We receive an average of three planeloads a week of U.S. patients from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. That's 60 to 100 patients per load, with problems ranging from simple infections and kidney stones, to multitrauma injuries from bomb and mortar blasts.

One of the more recent patients was Sgt. Daniel O. Ranis, a soldier with Company C, 193rd Aviation Regiment of the Hawai'i Army National Guard based out of Wheeler Army Airfield. Ranis grew up in 'Aiea, class of 1982, and now lives in Nanakuli, where his wife, Kaaukai, awaits his return.

Ranis is to be treated and returned to Iraq soon, where he will finish up the remainder of his more than yearlong tour in Iraq.

On average, I see about 25 patients a day in clinic and then do in-patient medicine, taking calls at night for emergency room admissions about five to 10 days a month.

The intensive-care unit and surgical floors are full of young soldiers. Seeing a newly amputated teenager or blind-for-life youngster is very sobering.

Many of the patients are here for a variety of conditions, and I only see a fraction of them. Most of my patients are our soldiers here in Germany and Europe, some from Kosovo and Afghanistan, and their family members. Fortunately, many are OK.

Disposition of the troops is decided in two weeks and many do return to Iraq, although some who need additional medical work go back to the states.

I have met a few Hawai'i soldiers here and it's nice to see them and talk to them. The good thing is I do have most weekends off and am able to travel. There are worse places to be.

The whole Iraq thing has certainly polarized our nation, but the news you hear every day doesn't even come close to scratching the surface on how rough things are in Iraq from what the soldiers tell me and from what I see.

Despite all this, morale is good, and I have made some good friends here. One guy is a classmate from medical school at the University of Hawai'i who I convinced to join the reserves for a little money he needed. At the time, I assured him the reserves would never come calling. Now we are stationed here in the same place at the same time. He has long since forgiven me, even though his tour here was recently extended by three months, as were the tours of many others.