European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 10, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday March 10, 1993 the stars and stripes Page 3502nd Mash May go to Croatia by Ron Jensen Niernberg Bureau Nornberg Germany a the 502nd Mobile army surgical Hospital is a Likely candidate to replace the 212th Mash now in Zagreb Croatia according to the Man who will become the unit s commander later this week. But cautioned or. Col Brian l. Baker thei a has been no official decision. A the 502nd is actually designated. There is no secret in that a Baker said. A but the word is  there has been no  Baker who now commands Nairn bergs a 3rd combat support Hospital will change his shoulder Patch and title thursday when the 502nd mesh is reassigned from the 7th medical come to v corps. The ceremony marking the units reassignment from Lan Stuhl to Niernberg is scheduled for 3 . At the support Hospital. The action comes As the 212th Mash begins returning some members to germ any from a 179-Day deployment that began in october. The units Mission is to provide health care to members of the . Peace keeping forces. About 46 of the 350 personnel in the unit were to return today. The conventional Wisdom is that the 502nd Mash which is scheduled to move to Niernberg in the summer will get the Call to replace the 212th. However Baker said no decision has been made and one cannot be in fade until the . Charter to continue the peacekeeping role is either renewed or lapses. A we first need to know if the Mission is on a he said. A a that a not  the charter to provide the peacekeeping role to the former Yugoslavia recently was extended 30 Days to March 31, a Western Diplomat said and the mandate is under review. Quot i feel that a week from now there is Likely to be a much More Clear picture a Baker said tuesday. A i just take that out of the air. They can to wait too  the charter is renewed and the 502nd is tapped to provide health services for the United nations in Zagreb the Niernberg military Community will lose a Large part of its health care. However a statement from the . Army Europe said that if the 502nd Ever deploys for a real or training Mission personnel from other medical facilities will be. Sent to fill in including possible deployment of personnel from the United states. Baker said a deployment is always a possibility whether it is to Zagreb in the near future or to assist following an earthquake in Russia or during a ground War at some unknown Point in the future. And if that happens he noted there is sure to be concern in the Community about health care. A we will do everything Here to ensure that the Quality of health care remains High a he said. A if the 502nd is deployed for any reason he said re placements will be sought within the military in Europe and in the states. The acting commander of the 3rd combat support Hospital will be or col Charles Miller who currently is the hospitals Deputy com Mandr clinical services. Baker also said Access to German health care if needed will be cased in Advance by an informational Campaign using local Media town halt meetings and a handbook that will include maps translations and other helpful material. He described the German health care system As excellent and the language Barrier As a minor problem because of the knowledge of English found in Llhee German medical Community. But he said he understands that the concerns in the Community arc real and for Good reason. A health care is a serious Issue a he said. A i done to want to be alarmist. 1 believe in telling people the  the army statement indicated that the 502nd was assigned Only 41 soldiers of an authorized deployment strength of 133 while under the 7th medical come. With the Transfer to v corps the unit will expand from 30 Beds to 36 and a full strength of 45 officers and 88-enfisted personnel. T soldiers now with the unit will remain Usa eur said. Thirty four clinical officers from the 3rd combat support Hospital and six from the 67th evacuation Hospital will join the 502nd. The remainder of the soldiers will be assigned from the 3rd combat support Hospital the army statement also said health care in Lan Stuhl will be minimally affected by the 502nd�?Ts relocation due to augmentation of air Force personnel. Family members rejoice return Home As investigating Gaza death an israeli Soldier Speaks to one of the palestinian workers rounded up monday near a greenhouse where the body of a jewish settler was discovered earlier in the Day. The settler Uri magi dish was stabbed seven times in the Gaza strip jewish settlement of Gan or hours after the army lifted a six Day closure of the territory to palestinian workers employed in Israel. Fort drum . A Secretary of defense Les Aspin welcomed Home 300 soldiers from Somalia on monday but it was nothing like the greeting they got from their families. Spouses and children waving american flags and toting red White