Spc. Stacy McCane (left), an awards specialist with the administrative section of 34th Red Bull Infantry Division, chats with her husband, Sgt. James McCane, an awards and officer evaluation report non-commissioned officer with command group, 34th Inf. Div., during a break at Contingency Operating Base Basra Sept. 5. The McCanes were recently married in St. Paul, Minn., while home on leave. Photo by Staff Sgt. Derek Smith

He was looking for something to break the ice with her. He first noticed her during mobilization training at Camp Ripley, Minn., and wanted to get to know her, but needed a way in.

One day, he noticed she had a bootlace out and decided this would be a perfect conversation starter. This on-the-spot correction to her uniform, however, did not have the desired effect and he felt disappointed after the encounter.

“All I know is, (a non-commissioned officer) was telling me to fix my uniform,” said Spc. Stacy McCane, an awards specialist with the administrative section of 34th Red Bull Infantry Division and native of Frazee, Minn. “I was fresh out of (advanced individual training) and dealing with drill sergeants all the time, so I just took it like he was correcting me.”

Sgt. James McCane, an awards and officer evaluation report NCO with the command group of 34th Inf. Div., said he botched the encounter badly.

“I was just trying to start a conversation with her, so we could get to know each other,” the Honolulu native said. “I didn’t mean to come across like I did.”

James said their second encounter was more casual, but Stacy still didn’t pick up on the idea that he was interested in her personally.

“I kept trying to get to know her, but she didn’t get the intent,” said James. “I finally had to spell it out for her in a text message one day while we were at Camp Ripley.”

The text message did the trick. The two began talking more frequently and discovered a number of common interests, such as music and views on life in general. They also discovered something that changed their relationship drastically.

“We had a very comfortable feeling together,” said Stacy. “It just sort of all clicked into place for us. I don’t really know how to describe it.”

James said the “clicking in place” was something Stacy needed, but he knew he loved her from the first time he saw her. Stacy discovered the same feeling for James later, and in something of an unusual place.

“We were at the rifle range at Camp Ripley in October,” she said. “I had a little trouble zeroing my weapon and I was starting to get frustrated. I saw him leaving the range after qualifying and I took comfort in knowing that I could do it too. His presence just gave me that.”

Stacy took that inspiration back to the zero-range and finally got it right. She went on to the qualifying range, where she really achieved success.

“James tells me I got a better qualifying score than he did!” she said with a laugh. “I didn’t believe him at first; I thought he was just trying to make me feel better. He still swears that I did, though, so I believe him now.”

Their relationship blossomed not long after that, but they felt it would be better to keep it out of the public eye, especially considering they were members of the same military unit.

“We wanted to be discreet about it,” said Stacy. “We are both dedicated to maintaining our professionalism.”

They managed to keep their careers and their relationship separate, especially with James working in the command group and Stacy in the administration section. They knew, though, that their relationship was a keeper.

“We began talking about getting married before coming to Iraq while we were still at Fort Lewis,” said James. “We decided before leaving to wait until the end of the deployment to get married, though.”

Stacy said they kept growing closer and closer during the deployment, which changed their outlook on marriage.

“We knew we wanted to get married anyway,” she said. “I was kind of hesitant at first, but when we managed to get our leave dates scheduled for the same time we decided to get married before we came back.”

The McCanes were married Aug. 11 in St. Paul, Minn., three days before boarding a plane to return to Iraq.

Stacy said she was nervous about the situation when she returned to duty.

“James gave me one of his nametapes to put on my uniform, but I didn’t at first,” she said. “I asked my supervisor if I should put it on.”

Stacy’s supervisor, Sgt. 1st Class Angela Amundson, awards and actions non-commissioned officer-in-charge for 34th Inf. Div., quickly put her fears to rest.

“She ripped off my nametape and put it on me herself!” Stacy said with a smile.

James said he realizes now Army Regulation 670-1, which governs the wear and appearance of Army uniforms and insignia, is not a good way to break the ice. However, for him, the journey that began with that misstep has definitely turned out well.

DVIDS
Story by Staff Sgt. Derek Smith

Capt. Michelle Szczenpanek, physician assistant, Company C, 204th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, demonstrates how to put a breathing tube down an infant's throat to doctors from the Basra Women's and Children's Hospital during neonatal resuscitation training at Contingency Operating Base Basra, June 10. Szczenpanek comes from Orlando, Fla. Photo by Sgt. Rodney Foliente

The doctors and medical staff of the Warhorse Brigade conducted neonatal resuscitation training at Contingency Operating Base Basra for local doctors June 10-11.

The 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, offered the training and introduced new procedures and equipment that can help save infant lives and reduce the risk of babies suffering from cerebral palsy and mental retardation.

“Iraq has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the world,” said Maj. Roger Brockbank, 2nd BCT surgeon, 4th Inf. Div. Recent studies also show that many instances of cerebral palsy and mental retardation may have been avoided with proper resuscitation training.

“The first few minutes of an infant’s life are critical, as the infant makes the transition from the womb to breathing in the outside world. A lot of times, simple interventions and techniques can help the infants in need of assistance, to make that transition and lead healthy lives,” continued Brockbank, who calls Colorado Springs, Colo., home.

In addition to the training, the brigade has provided training aids and equipment donated from American non-government organizations. The donated equipment and training aids included infant-sized mannequins with simulated lungs, and tools to perform a variety of resuscitation measures. The mouths, throats and lungs of the mannequins are also realistically formed, allowing staff members to train on emergencies procedures, such as inserting breathing tubes.

The training program was coordinated with the provincial government and the directors of the Basra Women’s and Children’s Hospital, said Capt. Will Smith, 2nd BCT medical operations officer, 4th Inf. Div.

“It was exciting to see the local doctors take the lead as they establish an ongoing neonatal resuscitation training program, which will result in improving their provincial healthcare capacity. I was inspired by their enthusiasm and I feel confident in the ability of the Iraqi doctors and the ministry of Health to care for their people,” said Smith, who also calls Colorado Springs home.

“We wanted to provide a training program for physicians in Basra so they can in turn, train other physicians, nurses and midwives in neonatal resuscitation techniques,” said Brockbank. “It’s been very rewarding, being able to provide a program that can continue when we move on. It will be very beneficial to the people, especially the infants born in Basra.”

The train-the-trainer program can continue to progress and escalate until the Basra Women’s and Children’s Hospital becomes a center of training for medical staff members from other hospitals as well. In Diwaniya, where the Warhorse Brigade was headquartered during the first half of its deployment, the neonatal resuscitation training program has grown and continues to meet with success, explained Brockbank.

The initial course will now help the doctors and residents to train the rest of the pediatric staff at the hospital before expanding it further, said Dr. Ghufran, a female pediatrician. She said she is optimistic that the training will lead to a healthier start for a greater number of children: her country’s future.

“This training will benefit our whole pediatric staff, so they know better how to assist the doctors and care for the babies in [case of] complications. The babies don’t depend only on the doctors for survival; they depend on the whole [medical] staff,” emphasized Ghufran.

“I became a doctor to help people and save lives. In Iraq, we have many complications in post-deliveries. Many babies end up [having] cerebral palsy, are paralyzed or die because of birth asphyxia,” said Dr. Ayssar, a pediatric resident in Basra. “This training will help us prevent these things from happening; to help [ensure] healthier futures [and] save the lives of infants.”

DVIDS
Story by Sgt. Rodney Foliente