FIGHTING IN IRAQ Goggles stop shrapnel, saving eyesight

HERMITAGE, Pa. -- Military authorities said the special goggles that Spc. Dale Lunn of the 107th Field Artillery Unit of the Pennsylvania National Guard was wearing saved his eyesight during fighting in Iraq.
The injuries he suffered earned Lunn, of Slippery Rock, his second Purple Heart medal of the campaign. The medal was presented by Brig. Gen. Carter Ham, Task Force Olympia commander.
Lunn suffered shrapnel wounds to the face and neck while serving as a gunner in an Army's M1114 & quot;up-armored & quot; humvee. He was injured when insurgents attacked his convoy July 31, detonating an improvised explosive device, according to a statement released by his unit.
Additional elements from the 107th Field Artillery Company, serving as military police, were dispatched to the scene to render aid and provide security for the stricken convoy which was traveling to the Mosul Public Safety Academy to assist in training and evaluation of Iraqi police cadets.
The 107th is based in Hermitage.
Lunn was transported to the 67th Combat Support Hospital for treatment, where medical personnel credited the WileyX goggles he was wearing with saving his eyesight after finding pieces of shrapnel embedded in the lenses.
Back on duty
When asked how he felt about the possibility of receiving a second Purple Heart, Lunn replied, & quot;All I want to do right now is get back to my team. & quot; Medical personnel granted his request and returned him to full duty shortly after the event.
Maj. Lance Stratton, task force provost marshal, and Master Sgt. Wilfred Foy, task force sergeant major, praised Lunn for his positive attitude after being wounded for a second time and went on to credit Spc. Dane Morningstar of Greenville and Cpl. Walter Yourema of Hermitage for their quick thinking in saving convoy personnel and vehicles from further injury and damage.
Lunn was initially wounded during an RPG attack May 21. Morningstar was also injured and received a Purple Heart in that attack. He and Lunn suffered hearing loss from perforated and ruptured eardrums while serving as a driver and gunner, respectively, on an "up-armored" humvee. They were injured by insurgents using rocket-propelled grenades in an ambush of the convoy they were escorting.
Both returned to duty after treatment.