Germans honor AF surgeon general Published Aug. 20, 2004 By G.W. Pomeroy Air Force Surgeon General Public Affairs WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- The German Ministry of Defense has awarded the Gold Cross of Honor of the Bundeswehr to Air Force Surgeon General Lt. Gen. (Dr.) George Peach Taylor Jr., for his ongoing contributions to the German aviation medicine community. Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Erich Roedig, the German air force’s surgeon general, presented the award during a Pentagon ceremony Aug. 13. Dr. Taylor is the fourth member of the Defense Department to receive the award since its inception in 1980, said officials at the German embassy. During the ceremony, Dr. Roedig said that Dr. Taylor had “shown a very special commitment” to the German aeromedical evacuation community dating back to June 1997 when he was command surgeon for U.S. Air Forces in Europe. "It is an incredible honor to be recognized by Germany," Dr. Taylor said. "It has been my fortune to have been in the position to facilitate a stronger aeromedical medical alliance between our two countries."One of the great things about medicine is that the science and art crosses all international boundaries," he said. "Taking care of those who are placed in harm's way remains a fantastic privilege, one that is not unique to Air Force medicine, but is in the heart and soul of the medical forces of all nations."Dr. Taylor’s efforts “proved to have a highly positive influence on the planning and development of the aeromedical evacuation now utilized in Germany,” Dr. Roedig said. He also said that since Dr. Taylor returned to the United States from USAFE, he has maintained close contact with the German aviation medicine community. He cited “intense exchange of information and opinions,” especially within the NATO’s aeromedical working group, which greatly enhanced the training of German pilots in the United States. Dr. Roedig said that Dr. Taylor also had a “very positive influence” on two key NATO working groups: the advisory group for aerospace research and development, and the research and technology organization. Dr. Taylor’s role with the groups “not only led to NATO-wide homogeneity in some areas but also resulted in some positive influences at the national level,” Dr. Roedig said. The surgeon general was also credited with aeromedical-related successes at U.S.-based locales of bilateral training at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., and Holloman AFB, N.M. “These efforts are dedicated to the development and promotion of the existing cooperative partnership between the aviation medicine administrations of the U.S. Air Force and German air force,” Dr. Roedig said. Dr. Taylor “has done the German-American friendship a great service,” Dr. Roedig said.