Son of Las Vegan provides medical services in Korea

Dick Benoit

Thursday, Feb. 15, 2001 | 9:56 a.m.

Army Specialist Michael Plummer, the son of Janet Vallone of Las Vegas, recently participated in Exercise Foal Eagle 2000, a massive military exercise teaming U.S. troops with more than 500,000 Republic of Korea forces.

Held at sites throughout South Korea, the exercise tested the ability of allied forces to provide air protection, launch and recover aircraft and evacuate civilians from an embattled Korean Peninsula. It also tested the individual job skills of soldiers such as Plummer, a medic with the 168th Medical Battalion, Camp Hialeah in Puson, Korea.

"My job was to provide medical support in the urgent care unit and sick call for people assigned to our camp, as well as provide for the influx of Foal Eagle participants," Plummer said. "Overall, I am responsible for ensuring the continual care of our forces taking part in Foal Eagle."

Plummer's unit underwent mass casualty treatment exercises and emergency medical evacuation exercises, including treating simulated victims of combat injuries and biological weapons attacks.

Nellis Honor Guard busy

The Nellis Air Force Base Honor Guard reached a milestone during 2000. For the first time, all 30 volunteers who make up the final unit participated in at least 120 hours of honor guard details during the year, base spokesman Martine Ramos said.

The 120-hour distinction is recognized with a badge that designates an airman as an official honor guardsman.

Nellis is one of few bases that employs a full-time honor guard, and it is one of the busiest in the nation. It provides ceremonial support within a four-state area that includes 16 counties in Nevada, Arizona, California and Utah. In 2000 the unit performed about 600 details, including funerals, special event color guard ceremonies and military retirement ceremonies.

In brief

He received instruction in receipt, storage, issue, and distribution of petroleum, oil and lubricants used by the Army. The course included training in petroleum and water accounting and operating equipment associated with fuels and water distribution.