Rummerfield Visits Wounded Soldiers in Germany

Visiting Wounded and Injured Soldiers as a Motivational Speaker Provides Experience Pat Would Never Forget

May 13, 2007 (Baltimore, MD) - I boarded a plane from St. Louis to Frankfurt International Airport at the invitation of Colonel W. Bryan Gamble, Commander Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC) and Konrad Braun, Director, USO Kaiserslautern. Their itinerary had me visiting wounded and injured soldiers as well as a giving a motivational talk to the Medical personnel in LRMC. The trip offered an experience I will never forget The USOs hospitality and organization kept me busy meeting wounded soldiers and maximizing my limited time at the base. I wish more US citizens could see the results of the hard working professionals dedicated to the care of our soldiers. The exceptional doctors, nurses and staff working at this world-class medical facility embody extraordinary dignity and compassion treating our brave wounded and injured US soldiers and NATO forces.

The Medical personnel at LRMC, such as Maj. Paul Langevin of the 435th AMDS/CASF and Lt. Col. Werthman, are living examples of the selfless heroes who constitute this crucial ready-to-act unit. They are worthy of the highest honors of gratitude and noble devotion to duty.

The highly professional health care staff and first rate emergency medicine/triage operations in Germany should make all of us back home very proud. The care our soldiers receive at this facility rival any high level health care institution in the states.

The LRMC hospitals in Germany achieve success by undertaking the critically complicated task of caring for the emergency medical needs for our nations most highly cherished resource, the men and women of the US armed forces.

On such a crucial responsibility, we should be grateful to our United States Armed Forces Medical Personnel for achieving such a high standard of excellence.

The entire experience left me more impressed with the armed services and eager to assist by any means in the future.

Lt. Col. Werthman honored me with the Command Coin of Excellence at the conclusion of my visit.