European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 21, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Magazine Hatty Nortel you am their Only connection to anything  Wallora at the army regional medical Center in Frankfurt Are guided by Wanda King. Navy Pawenta at Landau he tee Nancy Johnaon Dally. To help Hospital patients in Germany by Janet d Agostino medical writer Hile Seaman apprentice James Young was landlocked in a Hospital bed Al the Frankfurt army regional medical Center his ship the aircraft Carrier Forrestal was cutting through the Waters of the Mediterranean. A ruptured eardrum sent the Sailor to West Germany because the surgery he needed could no be done at . Naval hospitals in Italy or Spain. Young 21. Would have Felt like a fish out of water surrounded by service members in army uniforms were it not Lor Petty officer 2nd class Wanda King in familiar Navy whiles. King and three other sailors Are stationed in Wesl Germany As Navy medical liaisons to assist Active duty naval personnel family members retirees. Marine and coast guard members and Dod civilians receiving medical Caie a i army and air Force hospitals in West Germany. Pelly Olicer 2nd class Nancy Johnson said she visits patients daily at Lan Stuhl where she is stationed so they Don t feel like they have been deserted by the Navy " Young who maintains personnel records aboard the Forrestal said his Hospital stay Al Frankfurt had been quite different and kind o  King he said was Able to show him around the Hospital and help gather some personal items he needed because he had been whisked to West Germany without Money or belongings. The Navy assigned liaisons to West Germany in july 19b7 because sailors who were medically evacuated to army and air Force hospitals Olen disappeared and became lost to the naval command said master chief Petty officer Tom Ryan Fleet Liaison Lor the Navy medical a cd european Region in London. Differences in the reporting requirements of Tho army and the air Force made it difficult for the command to keep track of its people. A Sailor s commander needs to know when and in the service member will be returning because each division of the ship is manned by an essential number of Crew members when out to sea. A division May be manned by Only two or three people making it even More crucial for that Sailor to return or be replaced. The sailors who remain must cover the division 24 hours a Day said King from her Frankfurt office which she shares with chief Petty officer Linda Earegood who is in charge of the Liaison program. It is important to keep track of where the Sailor is and to gel him Back on the ship As soon As possible King said. How Long a Sailor can be away irom duly depends on where the duty station is and the Type of work done Earegood said. The liaisons keep Tho command informed of the condition of inpatients and outpatients through admission and discharge reports and weekly status reports they also visit patients daily or weekly answer questions patients May have about their care by talking to the medical stall help solve any problems thai develop and explain the army and air Force Way of doing things when i got Here i said i Don t know where i m going and they said there s a Navy Liaison go see. Her " said chief Petty officer Shirley Hough who is stationed in Greece but was hospitalized at the Wiesbaden air Force regional medical Center this summer. She s Given me a lot of assistance. The air Force is Good Don t get me wrong. But when you Are used to Tho Navy Way. I Don t know if i m talking to a staff sergeant or a master sergeant. At least i can identity with her and say. To Petty officer Norvell i need some help " Petty officer 2nd class Holly Norvell the Liaison at the Wiesbaden Hospital said of her patients usually you Are their Only connection to anything familiar. People get very bored. There s not a lot do but i try to remind them that this is Only a temporary  patient Are referred to the military hospitals in West Germany depending on the Type of injuries they have or the care they need arid availability of  Johnson said patients May be in West Germany Lor a one Day outpatient visit or they May to hospitalized for a longer slay. Most arrive without family or friends. The liaisons try to make patients or anyone accompanying them feel More comfortable by telling them where shopping areas restaurants and Public transportation Are located. Ii family members