USAFE answers call of wounded warriors

  • Published
  • By Herb McClain
  • U. S. Air Forces in Europe Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (USAFENS) --  U.S. Air Forces in Europe made a recent donation of two, four-story buildings, and the buildings have saved hours on the road for wounded U.S. Forces.

The former Air Force Hotels transformed by $2.5 million renovations provides convenient lodging for wounded U.S. Forces on the Landstuhl hospital grounds. Each of the 121, one-and two-person rooms that will accommodate between 190 to 200 occupants is outfitted with computers, free internet service, cable TV, and DVD players and telephones to stay in touch with loved ones.

The 435th Services Squadron Ramstein Inn leadership also donated 122 television sets, 122 DVD players and telephones to the Infrastructure Management Command - Europe at no cost to meet WTU-O mission needs. Additionally, the HQ USAFE/A7, Installations Mission Support transferred $100,000 to HQ USAREUR and IMCOM-E to perform facility upgrades to the basement of one building that ensured the proper professional environment was provided for our recovering wounded Forces. The donation of these two buildings is in addition to another one located on Landstuhl the Air Force had previously donated to the Army.

The sole use of the Warrior Transition Unit - Outpatient operations are for wounded U.S. Forces returning from the theater of operations. "This is another example of the Air Force commitment to take care of our brave wounded warriors," said General William Hobbins, USAFE Commander, "We're proud of this initiative to enhance the recovery of these heroes."

The WTU-O operations were about 25 miles away at Kleber Kaserne, Kaiserslautern, Germany. This meant wounded warriors had to endure a one- to one-and a-half hour round trip bus ride to receive required outpatient medical care at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. There was also a strong need to eliminate the daily over-the-road movement of these wounded warriors; thereby greatly reducing their exposure to potential accidents while simultaneously increasing their force protection posture.

"They went all out for the warrior, I have to say," said Army Capt. Katrina Gawlik, medical transient detachment commander. Gawlik called the conditions optimal for Soldiers, Marines, Sailors and Airmen who typically spend up to two weeks here getting care. "We tell our warriors who come here their only mission is to heal." she said.

USAFE facilitated the transfer of the WTU-O operations from Kleber Kaserne to Landstuhl by turning over the two Air Force buildings that were assigned to the 435th Services Squadron Ramstein Inn Lodging when the decision was made to use these buildings for WTU-O operations.

The Ramstein Inn lodging staff developed alternative measures to lodge Landstuhl customers at Ramstein Air Base, Vogelweh and Sembach Air Base, Germany, and prepared the two facilities for the Army to make required modifications to receive the WTU-O staff and wounded warriors returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

One of the buildings donated for hospital use is Bldg 3752, a building that had just undergone an AF-funded EUR 4.5M renovation which included the outfitting with elevators. "This is a huge thing if you are in a wheel chair or using crutches" says Timothy Wible, lodging manager for the KMC. "We were happy that we could provide the Army a building that was perfectly suited for their needs, to help the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center take care of its patients."

Army Col. Kirk Lawrence, deputy chief of staff for the U.S. Army Europe, pointed to the new facility as an example of the services working together to care for the wounded warriors. "All we want is the best care for our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines," he said.