Special Publications

DISASTER ON GREEN RAMP: THE ARMY'S RESPONSE

Mary Ellen Condon-Rall

Special Publications
CMH Pub 70-55, Paper
1996; 145 pages, diagrams, map, illustrations, bibliographical note, appendix, index

Not Available through GPO sales.

Disaster on Green Ramp: The Army's Response is a powerful story of pain, terror, pride, courage, and compassion. Relying largely on first-person accounts of those involved, Mary Ellen Condon-Rall covers the tragic accident and fireball that brought death or injury to more than a hundred paratroopers at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina, on 23 March 1994. She then chronicles not only the initial response for treating mass casualties, especially the severely burned, but also the sustained response by the Brooke Army Medical Center's burn unit at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. She ends her gripping account with realistic implications for future crises. Condon-Rall attributes the Army's exceptionally effective response to core principles of regular training, unit cohesiveness, teamwork, and leadership. Being ready for the unexpected was part of Army life, and the heroes of Green Ramp responded the way they would in combat. Along with examples of great courage by those who triumphed over tragedy, the story serves as a case study of appropriate contingency planning and crisis management. Those involved with family support issues, garrison planning, and unit readiness will benefit from this superb work.

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