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After losing leg in Iraq, Longview soldier enters rehab in San Antonio
By MIKE ELSWICK
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Army Sgt. Paul Gillilan of Longview will have a lifelong reminder of the war in Iraq — the leg he has no more.
Gillilan and his unit in Iraq were on patrol after midnight Feb. 24 when they got hit by an improvised explosive device, according to Lt. Andrew Hightower, his platoon leader. While no one was killed, Gillilan was one of the more serious casualties, Hightower said.
"There was one man worse off — he had both his feet amputated, and he almost bled to death," said Hightower in a phone interview Friday from his outpatient room at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio.
"Paul doesn't remember anything about what happened right after the explosion," Hightower said. "As soon as we were hit, those not wounded reacted and got us out of the street and into a courtyard."
While Gillilan does not remember what took place immediately after the explosion, Hightower does.
"He was comforting one of his privates and asked him if he was a Christian," he said of Gillilan. Hightower said the private initially tried to avoid giving an answer, but Gillilan pressed him.
"'Private, it's a simple question, and either you are or you're not, and right now is a time you need to decide,'" Hightower said, paraphrasing the conversation he overheard. "When the private said he was a Christian, Paul started praying with him."
Gillilan, reached by phone Friday afternoon, said he was home-schooled and attended LeTourneau University from August 2000 through the fall of 2002. He said his wife, Melissa Bushey Gillilan, is from Longview and is a graduate of LeTourneau University.
Hightower said he has been impressed with Gillilan's faith.
"He has a lot of faith. I don't know what denomination he is, but he's definitely a Christian," Hightower said. "He's also a very intelligent guy and has put the whole thing in God's hands."
Gillilan said that when he was told he lost his leg, he was able to accept the news.
"I was able to say it's OK. I know it's in God's control," he said. Gillilan said he knows a lot of people have been sharing their support for him and others serving their nation in Iraq.
"I just want everyone to know that we really appreciate their prayers," he said. "And the care packages we got over there — from people we didn't even know — were just awesome. They were really a great morale booster."
Gillilan said that once his wound gets closed up, he should be released from the hospital and continue to be treated on an outpatient basis.
"Then I should be able to join my wife in guest quarters," he said. "She's really been awesome through all of this."
The couple's first child, expected to be a girl, is due March 31, he said.
"We're excited," Gillilan said.
Hightower said he was discharged from the hospital earlier this week, but Gillilan likely will be facing more treatment for several weeks followed by rehabilitation.
"He has a long road ahead of him but he's been in really good spirits," Hightower said. "I stop by to see him about everyday. He has his parents and his wife here, and he's doing pretty good."
The recovery, however, has not been without complications.
He had an infection in his leg, and his wound has to heal before the remaining part of his leg can be prepared for being fitted for an artificial limb.
His parents, Lewis and Janet Gillilan of Longview, were in San Antonio with their son this week. Lewis Gillilan said his son is "getting over the trauma as best he can."
Lewis Gillilan said he and his wife feel their son is getting top notch medical care.
"It's very impressive the lineup of people they have on his team," he said. Besides surgeons, his son has been visited by physical therapists, psychologist and counselors.
Lewis Gillilan said his son has been in the Army nearly four years and was serving his second tour of duty in Iraq when he was injured. The sergeant also served a tour in Korea.
Hightower said he believes Gillilan could probably remain in the Army — if he wants to.
"He was planning to transfer to military intelligence, and that should still be an option for him," he said. Gillilan said he has not made a decision on his plans after rehabilitation.
Hightower said once he gets released from outpatient status at Fort Sam Houston he anticipates taking at least 30 days convalescence leave to go home to Houston to be with his family.
"Then I hope to get back to Iraq and rejoin my unit — all my men are there," he said. Hightower said he has about seven months left on his deployment.
After losing leg in Iraq, Longview soldier enters rehab in San Antonio
By MIKE ELSWICK
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Army Sgt. Paul Gillilan of Longview will have a lifelong reminder of the war in Iraq — the leg he has no more.
Gillilan and his unit in Iraq were on patrol after midnight Feb. 24 when they got hit by an improvised explosive device, according to Lt. Andrew Hightower, his platoon leader. While no one was killed, Gillilan was one of the more serious casualties, Hightower said.
"There was one man worse off — he had both his feet amputated, and he almost bled to death," said Hightower in a phone interview Friday from his outpatient room at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio.
"Paul doesn't remember anything about what happened right after the explosion," Hightower said. "As soon as we were hit, those not wounded reacted and got us out of the street and into a courtyard."
While Gillilan does not remember what took place immediately after the explosion, Hightower does.
"He was comforting one of his privates and asked him if he was a Christian," he said of Gillilan. Hightower said the private initially tried to avoid giving an answer, but Gillilan pressed him.
"'Private, it's a simple question, and either you are or you're not, and right now is a time you need to decide,'" Hightower said, paraphrasing the conversation he overheard. "When the private said he was a Christian, Paul started praying with him."
Gillilan, reached by phone Friday afternoon, said he was home-schooled and attended LeTourneau University from August 2000 through the fall of 2002. He said his wife, Melissa Bushey Gillilan, is from Longview and is a graduate of LeTourneau University.
Hightower said he has been impressed with Gillilan's faith.
"He has a lot of faith. I don't know what denomination he is, but he's definitely a Christian," Hightower said. "He's also a very intelligent guy and has put the whole thing in God's hands."
Gillilan said that when he was told he lost his leg, he was able to accept the news.
"I was able to say it's OK. I know it's in God's control," he said. Gillilan said he knows a lot of people have been sharing their support for him and others serving their nation in Iraq.
"I just want everyone to know that we really appreciate their prayers," he said. "And the care packages we got over there — from people we didn't even know — were just awesome. They were really a great morale booster."
Gillilan said that once his wound gets closed up, he should be released from the hospital and continue to be treated on an outpatient basis.
"Then I should be able to join my wife in guest quarters," he said. "She's really been awesome through all of this."
The couple's first child, expected to be a girl, is due March 31, he said.
"We're excited," Gillilan said.
Hightower said he was discharged from the hospital earlier this week, but Gillilan likely will be facing more treatment for several weeks followed by rehabilitation.
"He has a long road ahead of him but he's been in really good spirits," Hightower said. "I stop by to see him about everyday. He has his parents and his wife here, and he's doing pretty good."
The recovery, however, has not been without complications.
He had an infection in his leg, and his wound has to heal before the remaining part of his leg can be prepared for being fitted for an artificial limb.
His parents, Lewis and Janet Gillilan of Longview, were in San Antonio with their son this week. Lewis Gillilan said his son is "getting over the trauma as best he can."
Lewis Gillilan said he and his wife feel their son is getting top notch medical care.
"It's very impressive the lineup of people they have on his team," he said. Besides surgeons, his son has been visited by physical therapists, psychologist and counselors.
Lewis Gillilan said his son has been in the Army nearly four years and was serving his second tour of duty in Iraq when he was injured. The sergeant also served a tour in Korea.
Hightower said he believes Gillilan could probably remain in the Army — if he wants to.
"He was planning to transfer to military intelligence, and that should still be an option for him," he said. Gillilan said he has not made a decision on his plans after rehabilitation.
Hightower said once he gets released from outpatient status at Fort Sam Houston he anticipates taking at least 30 days convalescence leave to go home to Houston to be with his family.
"Then I hope to get back to Iraq and rejoin my unit — all my men are there," he said. Hightower said he has about seven months left on his deployment.
