Big Chuck with Major Reeves
Big Chuck with Major Reeves
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For weeks I have been talking about the IRT Medical event coming to Norwich this past week.  Hundreds of medical personal from the U.S. Military descended upon Norwich High School dispensing free medical, dental, optical and veterinarian services. Thousands took advantage of this once in a lifetime free no-strings attached event.

So how did it go?

I attended today (Monday).  I pre-registered for a teeth cleaning appointment.

The school grounds were crawling with volunteers.  Literally, any need you had could be filled by these eager-to-please volunteers.  I was checked in and given a mini-physical by Major Reeves, a surgeon from Selma, Alabama.  He is with the "A" Company 48th Combat Support Hospital.  He was efficient and pleasant and set the tone for the entire experience.  I was then guided to a very busy dental wing.  More than a dozen dental chairs with all the latest (and portable) dental equipment on hand for cleaning, extractions, fillings and more.

The "dental wing" at the IRT rapid medical response event in Norwich
The "dental wing" at the IRT rapid medical response event in Norwich
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My dentist was Lt. Col. Joe Seiler from Dillwyn, Virginia.  He is with the 810th Medical Company (Dentist) our of Cary, North Carolina.  He chatted away as he did the procedure and told me how welcoming everybody in Norwich has been.  The hundreds of military stayed at the school overnight, on cots, and although it was hot most of them were from the south and used to it.

My dental cleaning was done in 20 minutes.

It was a great experience and I hope as many of you took advantage of it as possible.  It will not be back.

Thanks to Greater Chenango Cares and the county government for your support.  And thanks to the Norwich School for hosting this unique experiment.  Thanks to the citizens of Norwich (and other areas) for swelling the ranks of volunteers to make this go smoothly.  And thanks to the greatest military in the world for coming, if for a brief moment, to our little corner in the world.

As they say back home (your home, that is), "Y'all come back now, ya' here!"

Big Chuck with Lt. Col. Joe Seiler
Big Chuck with Lt. Col. Joe Seiler
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