IED wounds account for large share of Walter Reed patients' injuries

Published: 2007-05-03

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Along with all the other military jargon and abbreviations, a relatively new term keeps bubbling up to the surface at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, as well as in popular parlance: IED. It's short for improvised explosive device. IEDs account for a large share of the wounds sustained by U.S. soldiers in Iraq -- and for a large share of the patients at Walter Reed, many of whom have lost limbs because of the devices. The patient information sheets at Walter Reed aren't always accurate, but they include identification of patients by religion. Father Patrick Kenny, the only full-time Catholic chaplain at Walter Reed, uses them to greet, comfort and bless the Catholic patients there. Sgt. Juan Roldan was with his infantry unit when one of the devices exploded. The injuries he sustained required that both his legs be amputated above the knee. "I don't remember much," Roldan said softly as his mother stayed by the foot of his bed. "I think I'll be here for a while." To provide positive reinforcement to Roldan after extending a blessing to the soldier, Father Kenny said, "He'll be walking -- soon."

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