Tuesday, May 27, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Reservists give food close look

Joseph Heck Physician is assigned to U.S. Northern Command Surgeon's Office

Before the war in Iraq began, Dr. Joseph Heck, an emergency physician at University Medical Center, donned his Army Reserve uniform with about 40 others from the Las Vegas Valley to perform a vital task for soldiers who would be in the war zone.

One platoon in Heck's unit, the 6252nd Hospital Section 2, has been making sure the MREs, or meals ready-to-eat, and other foods served to U.S. troops are safe.

Another platoon of nurses and medics has been providing medical support.

Some were mobilized to replace those serving in active duty units in the United States that were deployed overseas, Heck said.

The mix of military occupations includes veterinarians, food inspectors and medical personnel. But not all come from those backgrounds in civilian life.

"Some are college students, public utilities workers and law enforcement," Heck said by telephone May 14 from Colorado Springs, Colo.

A lieutenant colonel, he is on a six-month assignment with the U.S. Northern Command Surgeon's Office. As a civilian, in addition to his private work, he is assistant medical director of Emergency Medical Services for Clark County Health District.

Heck described his war duties as similar to that of a utility infielder in baseball, ready to serve in any position at any time. He won't say where he has been or what he has been doing since the unit was mobilized in February. But Heck said some of his soldiers were sent to the Iraqi region while others remained stateside at a handful of food processing plants, the closest of which is in California.

"The ones forward deployed in the theater are responsible for inspecting foodstuff that arrives, as well as any that might get purchased in the local economy to feed the troops," Heck said.

Other inspectors at processing plants in the United States ensure that MREs packed in trays aren't damaged.

Some veterinarian specialists deployed in the war zone make sure the local domestic animal population is healthy so the animals don't spread diseases to the troops, he said.

Roughly 2,500 soldiers, airmen, sailors and Marines assigned to active duty, reserve and National Guard units from Nevada have been deployed to the Southwest Asia region since March 19.