UPDATE: Families Await Updates on Four Injured Area Soldiers

CEDAR RAPIDS – The mother of an Eastern Iowa soldier, injured serving in Afghanistan earlier this week, said her son has two broken legs but is hopeful and optimistic.

Spc. Jacob Hutchinson, 21, of Cedar Rapids, was one of four Iowa National Guard soldiers, all with Eastern Iowa ties, injured after a bomb exploded near their vehicle.

Sela Gonlubol said her son flew to Germany and has already endured multiple surgeries. She said Spc. Hutchsinson also has a broken arm.

Spc. Hutchinson serves as a medic. Gonlubol said, the day after he was injured, an acceptance letter arrived for his entry into the nursing program at Hawkeye Community College for the fall.

“Some families go through things much worse than this,” Gonlubol said on Saturday. “His legs will heel. He's an athlete and he will be able to work with folks and have a good outcome. I'm very convinced of that.”

Gonlubol said the family's plan is to visit him when he returns to the United States for treatment.

CEDAR FALLS – A Friday afternoon turned into hours of waiting for one Cedar Falls family, two days after an explosion in Afghanistan wounded four soldiers, all with Eastern Iowa ties.

“I want to be there with him and I can't be,” said Tracy Frisch, mother of Sgt. Chisum Frisch, 23. She was gathered with extended family at their rural Cedar Falls home, awaiting a call from Sgt. Frisch with an update on his condition.

The Iowa Army and Air National Guard reports Sgt. Frisch, Spc. Jacob Hutchinson, 21, of Cedar Rapids, Spc. Benjamin Ward, 26, of Rowley and PFC Tanner Williams, 18, of Tama were taken for treatment after the vehicle there were in hit an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) on Wednesday.

“They are all good guys over there and they are parents, brothers and sisters, just like we are and my heart goes out for all of them,” said Frisch.

Tiffany Thomas, Sgt. Frisch's older sister, said her brother is expected to be flown to Germany for further medical treatment and may return to the United States for extended rehabilitation. She said he suffered injuries, including to an elbow and an ankle.

Thomas said her brother did call on Friday night, from Germany. She said his surgery will be delayed as he does have an infection.

Sgt. Frisch, the youngest of three children, graduated from Dike-New Hartford High School in 2006 and has served in the military ever since. Thomas said he even “re-upped” for another six years earlier this year.

“He wants to be back with his boys and he knows he is coming home now and he's not happy,” said Thomas.

For the hours on Friday where his mother was waiting for that phone call from Europe, Frisch said she took comfort holding her old grandchild, a three-month-old named Cain.

“He has helped tremendously to get through this,” said Frisch of the infant. “He's a character, like his uncle.”