Army Reserve unit prepares to save lives

Local Army Reserve unit prepares to save lives
20 deploy for eventual trip to Afghanistan
By AMANDA FRIES
Observer-Dispatch
Posted Sep 02, 2012
UTICA

Speculator resident Robert Page III held his one-month-old daughter Ava Sunday for what would be the last time for at least nine months.

“It’s really tough in the beginning,” the new father said. “I’ll miss everything — her first word, her first step.”

Page, as well as about 19 other servicemen and women, left for Fort Hood, Texas, Sunday and soon will be in Afghanistan as part of the 691st Forward Surgical Team for the U.S. Army Reserve.

“My mission, my job, it will help other servicemen come home to their families,” Page, 23, said. “Without us there, how many soldiers wouldn’t make it? That’s why I go.”

“Our mission is surgery on the traumatized patient,” Col. Gino Trevisani explained.

“It’s the mission we are privileged to do — literally save a limb or a life,” Staff Sgt. Jared Miller added.
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