Grandmother in Afghanistan helps heal troops

Grandmother in Afghanistan helps heal troops

Diane Hughes is a nurse practitioner stationed at Combat Outpost Xio Haq in the Laghman province in Afghanistan. Hughes is the oldest soldier on the outpost and has become an unofficial mother for some Oklahoma soldiers. MIKE BOETTCHER/ University of Oklahoma

By MIKE BOETTCHER University of Oklahoma
Published: 12/3/2011
Last Modified: 12/3/2011

"We look at the whole person, and in this case the whole soldier, and these are young men and women who are seeing a lot of horrors," she said. "They're seeing their friends hurt, and sometimes just a listening ear is what they need."

COMBAT OUTPOST XIO HAQ, Afghanistan - A sign hanging on the door of the plywood B-Hut reads "The doctor is in." Inside, stretchers are positioned to receive the wounded, but thankfully for Maj. Diane Hughes, they are empty today.

Hughes is a nurse practitioner stationed at Combat Outpost Xio Haq in Afghanistan's Laghman province, the base of operations for the 45th Infantry Brigade's Special Troops Battalion.

At 54, she is the oldest soldier on the outpost, a grandmother of six and the unofficial mother to a lot of Oklahoma soldiers.

"I could be some of these soldiers' mother, and sometimes that's what they need - either a listening word of guidance or sometimes a boxing on the ears," she said jokingly.
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