Air Force reinstates
former isle residentCourtney Linde has been
concerned about coverage
for her bout with cancer
WAILUKU >> The Air Force has reinstated a former Hawaii resident who has been fighting to maintain her military medical coverage after bone cancer surgery while recovering from her husband's death in a Mideast bombing.
Airman Courtney Linde was informed by her commander yesterday about her reinstatement, said her mother, Lyn Brown, a Maui resident.
"That's all she knows at this point," Brown said. "It's definitely good news, and I think it will be good for her to proceed with this."
Linde, 21, who grew up in Hawaii Kai, walks with a limp after the bone surgery. Brown said her daughter, who is stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, is expected to meet with military officials today to find out more about her status, including the location of her future military duty.
Brown said Linde is feeling a little nervous about leaving San Antonio, where she has been seeing physicians at least every three months to see if there is any recurrence of her cancer.
Brown said Linde sounded nervous, but "at least she has medical coverage."
Medical coverage has been a major worry for Linde, who is aware there is a 70 percent chance of the cancer recurring in bone cancer patients.
The Air Force initially claimed Linde contracted the bone cancer before she entered military service.
But Linde said she had been examined several times by Air Force physicians during her basic training and initial technical training without anyone detecting the bone cancer.
She was facing discharge in late October without military medical coverage, which was the major reason why her husband, John, decided to accept a high-paying but hazardous private security job in the Middle East.
John Linde, a former Marine, was among three private security officers who died in Gaza, Israel, on Oct. 15 while escorting an American diplomat interviewing Palestinian applicants for Fulbright scholarships.
Air Force Secretary James Roche suspended Linde's discharge pending a review of her medical records, after an inquiry by U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie.
Earlier this week, an Air Force personnel panel recommended reinstatement for Linde, Air Force spokeswoman Cynthia Minnick said.
Abercrombie said he was happy to hear the issue had been resolved.
"This young lady has gone through trauma that the rest of us can only imagine," he said. "I was glad to play a part in resolving this one aspect of her difficulties."