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USAH Bremerhaven
7th Medical Command
Looking for more information from military/civilian personnel assigned to or associated with the U.S. Army in Germany from 1945 to 1989. If you have any stories or thoughts on the subject, please contact me.

348th Sta Hosp

121st Gen Hosp

319th Sta Hosp

33rd Sta Hosp

2nd Fld Hosp

USAH Bremerhaven

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121st General Hospital
(Source: EUCOM Medical Bulletin, Vol. 1, No. 3, October 1946, USAREUR History Office web site )
The 121st General Hospital at Bremerhaven, Germany, being located at the only port servicing United States Occupation Forces, assumes an unusual and interesting role. It occupies one of the finest hospital plants in Germany, completed in 1939 as a German Marine hospital. The buildings are of brick and concrete fire-proof construction, modern and beautifully finished. Necessary additions have been completed, including a neuropsychiatric section, a mess for patients, Red Cross facilities, a theater and a chapel, all of which facilitate the hospital's long term mission.

The 121st continues to process an average of 600 patients each month for movement by hospital ship to the Zone of the Interior. Most of these patients were transferred by hospital train to the 121st from "boarding hospitals" throughout the occupied area. These cases represent a wide variety of interesting disease entities, offering invaluable material for observation and study -- an opportunity which is exploited through frequent clinical conferences. Patients continue to receive definitive treatment while awaiting embarkation, to permit their going aboard the hospital ship in the best possible condition for withstanding a ten-day or twelve-day voyage. Patients requiring immediate definitive care which is beyond the scope of occupation force hospitals, as well as those who are too ill to withstand the long boat trip, are evacuated to the United States by air, via Bremen, Germany, and Paris, France.

In addition to its role as a holding hospital, the 121st General maintains an active pediatric service, children being admitted directly here from ships bringing dependents from the States. A fully equipped children's ward has been established and trained personnel provided for the care of these patients. The proximity of the troop staging and redeployment center, both male and female, as well as occupation units and personnel of the Navy and Merchant Marine provides his hospital with an active and varied patient census.

The 121st General Hospital was activated 10 March 1944 at Camp Ellis, Illinois, and departed for overseas 22 July of the same year. The unit became operational as the 4111th US Army Hospital Plant under the 802nd Hospital Center on 2 September 1944, at Lufton Camp, Yeovil, Somerset, England, a former British infantry post. The hospital was closed on 4 May 1945, after eight months of successful operation at this site, and moved to Lesum Barracks, Bremen, Germany, by way of Southampton, Le Havre and the Maginot-Niel Medical Staging Camp, France, arriving 26 July 1945. Construction necessary for the conversion of the Lesum Barracks, a former German Ordnance Post, to a General Hospital plant was initiated on 20 June 1945, according to plans prepared by the Surgeon's and Engineer's Office , Bremen Post Command.

On 3 December 1945, the unit moved to St. Joseph's Hospital, Bremen, Germany, relieving the 115th Evacuation Hospital, which formerly occupied this site, and began operations as the 4458th US Army Hospital Plant, rendering definitive medical care to the troops in the Bremen Area. A small number of officers and enlisted men remained at Lesum Barracks to supervise construction of the future home of the unit. In January 1946, upon deactivation of the 348th Station Hospital, the 121st General Hospital assumed operation of the 4457th US Army Hospital Plant located in the former Marine Lazarett, Bremerhaven, Germany. The new unit, designated Detachment "A", 121st General Hospital, served as a holding hospital for all patients being returned to the Zone of the Interior from the Theater, as well as caring for troops stationed in the Bremerhaven area.

The 121st General Hospital moved from St. Joseph's Hospital, Bremen, Germany, to the Lesum plant on 25 April 1946 and Headquarters moved to Detachment "A" in Bremerhaven. A redesignation of the units was affected, the Lesum plant becoming Detachment "A", 121st General Hospital. The change was instituted because the greater patient and administrative load rested with the Bremerhaven plant. Since then, the two units of the 121st General Hospital have continued a mission that is among the most important of the tasks entrusted to the medical service in the European Theater.
 
