Herald-Guide People Watch

HHS grad ‘on call’ at German hospital

Caring for wounded or ill warriors is top priority for the daughter of a Boutte woman who works at the largest American hospital outside the United States. Army Sgt. Alicia M. Andrews, daughter of Janet Murrey, knows the realities and results of the war against terrorism.

Andrews is a pharmacy technician assigned to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, located amid the forested hills above Landstuhl, a cottage-nestled village town, located in the Rheinland-Pfalz region of Germany. She is part of a medical professional team responsible for the care patients, most coming from two well-know, war-torn countries – Iraq and Afghanistan.

The wounded are flown to nearby Ramstein Air Base and rushed to the hospital by the U.S. Air Force’s 435th Contingency Aeromedical Contingency Facility team who work hand in hand with the LRMC team to ensure the fastest care possible.

“Being that we are the primary hospital for the patients coming from the global war on terrorism, my mission tends to be very important,” said Andrews, a 2002 graduate of Hahnville High School.

“My job is to make sure we have all the medications to properly care for all of our wounded comrades and get them home safely,” she said.

Andrews’ team comes together by an extensive network of care for service members’ needs, from medical and rehabilitation, to nutrition and spiritual guidance.

Since 2003, a “total force” of Air Force, Army Navy active duty, Reserve and Guard members has provided support and care for more than 80,000 patients.

They tend to the needs of military dependents and Department of Defense employees living in the region as well.

“Our mission is to provide absolutely the best medical care for our wounded warriors, serving in Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Andrews.

“I work in the procurement of vital medication from here to the United States,” she said.

Despite the long hours and working in one of the more stressful jobs in the military, Andrews lives in an idyllic background that few Americans get the privilege to experience.

“German culture is very unique and traditional. The locals tend to be very friendly and the country is historical with ancient castles and quaint villages,” said Andrews.

“Language tends to be a barrier though when traveling abroad. But, traveling is a wonderful opportunity afforded while stationed here,” she said.

Andrews has served in the Army for six years. She began with training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., in 2002 and continued on to Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. She then attended airborne school at Fort Benning, Ga.

Her first duty assignment was with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C. From there, she retrained to become a pharmacy technician and has been stationed in Germany ever since.