Date: Fri 29-May-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: CURT

Quick Words:

Captain-James-Perkins-Bosnia

Full Text:

On Duty In Bosnia

(with cut)

Army Captain James Perkins, a 1983 graduate of Newtown High School, is

currently serving in Bosnia in support of Operation Joint Guard as part of the

Dayton Peace Accord. Captain Perkins commands Delta company, 261st Area

Support Medical Battalion (Airborne) from Fort Bragg, N.C.

Captain Perkins' company is a rapid deployment airborne company that can

respond in 18 hours anywhere in the world, providing medical treatment

(surgical) and evacuation to US and NATO soldiers. In Bosnia, the company is

providing combat surgical health support to multinational forces including the

Danish, Polish, Norwegian, Finish, Russian, and American forces.

Captain Perkins commands 70 paratroopers, including 10 physicians and 59

medics.

Bosnia is divided into three sections, which are controlled by the US, France

and Britain as a part of Operation Joint Guard. Captain Perkins' company is

operating in the Tuzla valley, working from a base camp called the Blue

Factory, a large blue building that was converted from its pre-war use as a

truck stop.

Delta Company trains daily in Bosnia, maintaining its medical skills and

physical conditioning at a high degree of readiness. The soldiers in the

company are all US Army Medic School and Airborne School graduates, are

emergency medical technicians, are trained in basic trauma life support, are

able to road march 12 miles with 50 pounds in their rucksacks in three hours

or less, can shoot their weapons at an expert level, can exceed all Army

standards for physical fitness, and have attained expert ratings in map

reading and radio communications.

Captain Perkins is himself a distinguished military graduate of Providence

College, graduating from courses in basic officer training, advanced officer

training, and medical logistics. He was also trained at Army Ranger School,

Jungle Warfare School, Airborne School, Jumpmaster School, and the Combined

Arms Staff Course. He wears the Ranger Tab, Senior Parachute Wings, and the

Expert Field Medical Badge.