiers," said Burakowski. "Respect, achievement, individual pride are accomplished. Respect as soldiers is what we feel."

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