Landstuhl Regional Medical Center

The Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC), also known as Landstuhl Hospital, is a U.S. Army post in Landstuhl, Germany, near Ramstein Air Base. It is an amalgamation of Marceau Kaserne (German: Infanterie-Kaserne) and Wilson Barracks (Kirchberg-Kaserne), which were merged on October 15, 1951.^[2] As a Level II trauma center, it has 65 beds, and is the largest American hospital outside the United States.^[3][4] Construction is ongoing for a new hospital facility (the Rhine Ordnance Barracks Medical Center Replacement) that will replace the existing hospital. Construction is planned to be completed end 2027.^[5]

Landstuhl Regional Medical Center
Part of U.S. Army Medical Command
Landstuhl in Germany
LRMC 2008 Aerial Photo
Distinctive Unit Insignia
LRMC Location in Germany
Coordinates	49°24′15″N 7°33′37″E
Site information
Operator	U.S. Army Medical Command
Controlled by	United States Army
Open to the public	No
Website	landstuhl.tricare.mil
Site history
Built	1951 (1951)–1953
Built by	U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
In use	1951–present
Events	Cold War, Global War on Terrorism
Garrison information
Current commander	Col. Theodore R. Brown[1]

History

U.S. Army Medical Command Shoulder Sleeve Insignia

Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (originally known as the Landstuhl Army Medical Center) was established on October 15, 1951.^[2] Completion of the 1,000-bed Army General Hospital building occurred on April 7, 1953. In 1980, soldiers who were injured in Operation Eagle Claw were brought to the hospital. During the 1990s, U.S. Army Europe underwent a major reorganization, and U.S. hospitals in Frankfurt, Berlin, Nuremberg, and other bases were gradually closed down, or were downsized to clinics. In 1993, a group of 288 U.S. Air Force Medical Service personnel augmented the hospital.^[6] As of June 2024, the 86th Medical Squadron continues to supports U.S. Army operations at LRMC.^[7][8] By 2013, it was the only American military hospital left in Europe.^[9]

During the Russian Invasion of Ukraine from 2022, the hospital treated tens of wounded American volunteer veterans who participated in the fighting against Russia.^[3]

Organ donation

LRMC is one of the top hospitals for organ donations in its region in Europe. Roughly half of the American military personnel who died at the hospital from combat injuries from 2005 through 2010 were organ donors. That was the first year the hospital allowed organs to be donated by military personnel who died there from wounds suffered in Iraq or Afghanistan. From 2005 to 2010, 34 donated a total of 142 organs, according to the organization German Organ Transplantation Foundation (Deutsche Stiftung Organtransplantation).^[10]

Decorations

The Landstuhl Regional Medical Center has been awarded the following unit decorations:^[11][12]

Streamer	Award	Period of service	Reason
	Army Superior Unit Award	August 18, 1990 to April 11, 1991	For exceptionally meritorious service. (AGO 1992-06 as 2nd General Hospital)
	Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army)	September 12, 2003 to December 1, 2004	For exceptionally meritorious service. (AGO 2009-08/ AGO 2014-61)
	Army Superior Unit Award	September 11, 2001 to September 11, 2003	For exceptionally meritorious service. (AGO 2019-24)
	Army Superior Unit Award	May 1, 2014 to April 30, 2015	For exceptionally meritorious service. (AGO 2019-40)

Honors

• VFW Armed Forces Award, July 23, 2012^[13][14]

Notable people born at LRMC

• LeVar Burton (born 1957), actor, director and television host
• Jeffery Taubenberger (born 1961), virologist
• Shawn Bradley (born 1972), German-American former professional basketball player
• David Rouzer (born 1972), American Republican politician
• Rob Thomas (born 1972), American singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist
• Richard McElreath (born 1973), American professor of anthropology
• Heather De Lisle (born 1976), American television presenter
• Josh Wicks (born 1983), American soccer player
• John Anthony Castro (born 1986), American Republican politician

See also

• Kaiserslautern Military Community
• List of United States Army installations in Germany

References

1. Ciccarelli, John (July 13, 2023). "LRMC welcomes new top brass". LRMC. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
2. Addison, William R. (2003). Selfless Service: A 50 year History of Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. p. 35.
3. Philipps, Dave; Schmitt, Eric (September 23, 2023). "U.S. Army Hospital in Germany Is Treating Americans Hurt Fighting in Ukraine". The New York Times. New York Times. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
4. "Landstuhl Regional Medical Center". Defense Media Activity. December 19, 2019. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
5. Contract Awarded for Largest Overseas U.S. Military Hospital
6. Sarnecky, Mary T. A contemporary history of the U.S. Army Nurse Corps. Government Printing Office. pp. 343–4. ISBN 9780160869136.
7. "86th Medical Group - Ramstein Air Base > About Us". ramstein.tricare.mil. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
8. "86 MDS celebrates 30 years of partnership with LRMC". DVIDS. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
9. Millham, Matthew (July 1, 2013). "Nachrichten Kaserne latest US facility in Heidelberg to close". Stars and Stripes. Washington, D.C. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
10. Jones, Meg (April 23, 2011). "A Soldier's Death Gives Life to Another Man". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
11. U.S. Army Human Resources Command Permanent Order 097-04 (PDF), April 7, 2014
12. U.S. Army Human Resources Command Permanent Order 155-09 (Corrected Copy) (PDF), June 4, 2013
13. Roberts, Chuck (August 17, 2012). "LRMC receives 2012 VFW Armed Forces Award". The Kaiserslautern American. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
14. Veterans of foreign Wars of the United States (2013). Proceedings of the 113th National Convention of the Veterans of foreign Wars of the United States (PDF) (Report). Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 18–19. Retrieved December 29, 2022.

Further reading

• Fichtner, Ullrich (March 14, 2007). "A Visit to the US Military Hospital at Landstuhl: The German Front in the Iraq War". Der Spiegel.
• "Kaserne Named in Honor of U.S. Army Aid Man". Medical Bulletin of the European Command. Vol. 9, no. 5. Medical Division, European Command. May 5, 1952. p. 204. OCLC 709889000.
• Reidel, Alexander (April 20, 2023). "US military hospital to replace 70-year-old Landstuhl is on track for 2027, officials say". Stars and Stripes. Washington, D.C. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
• Shanker, Thom (June 10, 2012). "Pentagon and Congress Argue Over Hospital for Troops". The New York Times. Retrieved September 10, 2023.

External links

• Official website
• Army Fisher House at Landstuhl
• Landstuhl Army Library
• USO Warrior Center