Stryker Brigade News

Visiting the wounded soldiers and marines in Landstuhl Medical Center on Good Friday the 09th April 2004

I have wondered me many times what could I do more for the soldiers and now the marines in Iraq. So I have had the idea one day to go to the Landstuhl Medical Center, in Landstuhl. Together with good friends from me we went to Landstuhl and for to say to all heroes “Thank you very much for fighting the war” and “Get well soon”, to all young American men and women who are putting their lives at risk in Iraq day for day for more as a year and now longer and nobody knows how long they have to do this. Our hours in Landstuhl have been a wonderful thing. The manager from the Landstuhl Fisher House has picked up us at the Gate 3 in front of the hospital at 2 pm. She has given us a wonderful warm hearted welcome. She is a great lady. After a short talk with her at the Fisher House, we went together with a group fight attendants from the AA-Airlines to the Hospital. They have brought to the wounded and the hospital a lot of girl scouts cookies. This was for us the first visit in a military hospital.

We have had 15 empty backpacks with us, which we have given the Fisher House for the wounded patients. This is something that they need so much to carry their belongings in it. I have read to go by Air Force further, all patients need backpacks or sport bags but not shopping bags. So we are glad that we could give something to make the trip to the US for the wounded soldiers and marines easier. From Kristi from Florida, we have had with us a very large Easter basket too. She has sent it to me for to give it to a special hero. We have had luck, a SPC from Waterbury from the Connecticut Army National Guard, injured in a non-hostile incident in Iraq was in a barracks in Landstuhl. One of the officers told us that he will bring the basket to him on Easter. I will say to them, thank you very much for doing this and bring to injured soldiers a wonderful Easter basket. To lie down in a hospital far away from home and alone on a holiday is not so easy, for nobody! So we have thought we will bring 15 Easter bugs and 4 small Easter baskets with us with candies and chocolate to give it to wounded, injured or sick soldiers or marines, so we know that someone is thinking of them on Easter.

100 useful backpacks

For us all it was a great honour to went together with the manager from the Fisher House to the wounded marines and soldiers and to give them the magnificent and 100 useful backpacks, which have been dispatched to Landstuhl through Soldier`s Angels Foundation, Keystone Soldiers and United Spinal Assoc. The backpacks we are given to the soldiers and marines have had a lot of good things in it - all things they need so much: Hooded Sweat Shirt, Military Brown T-Shirt, Black Sweat Pants Package of Boxers and Socks, 120 minute ATT calling card, CD Player (w/extra batteries), 1 Stick Deodorant, 1 (1.5 oz.) shave gel , 1 (2 oz.) bottle of Shampoo and Body Bath, 2 Disposable Razors, 1 (4" handle) toothbrush, with bristle cover, 1 (.85 oz.) tube of toothpaste and more goodies.

I must tell you that the eyes from the marine have told me that they both were very surprised, to see the backpack and to see that people are thinking on them. And as they saw what the backpack contents, they could not believe it. But the greatest thing near all the things they need so much was the CD player, this was the best of all! It was a great thing to meet them and to see that they saw that people are looking for them. We have seen marines and soldiers lying in their beds, full of pain and with eyes filled with tears, who could not make any movement without pain. By every Hero we have visited we have seen that they appreciate our visit by them, sometimes they looked at first a little bit surprised, to see that Germans visit them and that our German group said to them “Thank you very much for the great job they all have done for us all” This was a great thing, to give them handshakes and this brought us tears in the eyes. And they told us always again and again, thank so much for doing this for us. Someone has taken his T-shirt directly out of the backback and Irene has helped him to do it over his wounded arm. Another marine told us how he was wounded in Iraq. It is always the same bad story you read day by day in the news…as he was speaking, you could see that his body was there, lying in the bed and in his thought he was fighting and wounded again. At first he has spoken normally, and step by step when he told us his story he was imaging the fight again so that he now begins to speak faster and faster and his eyes have seen the terrible pictures again. We think that all marines and soldiers were really pleased to have had a visitor. We have visited or spoken with about more as 15 marines and soldiers, in the hospital and in the Fisher House. A few have had serious medical problems I think a lot of them told me that they are going further to Walter Reed or Bethesta or to Texas for more medical care. I told them that they can give me an e-mail if they want that our group can do something for them here in Landstuhl or in Washington DC. The most of the wounded were alone there and their love ones are in the States, but a few family members have taken the opportunity to stay in the Fisher House and so they have the opportunity to look the whole day for their wounded family member. The Fisher House is a great thing. We all have seen that all the nurses, doctors, and all the other staff and the women and men from the Fisher House do a great job.

