About Baghdad ER

"Baghdad ER" is a TV series that originally premiered in 2006. Produced by HBO, the series is based on the real-life stories at the 86th Combat Support Hospital (CSH), the U.S. Army’s premier medical facility in Iraq. The series offers an intimate look at the physical and emotional devastation of war, seen through the eyes of the medical personnel who face these hardships head-on every day.

Making / Production

"Baghdad ER" was produced by filmmakers Jon Alpert and Matthew O'Neill, who spent two months in Baghdad's Green Zone to capture the realities of a combat hospital. Due to the sensitive nature of the content, the documentary was subject to a Pentagon review before its release.

Actors

• Col. Casper P. Jones III - As the commander of the 86th CSH, he showcased his formidable leadership skills amidst extreme conditions.
• Maj. Merritt D. Pember - As an orthopedic surgeon, he provided viewers with a gripping glimpse into the harsh realities faced by the medical team.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• "Baghdad ER" was filmed over a two-month period, during which over 1,000 hours of footage was shot.
• The series faced some controversy, as some defense officials believed it could violate the privacy rights of soldiers and their families.

Awards

"Baghdad ER" won the 2006 Emmy award for Outstanding Directing for Nonfiction Programming.

Quotes

• "There's a tremendous amount of heroism...not just on the part of the soldiers, but for those who are trying to save them as well." - Col. Casper P. Jones III
• "Nobody can come into the ER and come out the same person." - Maj. Merritt D. Pember

Music, Soundtrack

• The score for "Baghdad ER" was composed by Thomas Keegan, who masterfully used music to punctuate the intensity of the situations depicted on screen.