The row of satellite trucks representing various international news media were spaced at uniform intervals outside the back gate of Landstuhl's Wilson Barracks this week.
Journalists converged on the U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz installation to provide worldwide coverage of the three U.S. citizens being treated at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center after their release from captivity in Iran.
But while the press were focused primarily on the detainees and their medical reintegration process at the garrison site that often serves as the first stop for high-visibility patients returning home, the behind-the-scenes support enabling the success of the process went largely unnoticed.
Which is exactly how those coordinating efforts prefer it.
"If you don't notice us, then we're doing our job," said Lieutenant Colonel George Brown, Director of the USAG Rheinland-Pfalz Directorate of Emergency Services who led the garrison's security teams in providing escort of the released prisoners.
"We take these kinds of missions very seriously, and there is nowhere better than right here in U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz for post-isolation support activities to begin taking place," said Col. G. Shawn Wells Jr., garrison commander. "We are proud that the Army could be part of the first group to welcome our folks back with open arms."
The garrison's emergency services team supported the coordination with the Air Force security forces for the arrival at Ramstein Air Base and the secure movement, including escorts and expedited entry, to LRMC, explained Brown.
The DES team was also involved in installation access control for representatives of numerous U.S. government agencies and other VIPs supporting the mission.
Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Robert M. Kimmitt, now a private attorney, accompanied senior editors of his client "The Washington Post" to welcome home Jason Rezaian, the Post's Tehran bureau chief who had been incarcerated for 545 days.
Kimmitt praised the support received: "Jason Rezaian received outstanding care from the superb medical staff at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, and his family and he were wonderfully supported by the Garrison staff and Fisher House. I want to thank Lt. Gen. (Ben) Hodges (Commanding General, U.S. Army Europe), Colonel Wells, Colonel (James) Laterza (LRMC Commander), and the entire Landstuhl family - including those Soldiers and their families who took time to welcome Jason home as they saw him in the hospital."
The garrison's DES team also supported the Army's public affairs operations by ensuring the U.S. and German media abided with security protocols, said Brown, and, while not normally in their lane of operations, the DES coordinated with the USO to ensure the returned Americans had care packages with essential items.
Directing the garrison's overall support were the folks who make up the Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security, but even they prefer to keep a low profile during events of this magnitude.
"We've been part of joint planning meetings from the start to ensure things go smooth for our guests as they transition back to freedom," said Andres Reta, DPTMS Operations Officer. "We're ready to assist in any capacity necessary as part of the larger, combined effort."
That joint team approach is "part of Strong Europe and how we leverage different support activities within our communities," said Wells. "We do that very well here in the Rheinland-Pfalz community in partnership with the Air Force, other DoD and interagency organizations, and our host nation."
"No matter the scale of the mission, the garrison team is available to support our unique community 24/7," added Brown, "and to support this type of mission is both an honor and privilege."
That sentiment was echoed by Wells.
"I'm proud of our entire garrison team that responds immediately to assist with these no-notice missions supporting the State Department and other agencies," said Wells. "The readiness and professionalism of our military and Department of Defense members, as well as our local national teammates is exemplary as we provide quality support to a very important mission in bringing these Americans home."
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