Wilhelmine Aufmkolk, Germany
JosephineFS@aol.com

Our second visit in Landstuhl Medical Center on 06 May 2004.

I am glad that I have found new friends, who are going with me to Landstuhl Medical Center to visit our all wounded Heroes. Carolyn an American and Cristina a Spanish nurse and I we went through the hospital to say the wounded troops, “Thank you very much for all the good things they have done” and give them all greetings from the Soldiers Angels Foundation, and the KONTAKT Wiesbaden e. V. a German/American Friendship Club. We had with us a small gift for 20 Heroes, 1 T-Shirt, 1 underpants, 1 socks with a nice “Get Well Soon” card. And we have taken the e-mail cards and letters which we have received from the States with us too. Thank you very much to all the wonderful people from the States send e-mail greetings and cards for the wounded in Landstuhl. Our visit in Landstuhl Medical Center began with a short visit in the Fisher House, to look if the filled backpacks from the Soldiers Angels Foundation http://www.soldiersangels.org, are arrived. But they were not there so we must wait further until the 40 backpacks arrived.
Day for day more injured U.S. soldiers arrived from Iraq to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. The hospital has been a fixture on America's military landscape for more than five decades now, serving as midway point for wounded troops returning home for more treatment. It is the greatest US military hospital in Europe. You see how the guys are stretched out in their beds sometimes with third in one room. And if you see in their faces you must not see their body, you can see in their face the whole experiences they all have made. The most of them we have visited were wounded servicemen and women have been wounded in action in Fallujah, the flashpoint in Iraq's Sunni triangle. Often their insurgents launched from the mortars and shrapnel hit their legs. We visited soldiers who are lying in their beds and they were full of pain so they could not move their body. So we have lied down the gift on the end of their beds. I was so sad to see this that so much very young man was wounded. But I found that a lot of wounded soldiers and marines were in a good mood others were sad, some were afraid but their trust against their self was great. A lot of them wore hospital clothes and it looks that they had not other things to wear. So our small gift was something what they could use. You see very young men, directly from the school going to the military, after a short time they were ready to fight the war. Often we heard that they were only a short time in Iraq and after 1 month or 3 months in battle they were wounded on their legs and other parts from their body. We have met two wounded who are going back to Iraq directly or in a few days. Others wounded soldiers and marines were going further to Walter Reed or Bethesda for more medical treatment. For a lot of the wounded troops is Landstuhl Medical Center is this not the end from any medical treatment. We went from room to room and we said thank you for the great job they have done and gave them greetings from the Soldiers Angels Foundation and from the KONTAKT Wiesbaden e. V. German/American Friendships Club http://www.wiesbaden.army.mil/PAO/KONTAKT/Kontakt.htm . On one floor the staff asked us if we have an appointment with anyone and we told her that we are coming to say “Hello” and would like to give the wounded a small gift. So she told us it was not allowed to go further on this ward. But a very young wounded in a wheel chair saw us and I would like to give him something but it was not allowed. So after a small talk with the staff there and we went back but I have given him fast his gift and his eyes would be very great and I could see in his face a great thank you for doing this. A young man from Texas told us as we asked him if we can do more for him, "chocolate", was his answer. So we have determined that we have something forgotten. We have made bags with something they all need, to go back home, but we have something forgotten for them self. Carolyn was so nice that she told him that she will bring him chocolate tomorrow. A wounded told us that he was for 20 years on active duty stationed here in Germany and he was now 1 month in Iraq as it was happened. Terrible thing and he do not know how long he has to stay now in any hospital.
But they all were glad that someone were looking for them and bring something that they need. Sometimes they were a little bit astonished to see us. As a German I will say it is not a question if our government was for or against the war. It is important that anyone see that anything is to do and do it. So I am glad that I have found so much wonderful people, who are give me the opportunity to support the soldiers in Iraq and now since a few weeks in Afghanistan and the wounded in the US hospitals, Walter Reed and Brooke Texas and special here in Landstuhl Germany. I will not miss this. This is a great job I think. And I am glad that I can give something back to the Americans, who have given as enough care packages after the WWW II and much more over the years.
We visited a soldier in the TV-room and he told us that he can go home in a few days and that he was glad for this. Another patient was walking over the floor with crutches as we appealed him and hand over him his gift, he was very astonished about this, but he rejoice it very much. Another story is a wounded soldier in a wheel chair drove past to us as we were talking with another wounded. He was very fast driving past, wore black sunglasses and was off! After more as an hour we met him again near the cafeteria. I have addressed him and told him that I would like to give him a small gift. He looked at me very astonished, but as he saw that I will say only thank you to him and will give him greetings from the Soldiers Angels and the KONTAKT Wiesbaden he is not longer so inhibited. As we so told and Cristina and Carolyn are coming to us too, a smile is coming over his face. He told us that he is from the 25th stationed in Hawaii and he was 3 months in Iraq before it was happened. And what was happened, you knew it of you have seen him in his eyes. His face was white and you saw in his face all the terrible experiences with his body he has made and his story was written in his face. To lose a leg, as a young man, in his best years is not so easy. In this few minutes in which it was happened has changed his life for every time. We asked him if he would like to have a coffee with us, and he said, yes. So we had a coffee with him and we have told about so much things. This was a great experience for me to see how he could smile again. Nearby the cafeteria we meet a young man he told us he has to go back to Iraq today. And his mood was great. Carolyn told to him and he asked her to walk with him together to the bus stop. She told us that he was so happy that someone went with him to the bus and he was not alone in this moment. These hours in Landstuhl were a great experience for us all. For a few staffs we have had a nice cook books in German and English with us to cook German kitchen and we saw that they enjoyed it that someone has thought on they too. We have seen again the lacks of backpacks and the normal things we all need everyday. So we think we can fill small backpacks for about 15€ (1 Euro is at the moment 1,20 $). We need about for this 1 T-Shirt 3 Euro, 1 pair socks 1 Euro, 1 underpants 1 Euro, 1 small backpack 5 Euro, for hygiene article 5 Euro and we can fill the backpacks by ourselves here in Germany. For me it is always a great thing to see how we can make the wounded troops laughing. And I am glad that I can work together with the Soldier`s Angels.