The Medicine Show (121st GH newspaper) - Some of the issues published while in Germany
 
ISSUES IN COLLECTION
DATE ISSUE HQS
Aug 18, 1945 Vol. 1, No. 1 Bremen-Lesum
Aug 25, 1945 Vol. 1, No. 2 Bremen-Lesum
Sept 1, 1945 Vol. 1, No. 3 Bremen-Lesum
Sept 8, 1945 Vol. 1, No. 4 Bremen-Lesum
Sept 15, 1945 Vol. 1, No. 5 Bremen-Lesum
Sept 22, 1945 Vol. 1, No. 6 Bremen-Lesum
Sep 29, 1945 Vol. 1, No. 7 Bremen-Lesum
Oct 6, 1945 Vol. 1, No. 8 Bremen-Lesum
Oct 13, 1945 Vol. 1, No. 9 Bremen-Lesum
Oct 20, 1945 Vol. 1, No. 10 Bremen-Lesum
Oct 27, 1945 Vol. 1, No. 11 Bremen-Lesum
Nov 3, 1945 Vol. 1, No. 12 Bremen-Lesum
Nov 10, 1945 Vol. 1, No. 13 Bremen-Lesum
Nov 17, 1945 Vol. 1, No. 14 Bremen-Lesum
Nov 24, 1945 Vol. 1, No. 15 Bremen-Lesum
Dec 1, 1945 Vol. 1, No. 16 Bremen-Lesum
Dec 8, 1945 Vol. 1, No. 17 Bremen-Lesum missing
Dec 14, 1945 Vol. 1, No. 18 Bremen-Lesum
Dec 21, 1945 Vol. 1, No. 19 Bremen-Lesum
Dec 28, 1945-??? Vol. 1, No. 20-??? Bremen-Lesum missing
319th Station Hospital
 

Looking towards the main entrance on Dr. Franz Mertens Strasse, 1950s
 

Recent aerial view of the former Bremerhaven Army Hospital (BING)
 
(Source: EUCOM Medical Bulletin, Vol. 8, No. 4, April 1951, USAREUR History Office web site)

The 319th Station Hospital is located in Bremerhaven, Germany, and occupies the plant which was formerly a German Marine Lazarett.

Construction of the main hospital plant was started by the German Navy in 1937 and finished in 1939. It was subsequently used by the German Navy until the advance party of the 348th Station Hospital moved in and officially occupied the plant on 27 June 1945. The evacuation of German patients was begun immediately. Repairs and construction work, which included construction of the patients' mess hall, patients' recreation room, chapel, theater, detachment mess and detachment recreation room, was also started.

The 348th Station Hospital continued to operate in this plant until 15 January 1946 when the 121st General Hospital assume operation. This general hospital was redesignated the 121st Station Hospital 1 December 1946, and redesignated the 319th Station Hospital effective 31 January 1947.

US Army hospitals occupying the former German Marine Lazarett in Bremerhaven, Germany, were commanded by the following Medical Corps officers in the order named:

  Lt Col Stewart D. Sunday
  Lt Col Nelson R. Saphir
  Col W. W. Vaughan
  Lt Col Walter R. deForest
  Maj Malcolm C. Todd
  Lt Col William M. Merritt
  Col Kincheon H. Bailey
  Col Earle D. Quinnell
  Col John B. Herman
  Col Seth Gayle
  Lt Col Paul S. Parrino
 
Colonel Parrino has been the Commanding Officer of the 319th Station Hospital since 5 February 1950.
33rd Station Hospital
 

33rd Station Hospital, Bremerhaven, early 1950s
 
The 33rd Station Hospital assumed operations at Bremerhaven in late 1954.

(Source: MEDCOM Examiner, February 1982)
In 1969, the 2nd Field Hosp took over operations.
USAH Bremerhaven / Bremerhaven MEDDAC
Bremerhaven MEDDAC DI
(Source: MEDCOM EXAMINER, February 1982)
Bremerhaven MEDDAC: harbor for health
By Ruth Hamill

Editor's note: During the coming months the MEDCOM Examiner will feature each of the MEDCENs, MEDDACs and other MEDCOM treatment facilities in a series of articles designed to further acquaint people throughout 7th MEDCOM with the activity. The series begins this month, focusing on the Bremerhaven MEDDAC in Northern Germany.
 

USAH Bremerhaven


AOR map
 
Bremerhaven, with a population of more than 150,000 people, is the largest city on Germany's North Sea coast and is, according to travel brochures, the economic and cultural center for the surounding region. It is also the home of the U.S. Army MEDDAC, Bremerhaven, which provides medical care for more than 14,000 people living throughout the Norddeutschland (NDL) Military Community. NDL is a 27 000 square mile area bounded by Denmark on the north, East Germany on the east, Holland on the west and an imaginary line from Braunschweig through Muenster on the south.

