Kunsan Airman supports Operation Pacific Angel

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Trisha Eldredge
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  Recently, Senior Airman Kentarvius Todd, 8th Medical Operations Squadron dental technician, supported Operation Pacific Angel 2011 by helping treat more than 600 dental patients at an estimated value of $110,000.

Pacific Angel is a series of joint and combined humanitarian missions that aim to positively influence the relationship between the U.S. and other countries. More than 4,000 patients were treated by the medical team during the deployment to Cambodia.

"The people of Cambodia haven't been able to receive world class dental care in the past 50 years," Todd said. "As a result, tooth decay was a common problem."

With all humanitarian missions, service members must first serve as good representatives of the Air Force, Department of Defense and country, Todd said. Then, it's our job to provide immediate dental pain relief for the local nationals of Cambodia.

Todd served as clinic chief during the deployment. He worked to ensure compliance of infection control standards, safe and constant patient movement and overall functioning of the clinic from sterilization of instruments to hydration of the team. If given the opportunity, he said he would volunteer again.

"I would definitely volunteer for another mission, primarily for the results after the mission is complete," Todd said. "It gives all of the participating individuals a great amount of self-gratification knowing we helped as many people as possible, whose lives are less fortunate than most Americans."

Master Sgt. P.J. Drayton, 8th MDOS dental flight chief, played a role in selecting Todd to represent Kunsan during Pacific Angel.

"Once the tasking came down for the Pacific Angel Cambodia mission, he was my first choice due to his commitment as a goodwill ambassador for the 8th Medical Group and our Wolf Pack community," Drayton said.

Since arriving in June, Todd has been a welcome addition to the dental flight family. He has shown a great deal of maturity and professionalism when it comes to delivering world class customer service, said Drayton.

This commitment to family was one Todd showed to those he worked with during the deployment.

"Watching an 8-year-old girl diagnosed with HIV walking in the rain without shoes on her feet and wearing a big smile on her face following her treatment was the most memorable moment for me," Todd said. "It showed me not only should I live for the moment, but have fun even if it's raining."

"Seeing her walking made me put my life into a totally different perspective," Todd added. "A life in which I shouldn't worry so much about the material things I don't have, but cherish the moments and things I do have."

The next Pacific Angel is scheduled for Sept. 12-16 in Timor Leste.