Staff Sgt. James McClintock of Sweet Home, who was burned by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan on Dec. 5, which killed another Oregon soldier, is on the mend, his mother said Monday.
Linda Paddock of Sweet Home said McClintock, 35, is at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, healing from burns on his right side and nerve damage to his right leg.
“The doctor said he’s doing better than they expected,” Paddock said. “They figured it would take longer.”
She said McClintock was able to be released for four days to attend the funeral in Colorado of Specialist Elijah Rao, of the Portland area, who was killed by the bomb.
McClintock’s wife and two sons are still in Colorado, where she is stationed in the Army.
Paddock said she appreciated “all the prayers” and local support the family has received locally.
She said doctors aren’t guaranteeing anything, but McClintock has high hopes of getting home soon.
“He’s hoping to be out of there by the last of April because his battalion is coming home from Afghanistan in May,” Paddock said. “He wants to be (in Colorado) by the time they get there.”