European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 8, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday february 1989 the stars and stripes Page 3 armenian quake victims arrive in Germany 32 children Young adults flown to Rhein main  writer Rhein main a West Germany thirty two soviet armenian children and Young adults most missing limbs As a result of a devastating earthquake dec. 7. Arrived tuesday night in High spirits and curious about where they were headed in the unite states. The earthquake victims aged 2 /2 to 25, Are in route to hospitals across the United states for treatment of their injuries. They landed at Rhein main at about7 25 . Aboard an air Force c-141b Star lifter after a refuelling Stop at in Ciurlik Turkey. A project of this Type is unique Robert Malthus of the defense department s office of humanitarian assistance said in a Brief flight line statement. While i m not sure it s the Only time it s probably one of the Only times since world War ii that the  government has airlifted soviet citizens from their country for humanitarian purposes he told reporters. The Airlift was organized by project Hope. A member of Rhein main s 2nd aeromedical evacuation so who accompanied the patients on the flight from the soviet Union said he was amazed at their High  they really wanted to know where they were going he said adding that Squadron members showed them maps of the United states and pointed out the states where the armenians will be treated. The patients 2-month-old medical problems in clude multiple amputations Bone injuries and Bone infections which will require very Long term  said or. Col Robert Gilmore commander of the air Force regional medical Center at Wiesbaden. The armenians Are stable in the acute sense Andare not in any life threatening conditions he said. However their rehabilitation will be lengthy As Man will be fitted for artificial limbs or undergo multiple reconstructive surgeries. Eighteen of the armenian patients originally we rescheduled to be flown by Black Hawk helicopters to the army regional medical Center in Lan Stuhl West Germany. However thick fog forced the helicopters to land at Sembach a and the patients were bused Tolan Stuhl. The other 14 armenians were taken by bus fro Rhein main to the air Force regional medical Center in Wiesbaden where they joined five armenian Chil Dren who arrived thursday night. Each of the patients was accompanied by either Parent relative or appointed guardian. Also aboard the aircraft were doctors a project Hope official defens department representatives and members of the 2nd aeromedical evacuation so who cared for the patients aboard the air Force plane. The 37 patients and their guardians Are scheduled to leave West Germany thursday for Andrews fab md., where they will be transported to various Ameri can hospitals aboard corporate aircraft officials said. An estimated 25,000 people were killed and thou Sands injured in the earthquake which destroyed Sev eral towns doctors did t see sme for weeks Boston a a girl whose hand is Frozen in the shape of a claw from clutching her dead Mother s hand for three Days while trapped under rubble is among the armenian earthquake victims arriving in this country for treatment. The 15-year-old girl Lena is among dozens of survivors of the devastating december earthquake who have begun arriving this week to receive medical treat ment arranged by two american organizations that sent volunteers to the quake damaged Region. Lena was unaware that the Parent she was clutching so tightly was dead doctors said monday. Now she needs treatment for a paralysed left hand. Soviet doctors told varied and tragic stories about other victims some so severely injured that their limbs skulls and Bones were crushed the american volunteers said. They said that they did t get their first smile froma kid for three weeks. The kids could t sleep through the night. They said one would Start crying and All the others would Start or. Nishan g. A Oudjouzian chief of paediatric Anaesthesiology at Massachusetts Genera Hospital said at a news conference. Two american organizations project Hope Andale Rivares Are coordinating what Are the first airlifts is Lynda w spark medical personnel at Rhein main a put a quake victim in a vehicle for transportation to Wiesbaden Hospital. I -. Jav " it it pc " � �., a i is a Lynda w. Sparks Alvorn elementary at Rhein main a West Germany show get Well cards made a a anians injured in the catastrophic december earthquake. From left Are 9 p be Ember Barton 8 Elizabeth Ruge 6 Tyler Doyle 10 Carol n of armenian earthquake victims to the United states. Fifteen armenians arrived sunday in new Yor City with the help of Amer cares a Relief Agency based in new Canaan Conn. The patients Are scheduled tos9 to hospitals in new York Connecticut Pennsylva Nia and Missouri for treatment. Amer cares official said they expect another Airlift of victims to arrive in the United states by the end of the week. A group of 37 children sponsored by the Virginia based organization project Hope is expected to arrive at Andrews fab near Washington on thursday. These children will go to hospitals in Massachusetts Illinois Pennsylvania Virginia new York Florida and Ohio. Each child will be accompanied by a Guardi an project Hope officials said. Most of the adults and children need surgical an reconstructive treatment. The average stay will be be tween two and three months doctors said. They have severe orthopaedic or reconstructive needs said Amer cares spokesman Steve  re talking about crushed Pel vises. We have cases in which whole buildings fell on people s legs  nine physicians from Amer cares participated i medical Relief Effort in Armenia. Eight doctors flew to Armenia in the project Hope Effort. Doctors plan to insert Tendon implants muscle implants and use skin grafts to rebuild sections of bodies that Are missing said Norman. Meanwhile a military Jet loaded with 140,000pounds of soup new clothes batteries and candles donated by such corporations As Lipton and Kodak lifted off monday from Westover fab in Chicopee. Air base spokesman Gordon Newell said the Jet was expected to land in in Ciurlik Turkey on wednesday and the items would be ferried to Armenia across the order because the armenian Airport is too Small to land the huge Jet