Shelter For The Wounded

St. Louis Post-Dispatch ^ | November 19, 2004 | Robert Goodrich

[Former Military Chick]

Kathy Sperry first saw the giant C-141 Starlifter as it taxied in the rain Thursday morning along the runway at Scott Air Force Base.

Inside, among the 77 wounded, was her son, Marine Pfc. James Sperry. As she and her husband, Steven, waited, she remembered the deep-seated need to see her son again, to see for herself what had happened.

The only words she had from him directly since he was wounded on Veterans Day were from a voice mail. The voice was faint. The only words she could make out were "head injury" "fracture" and "Germany," which was among her son's stops on his homeward journey.

On Thursday, Kathy and Steven Sperry of Belleville spoke with their son for a few minutes as he lay in the top litter on the Starlifter -- there were three wounded beneath him. Relief poured over her like the drizzle outside.

"He's talking and walking," she said. "We are so proud of him."

Steven Sperry added, "He's a bit dizzy. He looked much better than we expected."

Kathy Sperry was awed by the medical staff aboard the plane, part of the 375th Airlift Wing at Scott, which handles the airlifting of military patients. Scott's aeromedical staging facility, which is attached to the base hospital, cares for patients waiting for their next flight.

"They were wonderful," she said. "Very nice, very helpful, very understanding."

A total of 5,800 patients have passed through the facility since the war in Afghanistan and the Iraq war began. Some were wounded in combat. Others became sick or were injured in accidents.

The flight Thursday was only the latest in the long history of air evacuations at Scott -- dating back to August 1918 when an air ambulance was called to assist an aviator with a broken leg.

[Former Military Chick]

Steven Sperry said his son was hit eight days ago, about six hours after his unit entered Fallujah. "The next thing he remembers is flying in a helicopter," Steven Sperry said of his son.

James Sperry was serving as a point man for a tank during the battle when a rocket-propelled grenade bounced off his Kevlar helmet. The grenade didn't explode, but it left the 19-year-old Sperry with a concussion, two black eyes, some stitches and several cracked bones in his skull, Kathy Sperry said.

* * *

"I know he feels very close to the people he serves with," Steven Sperry explained. Several who had been wounded were on the plane with him.

Kathy Sperry said she dreaded the thought that her son might have to return to Iraq, but when asked whether she would support him if he did so she replied without hesitation, "Absolutely."

For those who have to go through Scott, they are really treated quite well! Keep up all the good work, those that are injured and must go through the area, God Bless and a swift recovery.

America Supports You

[tarawa]

An RPG bounced off his helmet? First thing he needs to do is buy a lottery ticket....

[sdpatriot]

Kathy Sperry said she dreaded the thought that her son might have to return to Iraq, but when asked whether she would support him if he did so she replied without hesitation, "Absolutely."

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God bless you Mrs Sperry.. and i pray your son stays safe.. no matter where he ends up..