Injured Pa. National Guardsman to head back to U.S. for surgery

Most of Battery A went on to deployment in Iraq.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- One of the four members of a local National Guard unit injured in a bus accident in Kuwait is coming back to the United States for surgery.
Sgt. Norman J. Barnes of Hillsville suffered a hand fracture that requires placement of a pin to allow it to heal properly.
Barnes was to be flown to a U.S. air station in Germany and then back to the states for surgery.
He will be off duty for eight weeks but then rejoin his unit in Iraq.
Barnes is a member of Battery A of the 107th Field Artillery of the 1st Battalion of the Pennsylvania National Guard, which was activated as a military police unit in December.
What happened
The unit was in Kuwait and en route to the Ali Al Salem air base Feb. 15 when the bus in which some of the unit was riding overturned.
Twenty-four soldiers were injured, four of them seriously enough to be hospitalized.
Most of the unit went on to the air field for deployment to Iraq. Capt. Corey Angell, National Guard spokesman, issued an update over the weekend on eight of the most seriously injured.
In addition to Barnes, Sgt. 1st Class John Whitman of Burghill in Trumbull County was hospitalized with a few rib fractures. He was hospitalized after the crash and will be restricted to quarters for four to six weeks.
Spec. Christopher L. Francis of Clarks Mills had pulled muscles in his chest and back. He also was hospitalized and faces four weeks in quarters.
Spec. Joshua P. Wiant of Shippenville had pulled muscles in his back and was hospitalized. He will be confined to quarters for three to four weeks.
Spec. William S. Butler of New Wilmington suffered a minor concussion in the accident and was deemed unable to fly, but he was being sent by ground convoy to rejoin the unit.
1st Sgt. David H. Gatewood of Mercer suffered a hand injury and has been temporarily assigned to light duty.
Sgt. Paul E. Ritchie of New Castle had a broken collarbone and will be confined to quarters for four to seven weeks.
Spec. Brandon M. Rishel of New Castle suffered minor facial injuries.