Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, February 12, 1991                   TAG: 9102120464
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B2   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER SOUTHWEST BUREAU
DATELINE: WYTHEVILLE                                LENGTH: Medium

MAIL'S A BOOSTER, SAYS HURT SOLDIER

U.S. Army Capt. Paul Wirt made his remarks on a tape-recorded telephone interview from Washington, D.C., with WYVE radio's Danny Gordon during a "Support America Rally" Sunday at George Wythe High School, and on the station's news program Monday.

"Support from Southwest Virginia and Wytheville in particular has just absolutely been more than I ever imagined. It's just been incredible and, if people in Wytheville supported the other troops from Wythe County like they supported me, I know that those guys over there feel good," he said.

"When I was over there, the biggest thing that we counted on was mail, and to know that people cared for us and that we weren't going to feel abused and ignored like the people who came back from the Vietnam War.

"I think that's in the back of everybody's minds . . . are we going to come back heroes if we fight and risk giving our lives and limbs for this war, or are we going to come back and, you know, like the problem they had in Vietnam? So right now I know the guys over there are super-happy because all the opinion polls say strong support and that means a lot to them."

Wirt, who graduated from George Wythe in 1981 and Virginia Tech in 1985, was in charge of a unit setting off 40 pounds of demolition charges Dec. 8 during a training exercise in an isolated area. When he and his men had taken cover, he said, "a truck that had apparently been lost out in the desert just came flying over the sand dunes and was headed straight for the charge."

Wirt left cover and ran up to head the truck off. He got it stopped about 50 yards away from the charge, but the explosion went off before he could get back to cover and shrapnel hit his leg.

He was evacuated to a Navy hospital and operated on for 11 hours. He has had more than a dozen operations since then. He still has no feeling in his foot and little muscle control in his lower leg, but doctors seem encouraged by his progress, he said.

Wirt said it was a miracle his leg was saved. "And I owe it all to a lot of prayers and a lot of good love and a lot of thoughts to people back there, and I appreciate it. I really look forward to coming home and thanking everyone I can personally."