BETTENDORF, Iowa -- Surprised looks developed on all the veterans' faces while sitting in the waiting room of the Quad Cities VA Outpatient Clinic.
Patients are not accustomed to seeing four uniformed service members from the Army and Navy.
Command Sgt. Maj. Anthony Bryant, command sergeant major of the Joint Munitions Command, made a visit to the outpatient clinic on Oct. 3.
Leading the tour was Stephanie Latham, clinic coordinator. Also on the tour were Capt. Daniel Midgett, Aide-de-Camp for JMC's commanding general; Staff Sgt. Wally McFadden, JMC command driver, and Chief Petty Officer Darryl Howlett, Navy Operational Support Center Rock Island, public affairs officer.
Latham told the group the clinic, at 20 years of age, is the oldest and largest outpatient clinic associated with the Iowa City VA Health Care System. The clinic's personnel see 170 patients daily.
"It's a brotherhood that extends beyond the military," she said, when referring to the bonds of veterans.
Bryant asked various questions pertaining to health care -- especially in the area of mental health.
Bryant made sure he passed out coins to both clinic staff members and veterans during the tour. Bryant said the visit to the clinic was a rewarding and humbling experience.
"The greatest part of my job is saying thank you to those who have served our nation," he said. "It was an absolute pleasure to visit the Bettendorf VA Clinic and to see the tremendous services the clinic is providing to our veterans."
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