Last modified Wed., August 23, 2006 - 04:32 PM
Originally created Thursday, August 24, 2006

Six ship out, 16 return from deployment

By Loren Barnes, Naval Hospital Jacksonville Public Affairs

Hospital Commanding Officer Capt. Raquel Bono bids farewell to members of her staff deploying to EMF Kuwait Aug. 17. Bono was also on hand to welcome previously deployed personnel flying in to Jacksonville International late Saturday evening. Photos by HM1(SW) Michael Morgan

Naval Hospital Jacksonville saw six staff members off to Expeditionary Medical Facility (EMF) Kuwait Aug 17. This was followed by the return of 16 medical personnel from a six-month deployment to EMF Kuwait the following Saturday.

As she said farewell to the six Sailors shipping out, Hospital Commanding Officer Capt. Raquel Bono expressed her confidence and pride in how the NH Jacksonville personnel would represent Navy Medicine while at the U.S. Army facility.

Bono's confidence is based on the solid professionalism of medical personnel like Surgeon Lt. William Lechuga. He was upbeat about the deployment.

''We're going to have an opportunity to do some good out there,'' he said. ''I hope to be able to help out and do what I can to get people fixed up so they can do what they need to do.''

Lechuga said he expects to mainly provide routine surgical services, such as appendectomies, gall bladder operations, etc. at the EMF. But he added they will likely see some trauma, coming from the war zone.

Lechuga was seen off by his wife, Elaina, his son, Matel, and father-in-law, Mario Hernandez.

HM1 Robert Hauser hugs his daughter, Erin as his wife, Angel looks on after six long months on deployment.

The team was rotating with another team of Naval Hospital Jacksonville medical personnel, 16 of whom returned home late Saturday evening arriving at Jacksonville International Air-port. They were greeted by several excited staff members, family members and friends.

As she came out of the concourse HM3 Yazmin Avila-Lima was embraced by her husband Army Spc. Rodriguez Rivera. Asked how it felt to finally be home Avila-Lima said, ''It feels great! It was a long flight.''

Describing her duties in Kuwait she said, ''I was a lab tech, supplying basic laboratory needs and blood supply.'' This was her first deployment and Avila-Lima said she'll always remember ''a lot of long days, long hours and very hot weather.''

HM3 Daniel Jolivette is reunited with his daughter, Alexis.

Capt. Mary Jackson of the hospital's Family Practice Department agreed the Navy Medicine personnel had much to be proud of.

''We did our job and everyone did it well, she said.'' With her husband, Troy and sons, J.P. and Michael at her side again, she added, ''I'm just happy to be back home.''