Bremerhaven is at least several hours by car or train from some U.S. military communities in Germany and is usually visited by Americans only when dropping off or picking up a vehicle at the Bremerhaven Port adjoining Carl Schutz Kaserne. On this basis many dismiss Bremerhaven as a less than choice assignment, but the families who live and work there in connection with the MEDDAC have a different point of view. They think Bremerhaven is one of the best kept secrets in Germany.

Col. Harry E. Davis II, commander of the Bremerhaven MEDDAC and Director of Health Services for the NDL Military Community, echoed the sentiments of many other MEDDAC personnel when he said, "You really hit your full stride when you are in Bremerhaven with your family. It has a small town atmoshpere with the advantages of a big city. We have strassenbahns, several television stations including AFN, military dependent schools and hospitals, but with only 150,000 people in the community it is not crowded This is reflected in the impressive attitude I have found in the hospital staff since I arrived in July from the Command General Staff College at Fort Leonard Wood."
 
Marine Lazarett
Hospital construction began in the early 1930s during a period of extensive building in Germany prior to World War II. The hospital was officially opened in 1938 as a "Marine Lazarett" or German Naval Hospital. It was used temporarily by the British during their occupation of the Bremerhaven area, but was soon turned over to the U.S. Army forces under the command of Col. John Herman on June 28, 1945.

The facility was designated as the 348th Station Hospital and remained under the command of various units for 25 years until 1969 when it was upgraded to a Field Hospital. In 1975 the facility was officially designated as the U.S. Army Medical Department Activity (MEDDAC), Bremerhaven. Today the MEDDAC is composed of the U.S. Army Hospital, the U.S. Army Dental Activity (DENTAC) and the 21st Medical Detachment (Veterinary Services.)

The large, four-story, E-shaped hospital is constructed of fireproof materials and concrete with marble floors and walls. The main staircase has a series of stained glass windows which portray maritime scenes reflecting the heritage of the hospital's original occupants. With the exception of some remodeling projects, such as the new dental clinic which opened Sept. 28, the building itself has not changed much. The services and personnel, however, have expanded greatly over the years.

More than 320 people are on the hospital staff, including 67 officers, (14 of which are doctors) and 170 enlisted people, according to 1st Lt. Candace Tormey, adjutant. There is also one doctor who is a DA civilian and one who is a local national.

In addition to general medical care the MEDDAC offers specialties such as general surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, family practice, optometry and social work services. In the last two years the following specialties have been added or expanded: orthopedics, psychiatry, psycnology, radiology and pediatrics.

New orthopedic department
Capt. Larry L. Josie, chief of Patient Administration for the hospital, said that. they have an operating capacity of 51 beds with an average of 20 occupied at any one time. There are between 130 and 170 admissions per month and he feels this number will increase because of the new orthopedic department. He said, "Patients receiving orthopedic care will be admitted to our hospital instead of going elsewhere for treatment" There are more than 5000 clinic visits per month and the hospital currently maintains 8000, outpatients records.

Medical conditions that cannot be treated at the hospital are referred to German physicians or are sent to the Frankfurt or Landstuhl. Medical Centers. Davis said, "Because we are relatively isolated we must work closely with and depend on the German civilian physicians in our community.

Lt. Col. Mike Hinton, executive officer, added, "We also have a very close working relationship with the 159th Aviation Unit in Garlstedt due to our unusually large geographical area of patient responsibility. The 159th brings patients to Bremerhaven from Norddeutschland's outlying areas or moves them to Frankfurt or another of the larger military hospitals."

He continued, "I consider this a small town hospital, but with better staffing and facilities I believe the military community is very pleased with the medical care they receive. Our workload permits the extra care and attention which often separates satisfaction from dissatisfaction. Patient satisfaction is completely different from patient care. A patient may receive excellent medical care and still not be satisfied."

The hospital building complex also houses the 21st Medical Detachment (Veterinary Services). Under the supervision of Maj. Bennie Rice, Jr., commander, 16 soldiers and one local national are responsible for veterinary food inspections for the NDL Military Communities. They are nearly always on the road inspecting potatoes, eggs, dairy products, beef, pork and other foods at slaughter houses, commercial establishments, the Cold Storage Depot, Troop Subsistence Activity, Commissaries and Foodlands. Rice said, "All food destined for use by the military originating or passing through Norddeutschland must be inspected. Due to an increase in Army procurement our workload tripled last year and we inspected about 150 million pounds of food."

The 21st Medical Detachment also has an animal technician who maintains the Zoonosis Animal Disease Prevention and Control Facility (which offers treatment for diseases transmittable between animals and man), administers rabies and distempter immunizations and performs other veterinary duties.

