DAV leaders visit NATO, wounded at Landstuhl, Normandy cemetery.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

As National Commander, Bradley S. Barton and a small contingent of DAV leaders were invited to NATO headquarters in Brussels and visited wounded troops at the US military hospital in Landstuhl, Germany. They also had the opportunity to visit the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, France. The experience strengthened Commander Barton's belief in the compassion, courage and perseverance of America's veterans.

While in Brussels, the DAV delegation received a roundtable briefing on the history, structure, mission and future expansion of the North Atlantic alliance, including a discussion of Iraq and Afghanistan and future NATO operations.

"The NATO visit was very impressive," Barton said. "It was interesting to learn how different countries come to agreement about various foreign policy issues. I thought NATO was just a group of countries organized to defend one another. However, I learned quickly it is more about melding the politics of different nations to act in unison. The American staff who serve there are among the brightest individuals I have ever met. Our NATO representative, Sgt. Monica Jameson, is a very impressive and professional woman possessing the ability to deal with people and to get the job done. All who briefed us on NATO and its role in the world were outstanding."

The day after visiting NATO, the group traveled to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, south of the US Air Force base at Ramstein, Germany.

Landstuhl provides world-class comprehensive and compassionate care to America's warriors, their families and military retirees. Hospital staff is 50 percent Army, 15 percent Air Force and 35 percent civilian, with a small contingent of Navy personnel serving as liaisons for the Navy and Marine Corps patients, and VA staff to address benefit needs and requests.

As the largest American hospital outside the United States, Landstuhl provides care to most wounded soldiers in the Middle East, Persian Gulf areas and Europe. Wounded soldiers arrive nearly every day.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Commander Barton was duly impressed with the quality of medical care recently injured troops are receiving, as well as how quickly they are returned to duty or sent to the States for additional treatment.

"When I was injured in Vietnam it took three months of medical care in Japan before I was able to return to the States for additional medical treatment," Barton said. "Today, troops are returned either to duty or to the States in three and half days from the time of their injury."

"There is also more family support immediately following injury than in the past, with parents, spouses and friends involved in the care of soldiers. I believe there is greater recognition at every level regarding the importance of family to recovery from injury," Barton said.

Families of patients at the hospital are afforded "a home away from home" at a large Fisher House complex. The Fisher House at Landstuhl, like those at other military and VA hospitals worldwide, enables family members to be near their loved ones hospitalized for unexpected illness, disease or injury.

Barton's observations at Landstuhl convinced him that military men and women being treated there were receiving the very best care available. Those providing this superior care include personnel from Reserve and National Guard units.

"Members of the Reserve and Guard staffing medical units often serve in civilian health care careers in the same or similar capacity as they serve in their military occupations. The result is a highly skilled and motivated medical unit providing the care," Barton said.

Two days later, the DAV delegation visited the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial. It was Barton's first time visiting an American cemetery on foreign soil. Moving through the cemetery, he witnessed another kind of superior care--the compassionate and reverent care for the graves of Americans who gave their lives in Europe during World War II. Those buried at Normandy are allies who returned to France on the "longest day" and remain there still; sentinels reflecting the price individuals are willing to pay for freedom.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The more than 170-acre cemetery is the final resting place for 9,387 US service men and women. Most died in the allied invasion of Normandy beginning on the morning of June 6, 1944. It is the largest World War II American cemetery in Europe.

"The cemetery is absolutely beautiful and pristine," Barton said. "As I rolled through it, I was overwhelmed at the number of monuments. I thought of all the lives lost on this ground and what might have been gained had all those individuals lived. I was also deeply moved recalling how many mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and others mourned the loss of a loved one in the aftermath of the D-Day invasion and how many must continue to mourn those individuals today."

At the center of the cemetery is a bronze statue of a young man. One arm horizontal, palm up; the other out stretched; the face is upturned looking into the sky: it is the "Spirit of American Youth, and it is here that wreaths of honor and remembrance are placed. Barton laid a wreath there.

"It was an honor for me to have the privilege to represent the Disabled American Veterans and lay a wreath honoring all those who gave their lives so we could live in this great country free from tyranny," he said.

Looking out past the stone wall, across the grassy rise and beyond the dunes to the sun-drenched and cloud-shadowed beach with blue-green water rolling in to meet the wet sand, it is hard to envision what a terrible place it was on June 6, 1944, but history, living and recorded, would not let it be forgotten.

"I am amazed anyone could have crossed that beach, climbed those dunes and made it to the top of the hill, under the barrage of fire the enemy poured on them that day," Barton said.

But Americans did wade through rough surf, cross the beach, climb the dunes, over the top of the hill and continued on to help win the war. They did it at a formidable price of wounded and dead comrades. Their sacrifice ultimately made victory possible.

On Memorial Day, Barton met one of the D-Day survivors; a highly decorated soldier who received three Purple Heart Medals, long-time character actor Charles Durning.

"After meeting Charles Durning, I learned he was one of the soldiers who landed on Omaha beach on D-Day," Barton said. "He recounted how he could not dig a fox hole deep enough. He used his helmet, but could not get enough sand out of the hole. His story reminded me of how frightened I was at Khe Sanh during the first rocket and mortar attacks."

"There are 14 American cemeteries in foreign countries. Each holds the remains of those who gave their lives for our freedom. They deserve our remembrance, honor and respect. I would encourage anyone going to Europe to plan some time to visit one of the American cemeteries there. It is an experience you will always remember," Barton said.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]