European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 7, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse Sind a a stars Imd stripes or it. Col James Wiedeman examines an a Ray in his office at Raf Lakenheath England. S4s do a Didi othe doctors Are Infix physicians who face the pros and cons of staying in the military by Nancy Torner / . Bureau i. Col. James Wiedeman originally planned to serve in the military just Long enough to repay the air Force for putting him through medical school and then go into private practice. That was about 13 years ago. A i was concerned at first about what it the air Force would be like. I found that i really enjoyed it Quot said Wiedeman chief of general surgery at Raf Lakenheath England. 1 really like being Able to do a lot of travelling and going a lot of Wiedeman 38, decided when he was a senior in College to take advantage of the health professional scholarship program to pay Lor medical school. In return he agreed to serve one year in the air Force for each year of medical school for a total of three years. Wiedeman graduated from the Southern Illinois University school of Medicine in 1980 and did his five year residency at Wilford Hall medical Center an air Force Hospital in Texas. In 1985, he was assigned to Yokota a Japan for three years which would have fulfilled his service commitment. He enjoyed the tour so much he extended three years and transferred to Lakenheath. He extended another two years in 1991. A at this Point in a probably planning on making it the air Force a career Quot Wiedeman said. During his Tours he has been deployed to such places As Turkey for operation provide Comfort and has performed surgeries in eight different locations including Africa and Korea. Some of his Field assignments have required continued on Page 4
