President visits
injured soldier

Spc. Jeffrey Guerin, 22, is recuperating from wounds he suffered last month while serving in Afghanistan. He said couldn't see the president because of his eye injuries, but that didn't matter, the Syracuse Post-Standard reported.

"It was good," Guerin said. "He thanked me for my service and gave me a presidential coin. (Bush) was just a really nice guy. He was really down-to-earth."

Guerin had been severely injured Oct. 14 in Afghanistan when a homemade bomb was detonated near a military vehicle. The bomb killed Staff Sgt. Brian Hobbs, 31, of Mesa, Ariz.; and Spc. Kyle Kaeo Fernandez, 26, of Pearl City; and injured Guerin and two other soldiers. Guerin was transferred to Walter Reed. All the soldiers were assigned to the 25th Division's 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry.

Guerin suffered two broken legs and shrapnel wounds to his eyes. He underwent surgery Tuesday to remove a blood clot in his forehead. Another surgery is scheduled to remove traumatic cataracts from his right eye. Guerin will still have to undergo surgeries to his left eye and his ankle.

He said his views on the war have not changed. "I just agree with what's going on," Guerin said.

Long-term care will be the subject of the bimonthly meeting of the Military Reserves Retiree Association at 10 a.m. Nov. 20 at Tripler Army Medical Hospital Kyser's conference room. This meeting is open to all retired military personnel from the Reserves and National Guard and their spouses. For more information, call Larry Marcum at 261-8752 or Pat at 456-2923.

Tripler Army Medical Center has scheduled flu vaccinations for high-risk adult patients at its allergy and immunization clinic Nov. 19 and 23. For high-risk children, it will be done at Tripler's Pediatric Clinic on Nov. 19 and 23 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Adult "high-risk" patients, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control, include those 65 and older; 18 and older who have an underlying, long-term illness (heart or lung disease, metabolic disease like diabetes, kidney disease, a blood disorder or a weakened immune system, including people with HIV/AIDS); people living in nursing homes or other chronic-care places; people who have or take care of a baby under 6 months old; and women who will be pregnant this flu season.

Children considered as "high risk" are those who are 6 to 23 months; 2 and older who have an underlying, long-term illness (heart or lung disease, metabolic disease like diabetes, kidney disease, a blood disorder or a weakened immune system, including children with HIV/AIDS); and those 6 to 18 months old and take aspirin daily.

Tripler's Immunization Clinic can be reached at 433-6334. The Pediatric Immunization Clinic may be reached at 433-6234.