and Blue balloons filled a gymnasium to Welcome their loved ones who handled Security in Kismay and other somalian cities. Aspin told the members of the army a 10th inf Mountain div that their scr see related stories on Page 10 ice in Somalia was an a american gift to the  the soldiers Are members of the divisions 3rd in 14th inf. Their return brought to 1,725 the number of military personnel to return from Somalia since mid january. About 4,200 soldiers were sent from fort drum beginning in mid december. Aspin thanked the families for their sacrifices then dismissed the troops triggering a reunion Rush at the gymnasium on the base 70 Miles North of Syracuse. A i did no to think wed Ever get Home a staff set. Robin Wynn said As he embraced his wife and four children. A every time they told us to get ready something would happen to change the  Brenda Wynn who talked to her husband Only once for 15 minutes during his 70 Days in Somalia said she was up All night rejoicing after finding out sunday night that her husband was coming Home. Keisha Wynn 11, said her Mother acted like a a Little kids on the Way to the gym. A she was making noises in the car giggling and bouncing around she was so  staff sgt. Billie Shelton or. Said he  sleep on the 23-hour flight Home. A i just kept seeing my wife and my kids in my mind a Shelton said. He missed the birthdays of his son Justin 5, and his daughter Heather 6,glitches prompt Patch clinic to move services by Joseph Owen Heidelberg Bureau. Medical and dental services at Patch Barracks in Stuttgart Germany Are moving temporarily to nearby Panzer Cavern in Bobingen this week in part because construction of a new clinic is 18 months behind schedule. The relocation Means that patients at Patch Barracks will have to travel about six Miles for medical care but it will allow the Panzer clinic originally scheduled to close March 31, to stay open a few months longer. The Patch clinic construction project was supposed to be finished in september 1991, but several developments delayed its conclusion according to the army corps of engineers Europe District which oversees the work. The German water resources Board raised concerns about the building because it is in a water Protection zone and that prompted contract changes. Also the local army Community changed its mind about tearing Down the existing adjacent clinic building which forced redesign of utilities and a parking lot. Finally the building contractor Huebsch Indus Trie anlage a Mph of Hanau has had severe financial problems during the past year slowing the work Pace the Engineer corps said. Meanwhile the Neucom area support group has hired another contractor to turn the existing Patch clinic into a child development Center. The health care workers have to move out so the army can avoid paying default penalties on that $1.2 million renovation contract according to the support group. The clinic construction delays have not increased the project Cost significantly Engineer corps spokesman Paul d. Nelson said. The original contract Price was $4.7 million and that has climbed to about $5 million he said. The current schedule Calls for the contractor and the engineers to turn Over the keys to the new 21,000-Square-foot, two Story building March 26, and for 7th medical come to open the clinic there by july 1. But experience has proved such dates Are Only targets not firm commitments. A we could go right Down to the wire and it could be pushed Forward again a said or. Col a Bruce Chase the departing Patch medical clinic commander. The last projected turnover Date a feb. 26 a was scrubbed Only a few Days in Advance he said. A in the meantime the medical staff of 25 soldiers and 17 civilians is moving the bulk of its equipment to b6b Lingen this weekend. It plans to be in business there monday morning operating according to the same schedule and offering the same services As at Patch. The denial clinic s nine soldiers and five civilians will move their equipment today thursday and Friday and the clinic will be in full operation monday said the commander or. It. Col Martin w. Fritz. Several Patch residents have voiced concern about the temporary health care arrangements but Only because they Are worried about transportation said Katherine g. Randall the local army Community services officer. The Community has set up bus routes to transport Patch patients to the temporary Panzer site. Or. Maj May Miller Monti Ichard he incoming medical clinic commander portrayed the temporary move As a better option than staying in the old building. The Panzer clinic is Only a few years old it is much larger than the current Patch clinic and it will give staff members More Opportunity to train on equipment designed for the new clinic she said. A a it a going to be a Challenge and i think Overall the staff is ready to meet that Challenge a she said adding later a i think the Community will Benefit in the  4/