An American marine from the U.S. aircraft carrier Independence was flown to Rambam Hospital in Haifa over the weekend for extensive tests and diagnosis of an undisclosed illness. He was subsequently taken by ambulance to Ben Gurion Airport from where he was flown to an American hospital in Europe. The Independence is with the Sixth Fleet off the Lebanese coast.
The marine, who was not identified by name or rank, is the first U.S. military personnel from the American forces stationed in Beirut or offshore Lebanon to utilize hospital facilities in Israel.
The refusal of the American military to accept Israel’s offer of hospital facilities for the U.S. servicemen injured in the bomb attack on marine headquarters in Beirut last October 23 created friction between the two countries and furor in the U.S. Congress at the time. Several Senators questioned the wisdom of transferring seriously wounded personnel to Europe when treatment was available in Israel, less than 30 minutes by air from the scene of the attack.
The marine who was taken by helicopter to Rambam hospital, was accompanied by a Navy doctor from the Independence.
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