Although the Bremerhaven MEDDAC is the smallest in Germany it has the largest area to support, according to SSgt. Roger Keathley, NCOIC of Patient Administration. In spite of the responsibility of the mission Keathley agreed with Davis and many others when he said, "Because the relationship between the enlisted and the professional staff at the hospital is so good we have very high morale and it makes Bremerhaven a great place to work."
 
If you have more information on the history or organization of the Bremerhaven Army Hospital, please contact me.
1978
(Source: STARS & STRIPES, April 10 1978)

Modernization plans for US Army Hospital Bremerhaven

A $7.6 million modernization progam for USAH Bremerhaven, scheduled to begin in 1981, will bring the 40-year old facility up to reasonable medical accreditation standards. The Army hospital was originally constructed in 1938 as a 1000-bed German Navy hospital.

Renovation work is already underway under the Modernization of US Facilities (MOUSF) program and should be completed by May of next year. One floor of the hospital's enlisted barracks and the dining facility are being renovated.

The hospital's staff currently consists of: eight physicians (seven US military doctors and one Geman doctor), a nursing staff of 10 and some 100 enlisted personnel. There are also five dentists who work in the hospital's dental clinic.

With the scheduled move of 3rd Brigade, 2nd Armored Division (formerly known as Brigade 75) from Grafenwoehr to Garlstedt in northern Germany, the hospital's staff will be increased. The hospital presently supports a military & dependent population of 7,2000. This will increae to 18,000 with the arrival of 3rd Brigade.

The Bremerhaven Army hospital is currently a 25-bed facility (with 42 beds acutally set up). It is scheduled to be expanded to a 75-bed hospital by the time 3rd Bde arrives.

The planned (but not yet authorized) increases would include: six additional military physicians, nine dentists, 19 military nurses, nine civilian registered nurses and a number of local national nursing assistants.

Other changes planned or already underway include:
a dental clinic is being constructed at Garlstedt. (This facility will be staffed and operated by the Bremerhaven hospital.)
a troop medical clinic is under construction in Garlstedt and should begin operations in January 1979. The TMC will be staffed and operated by the Brigade surgeon and physician assistants assigned to 3rd Bde.)
the hospital's X-ray unit will be replaced in the next 60 days and plans are underway to hire a civilian radiologist. Two additional X-ray units are scheduled to be installed in FY 1979.
plans call for a modernization of the hospital's laboratory with completion in 1979.
the Air Force will be attaching three enlisted medical technicians to the hospital staff.
the move and expansion of the hospital's dental facilities is being planned, with a completion date of July next year. )

1981
(Source: Email from Deanna Deville)
I stumbled across this website and this article on the Bremerhaven MEDDAC. 

I was stationed there from January 1981 through July 1982, and knew most of the folks mentioned in the article.  Your article at the end says to contact you if you have more information. 

I remember once counting the doctors there, because there seemed to be an awful lot of them.  Bremerhaven was supposed to be a 29-bed hospital, and I quit counting when I reached 29.  I suppose there were 35 or 40 altogether. 

I was there when the new orthopedic surgeon arrived and began to build up the orthopedics practice there. There was also the DENTAC, which was commanded by COL Dupuy, who assumed command sometime in the fall of ’81.  

I know that after I left, the Army spent 21 million dollars upgrading the hospital to meet standards.  I never got to visit it, much to my chagrin, as I would have liked to have seen it. 

The hospital was returned to the German government after the tearing down of the Berlin wall.  I imagine that occurred in the mid ‘90s. 

Thank you for putting this up on the website.  It brought back a lot of fond memories.  I liked being there.  It was weird; it was so rundown (hence the upgrade), and actually kind of creepy, but we made the best of it. 

I also worked at 7th Medical Command from 1988 to 1990. It was situated on Nachrichten Kaserne, which is where the Heidelberg hospital was located. I remember that while I was there, Landstuhl installed their first MRI. Their new facility construction had recently been completed, and like many other Army hospitals, was embracing the new MRI technology.

In 1990, I moved to the Nuernberg MEDDAC. We had a CT scanner, but no MRI. I couldn't say, but perhaps Frankfurt had an MRI as well. At the time, I believe Frankfurt was larger than Landstuhl.

