GERMANY: FREED U.S. PRISONERS OF WAR HAVE FLOWN HOME TO THE UNITED STATES AFTER SPENDING THREE DAYS AT A U.S. MILITARY HOSPITAL IN GERMANY

Record ID: 208339

  • Title: GERMANY: FREED U.S. PRISONERS OF WAR HAVE FLOWN HOME TO THE UNITED STATES AFTER SPENDING THREE DAYS AT A U.S. MILITARY HOSPITAL IN GERMANY
  • Date: 19th April 2003
  • Summary: (W5) RAMSTEIN, GERMANY (APRIL 19, 2003) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. SLV VARIOUS OF PLANE ON TARMAC 0.10 2. SV PEOPLE WITH POSTER 'PROUD OF OUR WARRORS' 0.17 3. LV POW ON STRETCHER BEING TRANSPORTED TO PLANRE 0.35 4. CU OF RELATIVES CHEERING 0.40 5. SLV POW ON STRETCHER BEING TRANSPORTED INTO PLNE 1.00 6. SV RELATIVES WITH FLAGS, CHEERING 1.11 7. SLV SOLDIERS BOARDING AIRCRAFT 1.19 8. LV LUGGAGE NEAR AIRCRAFT 1.27 9. SV SOLDIERS ON TARMAC 1.38 10. CU OF COCKPIT OF AIRPLANE 1.42 11. LV/CU PLANE TAXIING ON TARMAC (2 SHOTS) 1.52 12. SV MAN HOLDING FLAG FROM TOP OF PLANE 2.00 13. LV/CU OF PLANE TAKING OFF (7 SHOTS) 3.05 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 4th May 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: RAMSTEIN, GERMANY
  • Country: Germany
  • Reuters ID: LVA37HNKM27BGCJOP3M25T80IIOU
  • Story Text: Seven freed U.S. prisoners of war have flown home to
    the United States after spending three days being treated for
    their wounds at a U.S. military hospital in Germany.



    The seven flew home on Saturday (April 19) from
    Ramstein air base near Landstuhl, the largest U.S. military
    hospital outside the United States. The seven, two Apache
    helicopter pilots and five soldiers from a maintenance unit,
    were taken prisoner on March 23 as U.S. troops advanced in
    Baghdad. They were freed on Sunday (April 13) by U.S. forces
    north of Baghdad and arrived in Germany on Wednesday (April
    15).

    Marie Shaw, public affairs officer at the Landstuhl
    medical centre said that they were all in good condition.

    Pictures of the bruised and scared POWs were beamed around
    the world by Arab television shortly after their capture. That
    prompted White House warnings of possible war crimes trials
    against Iraqi military officials if they were harmed.

    Six of the seven waved to a small crowd of about 50
    American well-wishers at the Ramstein air base in western
    Germany as they walked up the ramp into the C-17 transport
    plane, which was due to arrive late on Saturday in Texas. The
    two helicopter pilots were headed for Fort Hood and the five
    others to Fort Bliss.

    Specialist Shoshana Johnson, who was shot in both ankles
    as she and others in her 507th Maintenance Company were
    captured by Iraqi forces, was carried on to the plane on a
    stretcher. But she also managed to wave and smile to the
    cheering crowd. Three of the POWs were treated for gunshot
    wounds at Landstuhl.

    Landstuhl, near Ramstein air base, treated more than 545
    hurt in the Iraq war, of which 223 were combat wounds.


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