16 December 2010

Traveling Back in Time - Next Stop Butzbach - United States Local Dispensary

My sister was thinking horror movie when she saw the dispensary where she was born. We were all feeling overwhelmed by the absolute lifelessness of the United States military housing area in Butzbach, where the dispensary is located. She, however, was able to take pictures of her birth place, unlike me. Just hours earlier I had been forbidden to take photos of my birthplace. 

This is the dispensary in November 2010:
Mary never made it to the 97th General Hospital. She was in too much of a hurry. My parents made it up the hill from their apartment to the dispensary just in time for her to make her grand entrance into the world. She and my mother were then taken by ambulance to the 97th General, but were kept separated because Mary was considered contaminated. 

The dispensary may be abandoned and lonely now, but it was certainly vital to the men, women and children who lived in the military housing. Perhaps one day it will be put to some productive use again. 
Scrappy Gen

11 comments:

  1. Great pictures! I worked in that dispensary as an x-ray tech/ambulance driver from 1982-84. I was one of the drivers designated to take the women in labor to 97th Gen hospital in Frankfurt. What memories!

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  2. I worked at the dispensary (733rd Medical Detachment) from 1972-1974. Seeing these pictures brings tears to my eyes. Thanks for sharing.

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  3. I worked at the dispensary from 1972-1974. Seeing these pictures brings tears to my eyes. So many memories. Thanks for sharing. Based on Google Earth, everything has apparently been demolished.

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  4. I was born at the dispensary in 1976. I was supposed to be born in Frankfurt, but decided I wanted to arrive sooner. I was delivered by a pediatrician who was working that day, and my mom said several people came to watch, including some people who worked in the pharmacy. She said at that point, she didn't care who watched!

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    1. My sister arrived in the same way in 1967. I think she was delivered by a nurse at the dispensary. Funny story!

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    2. I was assigned to the Butzbach Health Clinic (733rd Medical Detachment) 11/1975 to 5/1977 as the Administrative Officer. We had a Pediatrician assigned but I don't remember his name. We also had an active duty married couple who were Pharmacy Techs (Nicki & Vince). Commander was Major John Cowan MD.

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  5. I worked at the 733rd dispensary as a pharmacist 1970-72. Great memories.
    Bill Dana
    wdana46@gmail.com

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  6. I worked at the 733rd dispensary as a pharmacist 1970-72. Great memories.
    Bill Dana
    wdana46@gmail.com

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  7. Bill - I believe we may have been working at the dispensary at the same time in 1972. I was arriving and you were leaving. I worked in the laboratory with Richard Holland. Do you remember any of the other people that were working there in 1972?

    Wes Reeder
    wreeder@yahoo.com

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  8. I was a medic there from Jan '79-'81. Capt. Sharon Henthorn was my CO, then Capt. Smith. Sure would be a pleasant surprise to hear back from someone I knew then!
    (Sp4) Buck Handy
    Winter Park, FL

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  9. My name is SP4 Alan Elsbury. I was an Army medic from 1984-1986 trained medical care to the ROCK dependents. Drove ambulance as EMT back and forth from Frankfurt General Hospital. I got sober off the needle there. The clinic saved my life.

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