NcDeuce
12-26-2003, 12:22 AM
Some 101st troops having Christmas at Walter Reed
By CHANTAL ESCOTO
The Leaf Chronicle
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Three soldiers with 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, figured they'd be together on Christmas, but they thought they would be in Tallafar, Iraq.
Instead, Cpl. Wayne Kregiel, Spc. Lawrence Harris and Spc. Ernesto Lanazca are here at Walter Reed Army Medical Center for treatment of sand fly bites they received in Iraq. The parasitic disease known as leishmaniasis affected about 90 percent of the soldiers in their platoon and must be treated at the hospital because the disease virtually is unknown in the United States.
"Basically it's a little fly that bites you numerous times in the same area, and the sore doesn't show right away," Lanazca said.
But the bites can become as big as golf balls and, if left untreated, can affect the body's internal organs.
As of now, the soldiers, who have been at the hospital for a week, say they feel fine except for a few nauseating side effects from the medicine they must take. It is unknown how long the soldiers will stay for treatment, but all say they're ready to head home.
Harris, who is from Olean, N.Y., was one of the lucky soldiers. His wife, Kathleen, is with him for Christmas at Malogne House, Walter Reed's hotel.
"I don't mind. Actually, to tell you the truth it's better than being over in Iraq," Harris said.
For Lanazca, being away from his 11-year-old son who lives in Peru, and his nine siblings, who live Ventura, Calif., is tough.
"It's good being here, but it's hard not having my family here," he said.
But being away from home is nothing new for Kregiel, because this is the fourth year the Palestine, W.Va., soldier has missed Christmas at home.
"So this is normal," he said.
The fuel handlers said they hope they don't get on each other's nerves by the end of their hospital stay.
"We're dysfunctional," Kregiel joked, "but we love each other."
http://www.theleafchronicle.com/news/stories/20031225/localnews/106295-38081.jpg
Cpl. Wayne Kregiel explains a process done at a fuel refill point in Iraq while Spc. Lawrence Harris, left, and Spc. Ernesto Lanazca recall their duty the with 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment. The three soldiers are undergoing medical treatment for sand fly bites at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C.
Sucks to be away from the rest of their unit... :|
By CHANTAL ESCOTO
The Leaf Chronicle
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Three soldiers with 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, figured they'd be together on Christmas, but they thought they would be in Tallafar, Iraq.
Instead, Cpl. Wayne Kregiel, Spc. Lawrence Harris and Spc. Ernesto Lanazca are here at Walter Reed Army Medical Center for treatment of sand fly bites they received in Iraq. The parasitic disease known as leishmaniasis affected about 90 percent of the soldiers in their platoon and must be treated at the hospital because the disease virtually is unknown in the United States.
"Basically it's a little fly that bites you numerous times in the same area, and the sore doesn't show right away," Lanazca said.
But the bites can become as big as golf balls and, if left untreated, can affect the body's internal organs.
As of now, the soldiers, who have been at the hospital for a week, say they feel fine except for a few nauseating side effects from the medicine they must take. It is unknown how long the soldiers will stay for treatment, but all say they're ready to head home.
Harris, who is from Olean, N.Y., was one of the lucky soldiers. His wife, Kathleen, is with him for Christmas at Malogne House, Walter Reed's hotel.
"I don't mind. Actually, to tell you the truth it's better than being over in Iraq," Harris said.
For Lanazca, being away from his 11-year-old son who lives in Peru, and his nine siblings, who live Ventura, Calif., is tough.
"It's good being here, but it's hard not having my family here," he said.
But being away from home is nothing new for Kregiel, because this is the fourth year the Palestine, W.Va., soldier has missed Christmas at home.
"So this is normal," he said.
The fuel handlers said they hope they don't get on each other's nerves by the end of their hospital stay.
"We're dysfunctional," Kregiel joked, "but we love each other."
http://www.theleafchronicle.com/news/stories/20031225/localnews/106295-38081.jpg
Cpl. Wayne Kregiel explains a process done at a fuel refill point in Iraq while Spc. Lawrence Harris, left, and Spc. Ernesto Lanazca recall their duty the with 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment. The three soldiers are undergoing medical treatment for sand fly bites at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C.
Sucks to be away from the rest of their unit... :|