Cmdr. Frost chats with families at a newly opened primary healthcare clinic. USACE photo by Norris Jones.

His staff oversaw hundreds of construction projects including a new $50 million water treatment plant for Sadr City, hospital and school renovations, new courthouses, fire stations, sewer and water line installations, and road paving. But the work Frost found most satisfying was his role in encouraging contractors to finish a three-year effort constructing 30 new Primary Healthcare Centers (PHC) throughout Baghdad.

He headed up the assessment team that in early 2007 started visiting those sites to verify progress. He points out that on 70 percent of those visits they encountered insurgent activity, ranging from sniper fire to roadside bombs.

At one PHC located west of Baghdad, Frost says his team was involved in a 40-minute firefight and one of their vehicles was destroyed by an RPG (rocket propelled grenade) while they were trying to exit the facility. On March 27 in east Baghdad, Frost’s armored vehicle was hit by an explosively formed penetrator (EFP) and he was medically evacuated to Germany for surgery to stop internal bleeding. But he didn’t get discouraged, returned to duty in Iraq and eventually got those PHCs finished and turned over to the Iraqi Ministry of Health.

“I saw a dramatic change in attitude in many neighborhoods, a historic turning point as the insurgents lost control. And the greatest reward has been the smiles I now see on people’s faces when they walk through the doors of a new clinic”, Frost said.  “They’re proud of the expanded capabilities those new facilities offer their community. It’s been a heartwarming experience and definitely worth the effort.”

A number of those PHCs are seeing more than 400 patients a day, considerably more than what was forecast. Each facility provides medical and dental examination and treatment rooms, X-ray capabilities, a testing laboratory and pharmacy as well as diesel generators for emergency power. “One of the goals of having those new PHCs open is to help Iraq reduce its overall infant mortality rate by providing better pre-natal and infant care,” Frost noted.

This is Frost’s third deployment to Iraq. He’s been a Navy Seabee 21 years and says his current tour is a highlight of his career. “It’s very satisfying to know our work will help Iraqis for generations to come.”