Maj. Bruce Gannaway at Walter Reed

In addition to ripping off Maj. Bruce Gannaway's left foot, an improvised explosive device in Iraq shattered several fingers, broke his left forearm and pelted his right leg with shrapnel.

March 19, 2008

Soldier strives to recover from loss of left foot

By AUDREY PARENTE
Staff Writer
An improvised explosive device in the Iraqi desert ripped off Army Maj. Bruce Gannaway's left foot.

The soldier's father, Tom Gannaway of Ponce Inlet, was deeply concerned when he traveled to Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where his son was recovering from severe war wounds suffered in December.

"I was there (at Walter Reed) within two days of his arrival," Gannaway said.

"The big issue with amputations, as I understand it, is the danger of infection," he said after speaking with surgeons.

Recently, Gannaway visited Walter Reed again to find his 34-year-old infantry platoon-leader son learning to use a prosthetic lower limb and undergoing other rehabilitation.

Gannaway's son is one of 555 amputees to have been treated in Walter Reed's amputee-care program through March 1, since the first troops marched on Baghdad five years ago today.

Patricia Cassimatis, a spokeswoman for Walter Reed, said 752 amputees have been treated at all Army facilities since the war began.

Many of the amputees are on outpatient status, living near the Washington, D.C., military hospital and returning for regular care, Cassimatis said. "Most of these patients live on or near the installation."

Major Gannaway lives near the hospital with his wife, Sarah, a health care professional, and their 14-month-old daughter, Helen Grace.

Besides ripping off his left foot, the blast shattered several fingers, broke a left forearm and peppered the soldier's right leg with shrapnel, including a serious vascular wound.

Walter Reed opened in 1909 and has served injured and ill military members from all U.S. conflicts with more than 60 clinics, and about 1,000 physicians.

· Injured treated since the war began: 7,500.

· Number of wounded warriors in the hospital on an average day: 30 to 40.

· Total inpatient census on any given day: 170-190 (other patients are family members of active duty, other active duty hurt or ill but not from the war zones and retirees).

— Compiled by Staff Writer Audrey Parente
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