Wednesday, June 11, 2003
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Wednesday, June 11, 2003 |
Local naval officer participates in Operation Iraqi FreedomA local officer, Cynthia E. Wilkerson, and her fellow Sailors on board of the amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa (LHA 1) participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Wilkerson is part of a coalition amphbious force that includes approximately 33,000 Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen. They are participating in the largest military action in the Persian Gulf region since Operation Desert Storm in 1990-91. Navy Commander Wilkerson, the 45-year old daughter of Billy Bruce of Tyrone and daughter-in-law of Jack and Elva Wilkerson of Riverdale, is the laboratory officer aboard Tarawa. She is married to Lee Wilkerson. "I am responsible for the laboratory and blood bank on board the ship," said Wilkerson. "In the lab, we perform basic clinical laboratory testing. The ship has a large number of frozen units of blood available for treatment of patients brought to the ship for medical treatment." Wilkerson and the crew of Tarawa left their homeport of San Diego Jan. 6 and headed for the Arabian Gulf to position themselves for the possibility of war with Iraq. Tarawa sent approximately 2,000 Marines ashore to prepare for combat. As a crew member aboard Tarawa, Wilkerosn feels she has been able to contribute to the mission in Iraq. "The medical department plays a vital role in restoring the health of any sailor or Marine injured in any given situation. Laboratory medicine assists the health care provider in providing care to the service member," said Wilkerson, a 17-year Navy veteran. With the pressures of war on Wilkerson's mind, there are still many rewarding aspects of being assigned to Tarawa. "I am in a unique situation, something that most lab officers never experience in their military careers. Although I can get nervous being so close to the action, I am also confident that I can perform the job that I have to do when the time comes." The global war on terrorism requires an agile, flexible and responsive fleet. Wilkerson and the crew of Tarawa have demonstrated the ability to be where they need to be, when they need to be there. Tarawa answered the president's call to duty and Wilkerson and the crew are ready to turn their focus to the next mission.
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