Wilhelmine Aufmkolk, Germany
JosephineFS@aol.com

A member from KONTAKT Wiesbaden e.V., German/American Friendship Club
and Soldiers Angels Foundation

Operation Christmas From Home

- Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from home -

to all wounded and injured Soldiers, Civilian and Patients in the US Hospitals.

On the 15th December 2004, a wonderful winter morning with blue sky and white frosted trees, we started with 2 cars our trip to Landstuhl. It was so cold, but no rain and snow! A great day began. So let me tell you: Our day in Landstuhl was, I cannot tell you, overwhelming. It was a large moment to see, that someone is so far away from home and you can treat to him and you see that he is overjoyed and his eyes beam with joy.

This is a story you don’t believe if you have everything what you like to have to live! Rudi told me he has never seen that someone was so happy to get a shower gel! He told me, “Tell me how anyone can be happy only over a shower gel! As I set up an open box with personal hygiene items at the entrance of the Kleber Barracks because I had something left in my car. I saw as I came back that a soldier in uniform was standing nearby the box and looking in it! ” As my husband saw him the Soldier looked at Rudi and asked him: “Sir, can I have this shower gel, only the shower gel please?” Rudi looked so surprised and said, ”Yes sure! All the things we have with us are for the soldiers, Sir.” In this moment the Soldier, he has been arrived in Kleber today, looked perfectly happy and he said so many thanks to Rudi. So a shower gel is sometimes such more as an expensive gift what you do not need at the moment!

First I must say “Thank you” to all the wonderful people who donated so much good things for the 60 backpacks, 25 sport backs, and all the Christmas stockings which arrived here in Germany for to hand out to wounded Soldiers and Marines in LRMC and in the Kleber Barracks. Our new Angel Mary Ann, an American from Munich, came with us with additional 47 filled backpacks, 20 CD player and 20 special backpacks for wounded women. And so it is the Soldiers Angels hope that we can bring the wounded service members - who are far away from home and loved ones in this holiday season - holiday greetings and a little bit of comfort.

