Representative Scott DesJarlais (TN-04) returned on Tuesday, October 11, from a five day Congressional Delegation trip to Afghanistan. The purpose of this trip was to learn more about the healthcare services provided for our nation’s armed forces from forward operating medical facilities in Afghanistan. Rep. DesJarlais, who traveled with members of the GOP Doctor’s Caucus and Veterans Affairs Committee, had an opportunity to visit several medical facilities and assess the conditions of troops in the field.

The following quote can be attributed to Rep. DesJarlais:

“It is hard to even put into words just how proud I am of our brave men and women in uniform. While visiting our troops serving in Afghanistan I was incredibly impressed by the level of professionalism and dedication they displayed despite adverse conditions. Without a doubt, we have the finest fighting force in the world and we should take a moment every single day to give thanks for these brave individuals who are willing to put their lives on the line to protect our freedom.

“I’m also pleased to report that our medical resources in Afghanistan are second to none. I had a chance to view where soldiers arrive from the battlefield, like the trauma units at the hospital at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan. I also had an opportunity to visit Landstuhl Medical Center in Ramstein, Germany where wounded warriors receive further care and are ultimately transported home. As a physician, I was extremely impressed by the quality of these facilities and I hope that the families of our deployed servicemen and women can take comfort in the fact that their loved ones are receiving the best medical care possible. In fact, we learned that if a wounded soldier is transported within one hour from the site of injury to a hospital, they have over a 95% chance of survival. This is made possible, in part, by numerous gifted surgeons like Dr. James Richardson of Columbia, TN and Dr. William Obremskey of Vanderbilt University, who have volunteered to serve their country by caring for our troops overseas.

“This visit truly reinforced my appreciation for all that our military does. Their selflessness and willingness to make sacrifices for the good of our nation is inspirational. They are absolutely America’s finest and I will continue to work to ensure that these heroes always receive the highest quality of care. May God bless America and may God bless our troops.”

Click here to download photos of Rep. DesJarlais’ trip to Afghanistan.

*Other members of the delegation who took part in the October 6, 2011 trip included Rep. Phil Roe (TN-01), Rep. Jeff Denham (CA-19), Rep. Dan Benishek (MI-01) and Rep. Tim Walz (MN-01).