JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas –
Sgt. Maj. Ronald L. Green, the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, visited the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Nov. 17 to thank the staff for their hard work and dedication. As the only Department of Defense burn center, the staff has cared for almost 2,200 service members with combat and non-combat burns and injuries since 2003.
“I had to come here to personally thank you for what you do every day,” Green said. “You take care of some of the most critically ill and injured patients and you do it with determination and resiliency.”
Green walked through the Burn Center stopping along the way to shake hands with staff members, thank them and present them with one of his military coins.
“I appreciated that the Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps took the time to recognize the Burn Center staff that provide world-class care day in and day out, who consistently go above and beyond to care for injured service members,” said Maj. (Dr.) Julie Rizzo, a burn center critical care surgeon.
“It was an honor to receive his thanks and appreciation,” said Staff Sgt. Jason Smith, noncommissioned officer in charge of the Progressive Care Unit. “This job is physically and emotionally draining and his visit just reinforced to me and our staff why we come to work every day.”
Sgt. Maj. Ronald L. Green takes a group photo with staff members from the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center Progressive Care Unit.