The Fisher House is “a home away from home”

Irene and Manfred Kilp, Mary Ann and I we met us at 9:30 am in Landstuhl on gate 3. At first we had an invitation to a wonderful musical program at the Fisher House! The Officers' wifes' Club from Ramstein AB were coming to present their Christmas program. They sung Christmas songs for guests of the Fisher House.

Here we met John, a wounded Airborne Division soldier with his wife. John is an outpatient and stays with his wife for recovery in the Fisher House. We wished both a wonderful Christmas under this specific circumstance this year. For his wife we had a nice German/English cooking book and for him a backpack with a handmade blanket and a large Christmas stocking.

A great thank you to Kathy Gregory, manager from the Fisher House Landstuhl for to give us her time to go with us to the wounded soldiers. We don’t know how it could works without Kathy and the Fisher House! Read more here about the Fisher House and how you can help: http://soldiersangels.homestead.com/Fisher-House-Germany.html

LRMC is about eight miles away from Ramstein and is the largest U.S. Medical Center in Europe. It operates with outpatient clinics - one of them is in Kaiserslautern – the Kleber Kaserne. Landstuhl has a capacity of 230 beds or more if it is necessary. Here you have inpatients who can have battle injuries with gun shot wounds, burns, amputations, or other non battle injuries as heart attacks and so on. And here are outpatients, who can go by themselves and do not need to lay down in a bed for recovery.

As we went to the hospital with Kathy, the manager from Fisher House and SPC W. from the Family Assistance Center with 60 filled backpacks with handmade blankets. Our sewing circles gave their time and sew the blankets for the wounded. These blankets will bring hope to so many of our wounded heroes. The Clair E. Gale Junior High School, ID as well as, Joyce from AZ, Paul and Berta from CA, Rosi from Idaho, Sarah from FL and the students from the East Hill Christian School 1st and 4th grade Pensacola, Fl and other Angels and friends have sent us to fill in the backpacks wonderful Christmas cards. A lot of other Angels have donated T-shirts, socks, underpants, candies, items for personal hygiene, books and more goodies. And we here in Germany have filled all the backpacks and sportbags. And without the personal help from Sgt. Leecharde R. Bersamina from the 1st AD this would not be possible, too.

The 150 Christmas stockings from the Soldiers Angels were a gift bag of goodies filled with reading materials, stationary, pens, socks, and selected toiletry items such as bath gels, shampoos, lotions, razors, dental products, or more goodies.

As we handed out the first Christmas stockings in the Hospital the both wounded were so surprised that someone from home was thinking on them. Both asked me at once, "Who has made the wonderful Christmas stockings?" I told them, “…two great ladies, Sarah and Becky, worked over months to make this ready for you!” A doctor who was standing beside the bed of one wounded hero told me, “…it is a great thing that so much people from home spend their time and money to bring our heroes a so great Christmas gift. They must know that they are not alone…” You can believe me the both guys had tears in their eyes!

Christmas messages

Later we met Chaplain Young on the floor too and he told me, “…please give all Angels and friends a great thank you for all the good things the Soldiers Angels are doing for the wounded soldiers here in Landstuhl and Merry Christmas to you all…." The eight Christmas books we have with us, with - Christmas messages from home - we have let one in the Fisher House and the others in the Hospital and Kleber. Later as we were on the way to lunch I met Lt. Col. S. R., one of the chief nurses of the Landstuhl nursing staff and she said, “… you all are doing a great work! Thank you again and Merry Christmas…”

Wounded Guardman

A Deputy Public Affairs Officer from Oregon National Guard asked me,” Please look for Staff Sgt. C. who will arrive soon from Iraq. We have heard he shattered the bones in his legs enroute to his base station in Iraq and was at the hospital in Baghdad due to be sent to Landstuhl for stabilisation prior to travelling to Army Hospital in the States….” For the wounded Guardman we had a special backpack with a pair of trousers, t-shirt, underpants, socks, sweater, personal hygiene items, blanket and candies and more. It was not possible to visit him in person and talk to him. The security is very high at the moment! A nurse has brought in our name this backpack with a nice Get Well card to him and has given him out best wishes for a fast recovery! This is the most of the time normal I must say. Sometimes we can go and talk with the wounded soldiers and other times it is not possible like here. We are not sad about this! Security is very important today, terrible that we must say this.

