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Noah Bailey, a 21-year-old soldier from Grass Valley, recovers from a double amputation at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. He will return to Grass Valley today for the first time since being injured. Submitted file photo
Noah Bailey, the young Grass Valley soldier who lost both legs below the knee during battle in Afghanistan, is coming home today.
His plane is scheduled to land at 6 p.m. in Sacramento, where he will be greeted by his loved ones and others.
"I'll be there 30 days," Bailey, 21, said Wednesday from his studio apartment in barracks at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. "It's my convalescent leave."
He said he's excited to see everyone from Nevada County who sent him cards and letters supporting him through his recovery.
"I want to be able to say thank you," he said. "I can't really write everybody back. There have been hundreds of (letters)."
His plane is scheduled to land at 6 p.m. in Sacramento, where he will be greeted by his loved ones and others.
"I'll be there 30 days," Bailey, 21, said Wednesday from his studio apartment in barracks at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. "It's my convalescent leave."
He said he's excited to see everyone from Nevada County who sent him cards and letters supporting him through his recovery.
"I want to be able to say thank you," he said. "I can't really write everybody back. There have been hundreds of (letters)."
Bailey has been recovering for the last six months at the medical center from injuries he received in December when a roadside bomb exploded near his Humvee.
Half of his right leg was nearly blown off in the explosion. Bailey had been in the gunner's position in the Humvee, which rolled onto his left leg and broke it in several places. Doctors removed his right leg beneath the knee.
After reviewing his X-rays and speaking with doctors two weeks after the explosion, he opted for amputation of his left leg just below the knee.
"I told them to amputate," he said in April. "I can do more without it."
Bailey has been fitted with prosthetics and has already mastered walking with the use of a cane.
He said he is most excited about seeing his girlfriend, Krystal Burt, 19, when he gets off the plane.
Half of his right leg was nearly blown off in the explosion. Bailey had been in the gunner's position in the Humvee, which rolled onto his left leg and broke it in several places. Doctors removed his right leg beneath the knee.
After reviewing his X-rays and speaking with doctors two weeks after the explosion, he opted for amputation of his left leg just below the knee.
"I told them to amputate," he said in April. "I can do more without it."
Bailey has been fitted with prosthetics and has already mastered walking with the use of a cane.
He said he is most excited about seeing his girlfriend, Krystal Burt, 19, when he gets off the plane.
The two met through correspondence when Burt wrote to Bailey at the hospital.
Bailey's father, John Callahan, said Burt, who was two years behind Bailey in high school, knew of Bailey but Bailey didn't know her then.
"First it was a letter, then a picture was sent," Callahan said.
Bailey said he's already met Burt in person.
"She's already been here twice," he said Wednesday.
Bailey's father, John Callahan, said Burt, who was two years behind Bailey in high school, knew of Bailey but Bailey didn't know her then.
"First it was a letter, then a picture was sent," Callahan said.
Bailey said he's already met Burt in person.
"She's already been here twice," he said Wednesday.
Callahan said Bailey's mother hopes her son will be able to tear himself away from his girlfriend long enough to spend time with her.
"He's a young man," Callahan said. "You know how it is."
Bailey said he plans to spend his time in Grass Valley "just hanging out with friends."
He is scheduled to return July 14 to Maryland. He said he hopes to be discharged from the Army sometime before next Christmas, when he plans to return to live in Grass Valley.
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To contact staff writer Robyn Moormeister, e-mail robynm@theunion.com or call 477-4236.
"He's a young man," Callahan said. "You know how it is."
Bailey said he plans to spend his time in Grass Valley "just hanging out with friends."
He is scheduled to return July 14 to Maryland. He said he hopes to be discharged from the Army sometime before next Christmas, when he plans to return to live in Grass Valley.
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To contact staff writer Robyn Moormeister, e-mail robynm@theunion.com or call 477-4236.