Right after I arrived at Nuernberg, Iraq invaded Kuwait. At Nuernberg, we reconfigured the hospital to create more bed space in the event of high casualties during Desert Storm. Offices were cleared out to make room for patient beds. This was the standard plan for mobilization. At Nuernberg, sick call services were moved to Merrell Barracks across town, and we even
installed a deployable X-ray system. Merrell Barracks was the home of 2nd ACR (Armored Cavalry Regiment), and as they had been deployed to Saudi around Thanksgiving of 1990, we were able to re-utilize the space.

Of course, we were all very glad that there were so few patients. Our casualty rate was very low during Desert Storm (and of course, OIF as well).

I left Nuernberg in 1992, and I know that shortly thereafter they began to close it down to return it to the German government. Even before I left, they weren't filling slots for senior officers as they rotated back to the States. They just put the captains and majors who were there into lieutenant colonel and colonel slots. I found a reference that says Nuernberg closed 15 June 1994; that would be about right (http://www.nbg-mil-com.de/Hospital/ho.html).

I remember listening to AFN as they announced the huge troop withdrawals from Europe. This was occurring in early 1991, while troops were still deployed to Saudi Arabia, before Desert Storm kicked off. They would list the units that were redeploying to the States, reading off battalion after battalion, and it would take forever to get through the list, or so it seemed. The announcer would just read and read, and then read some more. It was amazing.

Wuerzburg took over the regional medical care mission for the remaining Nuernberg hospital catchment area. A Google search reveals a couple of articles that say the final retreat at Wuerzburg was held on 19 Oct 2007 and that the hospital closed 22 Oct 2007 (http://www.army.mil/article/5878/wuerzburg-hospital-sounds-final-retreat).

According to Wikipedia, Nachrichten Kaserne in Heidelberg is scheduled to close in 2015 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Army_installations_in_Germany). That would mean the hospital there will be closed, if it isn't gone already. Patton died there. One of the rooms on the ground floor had a plaque as an historical marker. Another article
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_Garrison_Heidelberg) says the hospital there has been downgraded to "Health Center". That's a new term to me (laughing).

I don't know if this information is important to you or not. It was fun reminiscing, though. I had good times over there.

Annotated aerial view of the former Bremerhaven Army Hospital (BING) (Larger Image)
(Source: Email from Craig Carpenter)
I was there from about 1981 to 1983 and left barely before they were moving everyone out of the barracks for the reconstruction.

I was also there when the first orthopedic surgeon showed up. One day not long after he arrived his wife arrived and that same day I was working in the recovery room with a cast to my arm pit for a navicular break, which the orthopedic surgeon had casted with no surgery. Anyway a guy came in, one of us no less, who had jumped out a second or third floor window because he was so drunk landed on his hands and knees with only badly broken navicular bones in both wrists. So we were in there with our casts on and the doc comes in with his wife and says: "Ahh, here are my two navicular patients all in one place." Or something to that effect.

I found an aerial view (see above) and marked it up with what I can remember, though I might be wrong on some of that – especially the new stuff. It was a long time ago…

For the first couple of years after I arrived in early 1981, I had two roommates, Alberto Rios from NYC, and Frederick M. Rice the third from Bangor Maine, both OR techs. Don’t ask me to remember anyone else, for now anyway.

One time I came back from the day shift on the med/surge ward, it was a Saturday and there was a keg of Germany’s finest brew sitting on my desk. Along with the beer were a few no longer sober barracks mates getting ready for a Grateful Dead concert down in Bremen. They had already begun the arduous task of face painting… it wouldn’t be polite to arrive with a clear mind and clear complexion to a Dead concert.

After a few hours of painting and drinking we headed down the autobahn and right into a ginormous crowd of well healed tux and gown wearing genteel folk. Not the Dead horde we had anticipated. After more than a few minutes of panic filled glares at our degenerate posse we pronounced this was probably not the proper venue. As we journeyed gleefully incognito to track down our Dead kin in an adjacent Halle, we knew with certainty we had had our moment of fame. After fighting our way to more familiar territory the alter of the Dead appeared and the great Jerry himself stood front and center. Pushing our way forward for a commanding view, our gang had a great time. Then we returned home with deadly hangovers, ringing ears, and face paint to remove on a quiet Sunday morning.


WWII-era photo of the German kaserne at Drangstedt (German postcard)

May 10 1983, opening ceremonies (Webmaster's collection)

GOOGLE view of the former location of Drangstedt Kaserne (GOOGLE)
1982
(Source: Email from Tedd Hale)

I was stationed at the US Army Hospital in Bremerhaven from May 1982 - Feb 1984.

