A local soldier, Christopher Walker, was injured in an improvised explosive device attack on Wednesday in Afghanistan. Staff Sgt. Walker, a native of Altavista, is an explosive ordinance disposal specialist with 706 EOD Unit based in Hawaii.
Walker, 28, attended Altavista Combined School and is the son of Donna Fox Hammack and Roger Walker as well as the brother of Edward Walker and Michael Walker. He has one daughter.
His injuries were classified as life threatening, and he is currently listed as in critical but stable condition. He is in Germany.
The family said his injuries included limb loss, eye injuries and injuries to his arms. He was placed in a medically induced coma, said Hammack.
“We were told he responded to people and was moving his toes,” said Hammack. “He will be recovering from this for the rest of his life.”
Friends are in the process of setting up a trust to help with expenses.
“The Army will take care of Chris, but we want to make sure the family’s expenses are taken care of,” said family friend Kim Taylor. “We are setting it up to help with covering things like transportation costs of going to see him and the cost of being there.”
While the trust is being set up, the family requests that donations be sent to Edward Walker or Donna Hammack c/o Kim Taylor, 1108 7th St., Altavista, Va. 24517.
“Any donation will help, not just monetary,” added Taylor. “A local business is donating the repairs on (Donna’s) car so she can get to him.”
“I had someone show up at my door with tears streaming down his face asking ‘What can I do?’” said Taylor. “I think that as a community we need to help this hometown hero and his family.”
“The Army will get the family to where he is to visit him,” added Taylor. “But there is still the cost of food and gas as well as the loss of work. If Edward goes to see him for a week, his won’t work those days. Donna is prepared to go and stay for the long haul, but there will still be a cost.”
Walker is scheduled to be flown stateside this weekend. Walker received surgery in Afghanistan for his injuries and was then flown to Germany to receive further medical treatment before he will be transported home, added Taylor.
Walker joined the Army in 2003 and was on his third combat tour, his first in Afghanistan after two in Iraq. The family was informed that the attack took place on Wednesday, said Edward Walker.
The family had last talked to him just a few days before the attack and he had visited the family in October just before he was deployed in November, said Hammock.
The Altavista Journal will update with information as it becomes available.