August 4, 2009

For a U.S. soldier wounded in action in the Middle East, arrival at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany is often accompanied with feelings of fear and trepidation. And there is plenty of time to spend in worry: it's a five hour medevac flight from Iraq to Ramstein Air Force Base, where he or she is then transported to nearby Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC).

Unfortunately, many arrive with only the clothes on their backs, as there is rarely time for the wounded to pack a bag prior to being airlifted to medical aid.

That's where the Wounded Warrior Ministry comes in.  The Ministry, (formerly known as the Chaplains Closet and located within LRMC), provides comfort items such as clothes, shoes, toiletries, phone cards and various sundries to injured troops, regardless of their branch of service and at no charge to the soldier or military.  It exists solely through public donations, and Help Hospitalized Veterans (HHV) wholeheartedly supports the Ministry; since 2006, HHV has donated $600,000. Mike Lynch, HHV's executive director, recently returned to Landstuhl to present a $200,000 check to the base commander, Colonel John M. Cho, U.S. Army.

Lynch stated, "Our commitment to the brave men and women serving in harm's way is unwavering; but without the generosity of hundreds of thousands of HHV donors - this support wouldn't be possible."

Upon receiving the check, a grateful Cho said, "A heartfelt thank you to HHV and its kind supporters for all that you do for our patients."

Army Staff Sergeant Joshuwa Tucker, a patient at LRMC, told Lynch, "This program is truly a great thing!  HHV gives me pride and joy in the caring I can see from loving people in the states.  Thank you!  Please keep this program alive!!"  Tucker also shared a thank-you note he wrote to an HHV donor: "Thank you so much.  Your kindness and thoughtfulness has given me hours of joy.  Because of you I feel grateful and happy.  Most of all my heart is full of joy for someone who takes time out to think of us soldiers.  Thank you so much.  God bless.  Sincerely, Josh"

It is a grateful nation, Josh, who thanks you and your fellow soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines for a job well done.

LRMC is the largest U.S. military-operated hospital in the world, and the only U.S. tertiary hospital in Europe. Its doctors and clinicians are U.S. military personnel, and there are civilians working alongside as well. Their task is the treatment and care of tens of thousands sick and wounded U.S. combat soldiers.