European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 01, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tuesday november 1,1994 the of ars and stripes Page 3 a Long journey to health care trip to Hospital turns into quite an operation by Ron Jensen Nurnberg Bureau Robert Garter s trip to the Hospital began before Dawn wednesday the Day of his appointment. The 75-year-old retired army Veteran lives in Regensburg Germany. His appointment was at the 67th combat support Hospital in Wurzburg More than 100 Miles to the Northwest and the closest military Hospital since the 3rd combat support Hospital in Nurnberg closed in april. On this Day Carter and his wife Anna would ride a bus provided by the 100th area support group since the bus leaves at 7 30 . From Hohenfels about 20 Miles away they left Home about 6 30a.m. To reach Hohenfels. Just like every Day in the army said Robert Carter who spent 24 years in the service and met his wife while stationed in Regensburg. She was a Streetcar conductor when they met. Along with the draw Down of medical facilities has come a loss of convenient health care. The bus to the Wurzburg Hospital is one solution. The 100th a Galso operates a bus that carries passengers to Wurzburg from Vilseck and Grafen Wuhr. Hohenfels is just like a clinic. If you want anything serious done you have to. Go to Wurzburg said Carter who was to have a prostate examination on this Day. The 24-passenger bus carried the Carters and two soldiers from Hohenfels. It was boarded at the Nurnberg clinic by two other people with appointments in Wurzburg. When the Niernberg Hospital was open the Carters would ride the train to and from appointments. The train to Wurzburg is More expensive so they takes St. Passengers on the bus to the army Hospital in Wurzburg on wednesday included Anna and Robert Carter pfc. Terrance Bandy left rear sgt William Diaz right rear and Terrance Jennings. Advantage of the free bus. It s a Long Day Carter said. Spec. Al Caiazza was asleep in the Back of the bus when it pulled into Nurnberg during a slight drizzle at 8 45 . This was his sixth time on the bus he said rousing himself for a Brief conversation. Doctors Are trying to find the source of pain in his feet. I gets kind of Boring he said. I Don t like Riding on the bus so i just sleep. It s like a journey just to get a Little medical  sometimes the bus which is chartered from a German company is a first class touring coach he said with a toilet and cold sodas juice and water. Army Veteran Terrance Jennings receives is Ron Jensen help getting into his wheelchair in Wurzburg. That one you can pass out on sleep real Quick he said. Thirty five minutes from Nurnberg bus Driver Helmut Bruckner hit the brakes in response to blinking warning lights of vehicles ahead. For the next 15 minutes the bus moved Ever so slowly As traffic slipped around the scene of a minor Accident. Terrance Jennings 26, was making his first bus trip to the Hospital. The former Soldier was afflicted five years ago with multiple sclerosis while in the army and was going to his annual disability examination. Jennings who uses a wheelchair said the free bus ride from the Niernberg clinic was a Blessing. He does t know How he would get to Wurzburg from his Home in 7 Erlanger without it. -. ,. Jennings married a German Wornan and they decided to stay in Germany because the health care system is better he said. See my Cadillac Here he asked pointing to the wheelchair folded on thereat behind him. How much do you think that Cost me the answer nothing.  last year i was in the Hospital three times one time for five weeks he said. Not one red cent at one Point his disease paralysed him from the neck Down. I needed a nursing service to come and take care of me he said. Not one  sgt. William Diaz rides the a us once a week from Nurnberg for treatments. When asked if he likes the bus ride he answered not  but less enjoyable he said is waiting to go Home. The bus arrives in Wurzburg at 10 30 . And leaves at 3 30 . Ail i do is sit around and wait until it s time to go he said. Rain continued to fall As the bus made its Way up autobahn 3. The traffic moved slowly but it moved. Is Ron Jensen Helmut Bruckner drives the bus that takes patients to Wurzburg. 7 pfc. Terrance Bandy got on the bus in Hohenfels. His appointment was for an examination of his Knees. I be got a lot of pain in them he said. They showed me a rays but i did t understand  this was his first trip on the bus. His Only complaint was that it was hard to read while Riding. The bus arrived at the Hospital three minutes past the scheduled time of 10 30a.m. Work on the building stopped the bus at the foot of a Long set of Steps the passengers stepped from the bus and some helped Jennings into his wheelchair. He was wheeled up a sloping drive to the Entrance. The Sun was shining when Bruckner returned with the bus and stopped at the Bottom of the Hill. Bandy was missing at the departure time of 3 30 . The bus pulled away without him. Carter said the examination had gone Well a reassuring result. Before getting on the bus he smoked a cigarette. The doctor said i have two ways Todie old age or smoking he said. I told him i m combining the  Caiazza said the examination of his feet was inconclusive. He Jill come Back in one week to be fitted for shoe inserts. I have to ride the bus again he said. I Hope trs the coach he added. Jennings was tired. This Hospital is huge and rolling around in there he said finishing the sentence with a shake of his head. And i m not done. I be got to come Back november 2nd," the bus ride Home was quiet. Caiazza slept. Diaz dozed. Jennings put on earphones and listened to music. The Carters talked quietly. It was Twilight when the bus arrived in Nurnberg. The clinic parking lot in Hohenfels would be dark when the bus arrived there it s Good to see a doctor every once in a while Carter said