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Marine Corps Liaison Office Lends Helping Hand

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS091221-08
Release Date: 12/21/2009 5:06:00 PM

By Cat DeBinder, National Naval Medical Center Public Affairs

BETHESDA, Md. (NNS) -- The Marine Corps Liaison Office (MCLO) has been a permanent part of the National Naval Medical Center (NNMC) for as long as anyone can remember, but most people do not know the full extent of their duties and responsibilities or their numerous contributions.

"The mission of the MCLO is to provide and facilitate assistance to wounded, injured, and ill Marines, Sailors attached to or in support of Marine units, and their family members, throughout the phases of their recovery," said Shannon Giovinazzo, one of NNMC's nurse case managers who is part of the Marine Case Management team.

"The Marine Case Management team is a newly formed team of specifically identified case managers to assist with the care of Wounded Warrior Marines," said Giovinazzo.

The idea came from the Deputy Director, Marine Detachment NNMC, Joseph Liptok. The detachment is responsible for tracking non-medical case management for all seriously ill or injured Marines who are assigned to Wounded Warrior Battalion East-Bethesda Detachment including those at Walter Reed, Richmond, Va., Portsmouth Medical Center and Andrews Air Force Base.

"It's a tough job that really keeps me busy, but at the end of the day I know I'm making a difference in the lives of the families and the Marines," said Liptok.

"In every family we see, we see our own families," said Gunnery Sgt. James Toland, MCLO's operations chief in charge of inpatients and their families.

Toland generates the casualty reports, makes travel arrangements, books airline reservations, drives family members to and from the airport and facilitates travel claims. Staying close to the patients and their families motivates him.

David and Jackie Lyons from Davenport, Iowa, are the parents of Lance Cpl. Edward Lyons who was seriously injured in Afghanistan on Nov. 25. The MCLO kept them informed each step of the way on the transit of their son to NNMC.

"The MCLO got us flight reservations, hotel reservations and picked us up at the airport, and everything was paid for," said Jackie. "Everyone has been so good to us, they treat us like family. They satisfy our needs even before we ask and have introduced us to other families in the same situation."

"The concept of 'family' allows us to keep each other going," said Liptok. "And when our wounded Marines arrive at Bethesda they're told they are family now. It's our way of saying thanks Marines for what you do."

For more news from National Naval Medical Center, visit www.navy.mil/local/nnmc/.