Operation Christmas From Home

Our Angels Sarah LaPage, FL and Becky Morton, NC started in fall the project “Operation Something From Home” to bring some love and cheer to the wounded soldiers in Landstuhl and other main military hospitals in the States. A lot of students and people from companies have helped to make 500 Stockings ready with a lot of personal items and goodies and more. And over 140 are arrived in Landstuhl and donated amongst other things from:

The Soldiers’ Angels Foundation and Hershey Foods, PA. Hershey Foods sent the following message to our Herous: “Please relay to the men and women that it is people like them who have made our great country what it is today, and we at Hershey Foods thank them for their dedication. Our hearts go out to them for so bravely serving our nation.” Cindy and Caley Trujillo, Kennesaw, GA. Caley is in the Girl Scouts, and chose Operation Christmas from Home as her service project! She and her mom Cindy contributed over 70 stockings to the project with assistance from: Girl Scout Troop 2161.

The many, many Soldiers’ Angels who wrote Christmas cards and sent them to Sarah and Becky to stuff in the stockings for the heroes. There are too many of them for to thank here! Four schools in Pensacola, FL whose students wrote Christmas cards especially for our project. Despite being delayed in their lessons for several weeks due to Hurricane Ivan, these schools still took the time to do something special for our wounded soldiers: Little Flower Catholic School, East Hill Christian School, Alethia Christian Academy and Trinitas Christian Academy. If you have more questions about the Christmas Project 2004 or if you are interested to work with us for the next Christmas project 2005 please contact: Sarah LaPage: Soldiers’ Angels, PO Box 699, Cantonment, FL 32533 e-mail: sarah_ruth_81@yahoo.com or Becky Morton, Soldiers’ Angels, PO Box 375, Graham, NC 27253, email: rpmorton375@yahoo.com.

Santa`s for Soldiers

You do not believe it! More Christmas Stockings were coming! From the project “Santa`s for Soldiers”, from students of the Lewisville High School, 1098 W. Main, Lewisville, Texas 75067 came 145 stockings in 13 boxes to me for to bring it in their name to the wounded soldiers. All students don’t have a lot of money, but they have big hearts. In all the stockings the soldiers didn’t found expensive stuff, but what they used so much, personal items and goodies.

"May No Soldier Go Unloved“

From Colorado we received wonderful 38 handmade ornament Christmas stockings from clients of Bernina Sewing Center which are donated over the Bernina store, Co. The filling was donated and suffered by church members, friends and family of Joan Pignon or others. From the Colorado Angels we had to talk to all wounded soldier: “Thank you for sacrificing the comforts we are enjoying to go away from your family and friends, your hobbies and interests so that we can maintain our liberties. Thank you for going without creature comforts and for enduring extreme environments, hostile people, monotonous work, horrible scenes and repetitive meal selections. Thank you for sharing the generosity and concern of Americans with those who question our movies dislike our interventions. Again, thank you for your service to our country! We are praying for your health, safety, and optimism and for your family.”

Our visit in the Kleber Barracks in Kaiserslautern.

On our trip to Kleber Kaserne in Kaiserslautern a medical facility from Landstuhl came Darla and Jane with us. This was the first time that we were here. As we arrived in Kleber, at first SSG G. told us something about the Kleber Kaserne.

Here it is where soldiers stay who not requiring hospital beds but evacuated to Landstuhl stay here during appointments and medical treatment. The soldiers travel normally 30-40 minuets each way by bus to LRMC to have here their medical treatment. The barracks can hold 356 Soldiers, but average only 150. If necessary, up to 410 Soldiers could be accommodated in the second building they have. Here is a place where transient Soldiers can relax and recharge their batteries as they wait for their wounds to heal. At the moment every week 110 wounded come or leave Kleber. The average stay for a Soldier — before returning to duty lasted not more than 15 days. The soldiers told us a stay at Kleber are short term and relatively comfortable. Here the soldiers have a pool table, library, free Internet access, movie rooms, reading room, Ping-Pong table, air hockey table, two day rooms, each with its own wide-screen television, a kitchenette and a telephone room where Soldiers can call their families for free. The soldiers here in Kleber do not need a phone card! The library has a lot of donated books and new magazines. Soldiers who come here receive two sets of desert battle-dress uniforms, a Gore-Tex jacket and a pair of gloves and a $250 AAFES gift card so they can purchase some civilian clothing. SSG G. showed us his full storage. He was glad that he has now enough uniforms for the soldiers.

