Cher visits wounded soldiers at Landstuhl
 Steve Mraz / S&S Cher stops to pose for a photo in a hallway at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center on Wednesday. She spent hours visiting wounded troops and thanking staff at the largest American hospital outside the U.S., and plans to visit other areas in the Kaiserslautern military community on Thursday.
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LANDSTUHL, Germany — An overflow crowd gathered in Landstuhl Regional Medical Center’s Heaton Auditorium late Wednesday afternoon to see a living legend in entertainment.Cher, the singer/actress whose popularity and looks have spanned generations, spent hours Wednesday afternoon visiting with wounded troops and thanking the Landstuhl staff for the job they perform.
“I’ve been to Walter Reed (Army Medical Center),” she said. “I’ve been to Bethesda (home to the National Naval Medical Center). Now coming here, I have to tell you something … You guys are unbelievable. I see the best care, the most heartfelt care.”
Cher, who says she is against the war in Iraq but supports the troops, has long been a morale booster for troops. Seventeen years ago, she recorded the video for “If I Could Turn Back Time” on the deck of the USS Missouri, while wearing a barely-there outfit surrounded by throngs of sailors.
Recently, she donated $130,000 to Operation Helmet, an organization that buys troops helmet linings that protect against concussive blasts. Just last month, Cher appeared before the House Armed Services Committee supporting an effort for better military helmets.
The Oscar-winning actress told Wednesday’s crowd that she was ordered to visit the hospital by Landstuhl Commander Col. Bryan Gamble when the two met recently at Walter Reed. She decided to make the trip and traveled from France on Wednesday to the hospital.
She spent roughly an hour visiting seriously wounded troops in the intensive care unit before going to the hospital’s other wings. Once outside the ICU, nearly everywhere she went fans armed with digital cameras and pens pleaded for photos and autographs.
Maj. Sylvia Garcia, a head nurse of two wings at Landstuhl, managed to snap a few pictures of Cher.
“She is a high-power woman,” Garcia said. “We’re very fortunate that she’s speaking out for us. These sorts of things, people coming here, have such a big impact on all the soldiers — not only on the workers and staff, but the patients as well.”
Cher’s visit made a big impact on Spc. Hollis Richardson, who is recovering from rocket-propelled grenade injuries suffered in a July 9 attack north of Baghdad. The svelte singer slid into bed with Richardson, to snap a photo, which Cher then signed.
“It’s kind of nice to have supporters and have people come by who actually care,” said Richardson, 22, of Fort Worth, Texas. “She’s just trying to cheer people up in a situation that’s not too cheerful.”
Asked if he had any favorite Cher song, Richardson said he’d have to work on that.
“She’s a little bit before my time,” he said. “I may have to go pick up a CD or two now.”
On Thursday, Cher planned to visit the medical holding facility for the walking wounded at Kleber Kaserne and the Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility at Ramstein Air Base.
From Estripes.com
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16 Responses to “Cher visits wounded soldiers at Landstuhl”
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July 13th, 2006 at 9:39 am
All I can say is Cher is doing more to bring comfort and support to the troops than any of our so-called leaders. Like Cher I am 100% against this illegal and immoral war, but maybe her involvement will shed some light and the reality of war. You certainly can count on America’s corrupt leadership and complicit media to do anything.
July 13th, 2006 at 10:06 am
here, here… This is so beautiful but ther’s one thing CHER WAS IN GERMANY and I didn’t know that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I could of went there……….. kill me God, now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
stupid me ,silly stupd me! 
July 13th, 2006 at 10:10 am
Well one bright thing, i’ll keep with my nursing school- this was a sign by Holy Cher
I love the pix, she looks so loving on ‘em!
July 13th, 2006 at 10:59 am
She so ROCK thats cool man i’d do the too.
July 13th, 2006 at 12:56 pm
follow this u bitches…
July 13th, 2006 at 1:28 pm
I think that Cher visiting with these hospitalized soldiers shows her true colors once again. I also think that now that she “retired” it allows her more freedom to do what she wants without being concerned about how it may affect her career. ROCK ON Cher, you got it goin on…
July 14th, 2006 at 3:07 am
omg cher, ur awesum…..luv ya!!!
July 14th, 2006 at 8:07 am
She truly is a good person
July 14th, 2006 at 8:36 am
Wow Cher, you certainly have ‘shown them bitches’ – spending time like you have, helping to bolster injured soldiers and speaking to them giving your support and love, must to them be like seeing the light at the end of a really long painful tunnel. Go girl!!!!!!!! It isn’t so nice you have finished touring, from your fans point of view, but at least now you can put your heart and mind into things you believe in, and want to help. I am sure the rest of your fans are as proud of you as we are over here in the U.K. My brother was in the Army over in Germany in Minden and both myself and my whole family worried the whole time he was there. Thankfully he has now come home to us. Best wishes. Jan, Joanne and Claire – England. JANJONIC@aol.com
July 14th, 2006 at 9:15 pm
cher is a real woman with a good heart and i luv her for that….go cher…..and follow this u bitches!!!
July 14th, 2006 at 9:17 pm
i luv cher for supporting these men ,,,, she has a real good heart……
July 16th, 2006 at 3:02 pm
Cher is a wonderful person with a kind heart. My hats off to you Cher. You touch so many people’s lives mine included weather it by your music or in person and there is no one I admire than you!
Love You Always
July 22nd, 2006 at 10:31 am
cher, thanks for spending time with our troops and for donating your generous gift for the improvement of the helmets for our troops. you go girl. you are truly a diva and a fantastic person. you will live on forever in our hearts!!
July 24th, 2006 at 8:07 pm
Cher is amazing in all ways, as a singer actress and always as a compassionate warm human being. The level of commitment to whatever she pursues is always astounding. I have followed Cher throughout her entire career and have come to love her deeply. The greatest moment of being a Cher fan was meeting her in person and even speaking to her!!! I will never forget that moment as long as I live. Sometimes I can just flip on her music and it puts me in a great mood. Cher is loved more than words can express. What Cher is doing for the troops is great!
January 7th, 2007 at 12:07 am
genti plis a cher é tudo na my life, eu n sei fala inglês, plis me ajudem, quero saber de sites em português
January 7th, 2007 at 12:16 am
ela é tudo pra mim, tudo tudo mesmo, eu amo dimasi ela, eu n consigo compreender esse ingles qui droga, desculpa a palavra, quero pedi ajuda, alguns outros sites q eu possa entrar , q tenha fotos e tudo mais so q preciso em portugues, a cher é a razão pela qual eu vivo, pela qual eu faço minhas escolhas, pela qual eu luto pelos meus sonhos, simplismente ela é tudo na minha vida tudo, me ajudem, eu tenho orkut, o meu nome ta como my live madonna forever, meu email é? larissamaso@yahoo.com.br, eu peso uma ajudinha a vocês, me ajudem.
desde ja obrigada….
foi beijos