I was assigned to the Preventive Medicine Department. I was there at the begining of the medical outreach program. We provided medical care to active duty military personnel and we also provided medical services to dependents. We did school enrollments, well baby clinics, and the annual flu shots.

I was the only enlisted member of the team. We would have pediastricians, general practice, ob-gyn, psychologist, or the appropriate medical provider.

We would be on the road 3-5 days a week up to 7 months out of the year. My job was to assist the medical providers. I would load all the medical equipment, supplies, medicines, and what the provider requests. On departure day I would load all their luggage and did all the driving. Once at our scheduled unit or location I would unload and setup for the purpose of visit.

I really enjoyed my time and job there. Even when they were forcibly evicting us from our barracks to the infamous Drangstedt Compound. Was on several committee's to prevent the move as planned. The move still took place after a lengthy delay.

With the work and effort of the groups involved, we were successful in getting the dilapidated buildings upgraded to a standard of living, adding a PX, a canteen, rec center, and an established bus schedule to provide transportation to and from.Bremerhaven.

I have met a lot of people while stationed there and remember them fondly. I have kept in close contact with a couple I had become friends with while stationed there. A few I would like to get in touch with. I never did see the completion of the remodel (of the hospital) or the move back from Drangstedt compound.

Annotated aerial view of the former Bremerhaven Army Hospital (BING) (Larger Image)

Hospital Compound
I will start at the main gate and go clockwise around and note what was there and what it was used as. I hope its not to confusing and you are able to update the photo. If i didnt note an area that was provious noted, thats what is was when i was there.

Starting with Bldg 651 left of gate was the enlisted E-5 and above barracks. In the basement of that building is where our NBC equipment and weapons room was.

The building left of that (outside of marked perimeter) was the bachelor officers barracks (BOQ).

The next two bldgs above the BOQ, were originally barracks assigned for the MEDDAC unit enlisted personnel. However, they were used to house the dependent high school students (from the remote sites) Sunday night thru Friday morning. The students were bused home on weekends and bused back to Bremerhaven on Sunday evenings.

The building above the word "Chapel" was the the officers club and the Harbor Hotel. The row apartments above and below the O'Club was married officers housing.

There wasn't an entrance back on that side for cars, only a walk thru gate for pedestrians.

Up above the building marked "Mess Hall," was an AAFES laundromat.

Bldg 667 - marked "Mess Hall" - was the morgue.

Bldg 659 "Theater," was a walkin movie theater. Part of Bldg 659 was an auditorium with a curtain stage for live performances.

Bldg 653 was unit motor pool.

"Former helipad" served as the quad for company formations.

Area to right of "Barracks 3&4 floor," before bldg with the white roof -- There were two corridors that went out to the prisoners ward. They were torn down in 1983 as part of the remodel.

The cafeteria was the only dining facility for hospital and MEDDAC unit.

Bldg 650 - 2nd floor was part of Co. Command. The first sergeant's office was located on 2nd floor below the barracks on 3&4 floor.

Bldg 650 overlooking main gate, on the 4th floor. The right half was the Vet. Svc. unit offices. The left half was the Preventive Medicine offices.

One of the houses across the street from main gate, was the MEDDAC company commander's house.

Directly in front of main gate, the middle wing on ground floor was the Emergency Room and main entrance into hospital. Here was the grand stairwell with the stained glass mural.

The row apartments to the right of hospital was the married enlisted housing.

This photo was taken sometime after the remodel. There are 7 different additions to building that were not present when I left in 1984.

Drangstedt Kaserne
The quad road was the street that circled the compound. As you entered off of Hafenstrasse, to the left were two barracks. Thats where the MEDDAC was housed. On around the turn there were two more barracks. The MP's were in one and im not 100% sure but im thinking that an engineering unit was in the other.

On the right as you entered was a building converted into an rec center, an AAFES snack bar, a small PX and commissary as well as a bus terminal.

In the center of the quad was the swamp pool. A nasty scummy bug infested disease producing swimming pool.

If you look to the back of that area you can see what's left of a tennis/basketball court and a over grown soccer field.

You can still see the roof top of a couple buildings. And if you look really close you can see the shape of the building where the vegetation has completely grown over it.

This is pretty much how it looked like the day the ADHOC committee arrived in 1983, to do our first of many inspections to come.

I hope this helps you out, and if you have any questions feel free to contact me.

1987
(Source: MEDCOM EXAMINER, June 1987)

MEDDAC & DENTAC, June 1987
 
Articles provide an overview of the Bremerhaven MEDDAC and DENTAC activities in the 1987 time frame.
Related Links: