Maj. Michael Graydon (left) and Soldiers from the 7220th Medical Support Unit deliver toys and supplies to El Paso Children’s Hospital, Nov. 1, 2019. The Army Reserve unit, which medically certifies mobilizing and demobilizing Soldiers processing through the Fort Bliss Soldier Readiness and Processing Center, has been supporting the Mobilization Force Generation Installation mission at Bliss since April. The unit’s commander, Col. Heidi Otis, mandated that the unit would take part in a charitable effort while in the Sun City and the Soldiers organized a supply drive for the hospital. (Photo by Capt. Joselyn Sydnor, 653rd Regional Support Group)
Army Reserve 7220th MSU opens hearts for El Paso Children’s Hospital
By David Poe, USAG Fort Bliss
When you’re responsible for medically certifying the tens of thousands of Soldiers and civilians who deploy and redeploy through Fort Bliss, Texas, finding time to give back may be tricky.
But what was tricky was also necessary for the Soldiers of the 7220th Medical Support Unit, an Army Reserve contingent out of Marana, Arizona, when they collected toys and goods for El Paso Children’s Hospital and delivered them, Nov. 1.
The 7220th MSU is a subordinate element of the 653rd Army Support Hospital, headquartered in Mesa, Arizona, which was mobilized for a year in April to support the Mobilization and Demobilization Division of U.S. Army Garrison Fort Bliss. The MaD Division processes Soldiers from Bliss and those who process through Bliss to deploy in support of operations worldwide.
The 7220th MSU enlisted help from partner units and agencies at work at the installation’s Soldier Readiness and Processing Center for the effort. According to Maj. Michael Graydon, the unit’s executive officer, their commander, Col. Heidi Otis, had mandated before departing Arizona that they would take part in a charitable effort in El Paso.
Following the August mass shooting tragedy that happened in El Paso, he said the team was motivated to bring some smiles to the smallest El Pasoans.
“Soldiers are mobile — we go all over the world — we want to leave a good mark, the Army and the [Army] Reserve, on the communities that are hosting us,” he said. “It’s very important to get the Soldiers involved in giving back to the community.”
One of those Soldiers, Sgt. Luis Martinez, a 7220th MSU medical lab tech, said he was ready to volunteer to pitch in for a city that Graydon said has become a “home away from home” for 7220th MSU troops.
“Besides being Soldiers, we’re a part of the community,” Martinez said. “If you don’t get involved, when you retire, or leave the military, you’ll go back to a community. You have to stay a part of it alongside becoming a Soldier. It’s a continuous effort. I was glad to be a part of it.”
As a father himself, he said giving to families at El Paso Children’s Hospital hit close to home.
“It’s good to see the kids receive toys or clothes — whatever it may be that they need — to make their day a better day,” he said. “It’s hard when anyone is in the hospital — especially children.”
Graydon said 7220th MSU Soldiers have enjoyed El Paso and its people, and they considered the effort time well spent.
“El Paso has been a wonderful community,” he said. “They’re very military-friendly and it’s truly become a home away from home, so we wanted to give something back to the community — I feel that’s very important.”
Soldiers from the 7220th Medical Support Unit load toys and supplies at Fort Bliss, Texas, bound for El Paso Children’s Hospital, as part of a charitable effort, Nov. 1, 2019. The 7220th MSU is an Army Reserve unit out of Marana, Arizona, which mobilized for a year in April to support the Fort Bliss Mobilization Force Generation Installation mission. (Photo by Capt. Joselyn Sydnor, 653rd Regional Support Group)