Landstuhl Heroes Deserve More on July 4th

This letter is an adaption of a recent article that appeals to members of the American Legion to help our wounded from Afghanistan and Iraq. However, it their efforts should be recognized as a responsibility of all Americans to provide as much comfort as is possible to those that serve our nation, especially those that are wounded in combat.

The 4^th of July is a time of celebration as we enjoy the freedoms secured by our ancestors and those that served our nation in battle. The sacrifice of our early soldiers is well noted in history with stories of battles won and lost, of the suffering at Valley Forge and the eventual victory at Yorktown that gave birth to the comfort and security that all Americans enjoy today.

Currently we are engaged in a conflict and many of our wounded soldiers arrive in Landstuhl (Land stool) Regional Medical Center in Germany for treatment and surgery to heal their wounds. Many arrive there naked. We are not talking about a hospital in the Sudan, but our very own, a stop on the journey home for most of the severely wounded Americans fighting in the War on Terror.

As Michael M. Phillips explains in his book, "The Gift of Valor," the clothes of these heroes are often cut off their back by medics and corpsmen as they are evacuated from the battlefield. He adds, "If you make it to Landstuhl, you're good to go. It was an article of faith among the Marine infantrymen in Iraq that if the corpsman plugged up the hole to keep you from bleeding out, and the field surgeons stitched up the important organs, and the Air Force got you all the way to the Army hospital in Landstuhl, Germany, then you'd live. You might not be the same. Your legs might not be where they were before the war. Your arms might not work as well. Your skin might be disfigured by burns. Your brain might be so badly injured that you might not be the same person you used to be. But you'd survive and eventually get home to your parents, your wife, your kids, your girl."

The American Legion wants them to do more than survive. America can never repay the debt it owes these heroes, but it can certainly improve their quality of life. Much attention has been rightly given to substandard conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, but little is being done to help improve the plight of our heroes at Landstuhl.

Last month, American Legion National Commander Paul Morin and National Auxiliary President JoAnn Cronin had the honor of visiting this vital Defense Department facility. Patients there don't ask for much. Some are even eager to return to their old units so they could fight alongside their buddies. Sadly, some of these wounded warriors had broken television sets in their rooms. Others lack comfort items such as DVDs, MP-3s or even magazines. They do receive a small clothing allowance, but when you arrive with nothing it doesn't go very far.

A challenge is being presented to the entire American Legion family and every American family that wishes to help. The goal is to raise $50,000 by the close of the American Legion 89th National Convention on Aug. 30 to insure that these men and women are given the comfort items that they want and have earned. This appeal is not only directed to the The American Legion, the American Legion Auxiliary and Sons of The American Legion but to all Americans who have the heart to help these brave young men and women. It is our American families that these men and women are protecting. The heroes at Landstuhl are our Band of Brothers and Band of Sisters.

Words such as "support the troops" and "sacrifice" are tossed around so much these days that they are in danger of being dismissed as clichés. Here is another one: "Talk is cheap." Care packages and cards are nice, but a donation to "Operation Landstuhl" is effortless. If you wish to donate by credit card go https://www.members.legion.org/cgi-bin/lansaweb?procfun+webfnd+fndp1+tal and click the "Donate" button, but if you prefer, you can mail a check to Operation Landstuhl, c/o The American Legion, P.O. Box 1055, Indianapolis, IN 46206-1055.

This article was adapted from an article written by Paul A. Morin, The American Legion National Commander, JoAnn Cronin, American Legion Auxiliary, National President and Earl Ruttkofsky, National Commander, Sons of The American Legion.