Wounded soldier faces long rehab
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The father of an American soldier injured in Afghanistan in February said Monday afternoon that his son's spirits are good, despite injuries that have required surgeries in Afghanistan and Germany, and hospitalization in Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
John Chisholm of Indianola said his 24-year-old son, Dustin, "Dustey," is probably looking facing at least a year of treatment, recovery, physical therapy and rehabilitation after a rocket-propelled grenade injured his arms and legs, his head and his left eye.
"His spirits are pretty good. He's walking. He's coming along," John said. "He wants to go back to Afghanistan. As far as he's concerned, the sooner he can get back to Afghanistan, the better."
John said if Dustey does not lose the sight in his left eye, he will need a cornea transplant. And he's looking at "a long road" of rehabilitation and physical therapy, John said.
"He's tough. He's strong, and he's in top-notch shape," John said. "That's all in his favor."
John said that he and his wife, Georgia, plan to stay with Dustey, in Washington and then at Dustey's home base of Fort Campbell, Ky., when he's transferred there. John said that he and Georgia are hanging in there, although he admitted the four days between Dustey being injured and their seeing him at Walter Reed were very difficult.
Dustey is a 2003 graduate of Republican Valley High School (now Southwest High School), where he wrestled and played football. He joined the Army immediately out of high school. He has three years left of a five-year enlistment.
In October 2009, Dustey completed training as a member of the Army Rangers, a highly-trained and rapidly-deployable light infantry Special Operations Force capable of engaging conventional and Special Operations targets.
Dustey has completed two tours in Iraq and was in Afghanistan just one month and one day before he was injured, on Feb. 23.
Cards of encouragement will reach Dustey at: U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Dustin Chisholm, Ward 58, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C. 20012.