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The Morning Journal - News - 04/26/2005 - Area Marine wounded in Iraq on Sunday

SOUTH AMHERST -- A local Marine was seriously injured in Iraq early Sunday when a mortar shell exploded on a group of men in his unit who were carrying it, according to the his father.

Pfc. Adam J. McCann, 19, of South Amherst, a 2003 graduate of Firelands High School, suffered shrapnel wounds to his legs as his unit was clearing out unexploded mortar shells in an area northwest of Baghdad, according to his father, Bob McCann, who said the information came from a member of his son's unit and a military nurse.

Adam McCann, of the 325th Kilo Company's 2nd Platoon machine gun unit, had been deployed to Iraq from his base in Moundsville, W.Va., about two months ago, according to Bob McCann.

Bob McCann of Redwood Drive, South Amherst, said he received a call from a hospital in Iraq yesterday morning and he talked to his son and the military nurse.

''I don't know exactly what happened, yet,'' Bob McCann said. ''All I know is that a group of men in his unit were clearing out unexploded mortars, and one they were carrying exploded.

''He's in a lot of pain right now, and on painkillers,'' Bob McCann said. ''The marine from his unit who called me and the nurse I talked to said he had all his fingers and toes, but that his legs were badly injured. There was some damage done to his tendons and veins and his foot.''

None of the men were killed, he said he was told, and his son will be sent home to Ohio after being transported to a military hospital in Germany for treatment.

Bob McCann said he was uncertain of what the news would be when he received a phone call came from Iraq.

''After seeing all the news reports, you're always kind of on edge,'' he said. ''You always wonder, ÔWas he one of the ones killed or injured?' The phone call definitely wasn't good news, that's for sure.''

His son last visited with his family around the Christmas holidays, Bob McCann said. Adam's mother is Gayle Olbrysh. He also had a younger sister, Mikki McCann, 16.

Adam McCann has been in the U.S. Marine Reserves since April 2004. He had talked about joining the military soon after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, according to his father, and he joined on the delayed entry program after graduating from high school.

Bob McCann said it is too early to tell what his son's future in the military will be. Adam McCann has signed with the reserves for a six-year enlistment, according to his father.

Adam McCann plans to go to college for law enforcement at West Virginia University, according to his father.

''He was proud to be a marine and proud to be serving his country,'' he said. ''He's a good kid. He'll be coming home soon, and I'm glad that he will be. I'm real proud

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