After the lesson from SSG G. our hard work started! At first we all together brought the Christmas stockings in the large hall on the first floor. We all drove a lot of nails into the wall and have hung up all Christmas stockings on the wall. So all soldiers could take a wonderful Christmas gift by themself. A younger and an older soldier were coming to us and say thank you for the stockings. And Kathy introduced us Germans working together with the Soldiers Angels to make this ready for them. They asked us if they can make pictures of our group and we said “sure”. And so they beamed with joy! All the soldiers who were coming in or went out, or were sitting in the TV room we have given a Christmas stocking. They asked us currently, "Who has made these wonderful Christmas stockings". They all were so surprised that we have brought such gifts for them.

Let us hope that the next year will bring us more peace and freedom in our world.

And thank you to all the women and men to fight for us the war against the terrorism.

Wilhelmine Aufmkolk, Germany

"May No Soldier Go Unloved“

http://www.soldiersangels.com

http://iraqwarnews.net
e-mail: JosephineFS@aol.com

Impressions from our visit in Landstuhl on the 19th January 2005

It was so cold on this morning and the streets were frozen. I arrived early this morning at on the Gate 3 the main entrance for visitors at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. I had with me 36 backpacks and 4 bags and a handmade pillow from a school in Texas. Kathy Gregory from Fisher House Landstuhl picked with me up. My car was full! This was possible through all the donations from a lot of members and friends from the Soldiers Angels as Paul and Berta W., CA; Janette M., SC; Lauren Eve P., Ca; Jana D., TX; Pam D., CO; Audri C., MA; Sahron W., MN and Julia M. and her German and American friends here Germany. Kathy told me that in the first January weeks 35 until 45 wounded arrived in the Hospital weekly, but this can change daily. I was glad to hear this.

After a strong coffee in the Fisher House we looked for SPC W. from the Family Assistance Center. We met him on the parking lot and saw 2 dark blue ambulance busses with white crosses on the front and rear were parking there. SPC W. helps us to unloaded all the things we had with us. So SPC W., Kathy and I we walked to the side entrance.

The wounded are ready for Ramstein

In the entrance hall we saw that a lot of wounded troops are waiting for the bus there, for transportation to Ramstein Airbase. I saw a lot of soldiers in and outside who helped the wounded to step into the waiting bus. From Landstuhl the bus drives only a few miles away to Ramstein Air Force Base. Ramstein is the largest US Air Force base here in southwest Germany. The base is near Landstuhl and Kaiserslautern in the federal state of Rheinland-Pfalz and opened since 1952 and is the headquarters of the United States Air Forces Europe and is also a NATO installation (North Atlantic Treaty Organization).

From Ramstein the wounded warriors are flown off rapidly to an other medical facility in the States to get more the care they need. A soldier told me later, “…from Ramstein they all are going to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C., or Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio Texas, National Navy Medical Center, Bethesda, MD or other hospitals for further medical treatment. An air evacuation soldiers provided medical care to the wounded soldiers during the 9 1/2-hour flight from here to Andrews. From there ambulances transported the patients further….”.

In the entrance hall one seriously injured patient was lying on a stretcher and placed on a gurney. A nurse was standing by her for waiting to carry her on the bus to go home in another hospital for more medical treatment. The most wounded we saw there they able to move on their own. Others were standing on crutches there or sitting in wheelchairs. So Kathy asked them all, “Anyone needs a backpack? Backpacks from the Soldiers Angels! ” The most of them said, “Thank you ma`am, at the moment I have what I use!” So we wished all a safe flight back to the States, a fast recovery and said thank you to them for fighting the war for more freedom.

Walking around

So we went to the wards. The most wounded we saw this time appeared us that they had injuries on legs, feet, arms and hands.

One wounded was sitting in a wheelchair to go with a nurse to the ambulance busses. I asked him if he can use a backpack and he asked me back, “can I have a blanket it is so cold out side? I have a bag.”

On the first ward another wounded was waiting in a wheelchair for a nurse to go out to the ambulance bus, too. He could use our backpack, he had nothing! This time a lot of beds were empty. This week not so many wounded arrived from downrange or the other soldiers were under surgery. The nurses told us the names and the rooms from the wounded so we took the backpacks on their bed.

