On April 15th 1961, CIA operated B-26B bombers took off from a covert CIA-built airstrip in Nicaragua, codenamed ‘Happy Valley’. Their mission was to support an upcoming amphibious landing in Cuba’s Bahía de Cochinos, better known as the Bay of Pigs. Today, 47 years later on that same airstrip, US Marine Corp CH-53E helicopters landed carrying US military doctors, nurses, dentists, public health experts, and myself. Stepping off the helicopter, I murmured four words: Welcome to Happy Valley.
The airport hosts a Navy Seabee base camp next to a small Nicaraguan Army base. The entirety of the base camp is visible below.
Getting to the medical site (a local high school) involves a short ride on a chartered local bus. An escort truck can be seen in front.
When I arrived at mid-morning the high school grounds were alive with people. This is the front of the line.
Even without most of their equipment (including chairs and lights), the dental team performed five extractions and 39 oral hygiene checkups/fluoride treatments. The women in the background is a patient sitting in the improvised dental chair (a school desk) placed next to a window.
Christopher R. Albon is a Ph.D. candidate specializing in armed conflict, public health, human security, and health diplomacy.
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