A Marine from northeast Iowa has lost both of his legs after stepping on an improvised explosive device (IED) in Afghanistan. Lance Corporal Christopher Billmyer is from Dubuque. His father, Jim Billmyer, says he learned about his son’s condition Saturday night.
“These two young gentlemen, Marines, came to the door,” Billmyer told KCRG-TV. “And of course when I saw them my heart sort of dropped because we all know that’s a very bad thing.” The 22-year-old Billmyer underwent intensive surgery and doctors had to amputate both of his legs. His father says Christopher is heavily sedated and can’t feel pain.
“We knew this was a very dangerous area and we hoped things would go well. We just talked to him a week ago,” Billmyer said. During that conversation, Christopher asked for a care package from home, including one specific item.
“One of the ironies is that he said that his feet were cold,” Billmyer said. “So we sent him some special heat socks to keep his feet warm. And of course now, he won’t need socks.”
Billmyer and his wife planned to fly to Bethesda, Maryland today to be with their son while he recovers in the hospital.
By Katie Wiedemann, KCRG-TV, Cedar Rapids