Three wounded women we visited there. We are looking now that we have all the time a few special bags for wounded ladies with us. As we went in the rooms we saw that a lot of soldiers have injured on their legs. A young man come out this room as we would in, he had both arms injured. And said, “I am happy that I have still my life” And on his face was a smile, you could see it that he was under his circumstance a lucky man.

All the time you could see that a backpack is great thing for soldiers must stay in bed. They all are so happy for a backpack with all the things they use. If you see how they open it, then you see in their eyes they are happy, that a friend is thinking on them. These wounded hero they cannot leave their bed to go into the storage to look for things they need.

In one room we found another hero downrange. We gave him a backpack and gave him the best greetings for a fast recovery from the Soldiers Angels and said thank you for fighting the war. I gave him my business card, so he can call me if he or any comrade from him needs help. An older Lady asked me surprisedly, “do you from the Red Cross?” As I started to explain her that I am from the Soldiers Angels, so began to speak German. She told me that she was with her sick husband here and took care for him. She said further, “I have heard from the Soldiers Angels! I have adopted a soldier, too.

We found our hero in the last minute!

A Deputy PAO from the Oregon National Guard asked me, “Please look for a PFC M.B. He was injured in an IED attack yesterday in Iraq and I am told he was transferred to Landstuhl. Please let me know if you are able to locate him. Thanks for being such caring, wonderful and throughtful people. The world is a better place!”

You would not believe that, we have found him - in the last minute. We looked around and he was not longer on the ICU. Someone told us that he is going to Ramstein for transportation to the States. As we arrived on the buses a soldier told us, sorry he is off with the first bus. A few minutes later we saw that the first bus was parking in front of the second bus. So we asked if we can go into the bus. And here we found PFC M.B. He was lying on a stretcher for carry him and others wounded soldiers to the Ramstein to go further to another hospital.

As Kathy and I found him in the bus and told him that we have greetings from his Deputy Public Affairs Officer from the Oregon National Guard, he had tears in his eyes. We show him his backpack filled with a blanket and all the things he could used and the special pillow "from a Texas Highschool". He tried to give us his hand! He was so overjoyed and you could see that he may no treat assured that someone was in Germany to look for him. I must say, my words cannot say it what was happened in this moment in us three. To find someone in the last minute and to give him the feeling what he is not alone was great for us all. In this few minutes something has changed in us! We had not the time to speak with him. The bus driver told as that we must go out of the bus. The bus is ready for Ramstein.

Oregon is so far from the main hopitals, I do not know if someone could visit him. I asked our Angel Lynette Frascella, Wounded TLC Team if someone from our group can visit him. It looked that he was not doing fine. He looked so asthenic! He could not give us his hand he was to powerless. (see page 8: http://www.oregon.gov/OMD/AGPA/docs/Sentinel/2005/JanFeb-05-WEB.pdf Oregon Sentinel from the Oregon National Guard, "German citizen brings warmth to wounded Oregion soldier")

A special request for a wounded hero

On the 01.12.05 I received an e-mail from Lynette, Wounded TLC Team. She told me Shellyn one of our angels who visits our heroes in Walter Reed asked me to look for a special soldier in Landstuhl on the 01.19.05. He was injured on 01.10.05 in Iraq when an Improvised Explosive Device detonated near his vehicle. CPT Daniel Gade was with the 2/72nd Armor Battalion in Iraq. He was evacuated to LRMC and was at the ICU there. On the 01.13.05 we received the message from a friend that he is on his way to Walter Reed, yet. There he was in serious condition. So I wrote to him on the 01.13.05, “Dear CPT Gade, I heard from friends from you that you are wounded in Iraq! I am always so sad to hear this bad news. I must say you were faster back in the States as I could go to Landstuhl and bring you a backpack with a wonderful handmade blanket……”

Please feel free to sign his guestbook and leave our Hero a note there: http://www2.caringbridge.org/dc/danielgade/index.htm

At last we said SPC W. and the Family Assistance Center thank you for his help and we told him, “We are back on the 28th January, and if you have time it would be great if you can go with us again”. A Great thank you to the Fisher House Landstuhl, too and to Kathy Gregory to give us her time so we can support the wounded troops there.

Wilhelmine Aufmkolk, Germany

"May No Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine Go Unloved"
http://www.soldiersangels.com
e-mail: JosephineFS@aol.com