Landstuhl receives Canadian Forces’ Unit Commendation

Landstuhl Regional Medical Center is where our badly hurt soldiers go to get treatment when they're injured or wounded in Afghanistan.

At least 110 injured Canadian soldiers have been flown to the centre for treatment since Canada began its mission in Afghanistan in early 2002. Of those, about 100 have gone to the hospital in the past year.

Today the CDS awarded the American military hospital the Canadian Forces’ Unit Commendation for the exceptional care they have provided to the Canadians treated there.

“The exemplary doctors, nurses and staff of this world-class medical facility have treated Canadian service personnel with extraordinary dignity and genuine compassion; they continue to care for them as their own, ” said General Hillier. “Canada bears witness to the extraordinary generosity of the American people, our friends, as manifested by those diligent individuals and teams at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. These selfless heroes constitute an operationally focused unit that is worthy of the highest form of lasting recognition of selfless devotion to coalition duty and honour,” he said.

“We have had the honour and pleasure of treating our Canadian brothers and sisters in arms, giving them the same high level of care that we provide our own wounded sons and daughters, said U.S. Colonel W. Bryan Gamble, Commander LRMC. It is an extreme tribute and privilege to accept this award from the Canadian Forces, on behalf of the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center,” he said.

According to the piece quoted above, "LRMC is the first foreign unit in 10 years, and only the third foreign unit to be awarded the Canadian Forces Commendation since its creation in 1980." Two Canadians also currently serve with the unit.

Good on Gen Hillier for paying tribute to these men and women - the CF sure as hell couldn't do the work it does in Afghanistan without them.