Clay Center ? Brian Komar, of Idana, has been recognized by the Department of the Army for setting up a clinic that treated over 14,000 Afghan civilians mostly with donated resources.

Komar, a captain in the Kansas Army National Guard, traveled to Washington last month where he was awarded the Army Nurse Corps Award of Excellence.

Chosen from among 200 nominees, Komar received the award from the acting Army surgeon general, Maj. Gen. Gale Pollack, chief of the Nurse Corps, as well as a book on the history of the Nurse Corps, which she had inscribed with a personal message of congratulations.

Komar volunteered and was deployed to Afghanistan in February 2006. He returned to the U.S. in February of this year. His nomination for the award by John D. Muther, deputy commander and chief nurse for the Kansas National Guard cited Komar’s achievements in Afghanistan:

“(He was responsible for) treatment of over 14,000 local national Afghans at his clinic. This unprecedented experience significantly impacted the stabilization of the relationship throughout the area of operations in and near Gardez, Afghanistan. To make the achievement even more unbelievable, he did this without spending any U.S. money. The service was all rendered with donated goods he had accumulated through numerous resources.

“(Komar) earned the coveted Combat Medic Badge and an Army Commendation Medal with V Device for gallantry in action while serving as a medical company embedded team trainer, 203rd Corps, Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan. Captain Komar extracted and treated a wounded Soldier while taking direct enemy fire. Despite the numerous near misses, he never once hesitated to complete his medical mission.”

Komar was also awarded the Combat Action Badge and the Bronze Star. He as also awarded the NATO Medal, the Joint Meritorious Unit Citation, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M device, Afghan Campaign Medal and the Overseas Ribbon.

Preparing soldiers

In February 2005, Komar left his civilian employment at the Clay County Medical Center to serve as medical planner of the mobilization evaluation team at Salina’s National Guard Training Facility.

The goal of the facility is to evaluate the overall health of soldiers and prepare them for specialized combat duties and many of the challenges they will face in a hostile environment. The Soldier Readiness Process, or SRP, ensures that the soldier goes into combat in the best possible health. A toothache suffered on the combat field could seriously interfere with that soldier’s ability to perform, Komar said.

When Komar arrived at the Salina training facility, there was an empty building for medical evaluation and training. He helped to develop the Smoky Hill Joint Forces Medical Center and was instrumental in the construction of a dental screening area, hearing and vision testing areas and a laboratory.

This is a busy time at the Training Center. Komar said there are currently 400 soldiers on the ground preparing to leave.

“It’s a real boost for Salina’s economy,” he said. “A bus takes groups of them in to Wal-Mart every day.” Three hundred forty flu shots were administered yesterday at the center.

Civilian health care providers in Salina play a big part in ensuring the soldiers’ health, Komar said. “All of the specialists work with us in seeing these soldiers and treating them,” he said. “One of the local doctors is a guardsman, and he is very gracious in seeing people. A local dentist has cleared entire days on his calendar to take care of our people. Salina Regional Health Center handles whatever is beyond those resources.”

Why don’t they just go to Irwin Army Hospital at Fort Riley?

“They would lose an entire day of training for each trip,” Komar said.

Families, too

Preparation for the soldiers’ departure includes ensuring that their families are being taken care of. Komar helps make sure everything is in place with the military health insurance for the family.

Physical health is of utmost importance in combat, but it is also important for the soldier to be prepared mentally and emotionally. Komar talks with them about his experiences in a combat zone and helps to evaluate whether deployment is the best choice for a particular soldier. Many of the guardsmen and reservists who come through the center are on their second or third tour of duty and they mentor newcomers.

He said he appreciates the sacrifice of his employer, the Clay County Medical Center, for allowing him to serve. His family, wife Angie and sons Brandon, B.J. and Brad, are very supportive and though they aren’t seeing much of him lately, are relieved to have him so much closer to home.