*Soldier who lost leg in Iraq war determined to get back to fight (10/16/04)

Soldier who lost leg in Iraq war determined to get back to fight
APRS000020041016e0ag00bhy
By ESTES THOMPSON
Associated Press Writer
1523 Words
16 October 2004
14:12 GMT
Associated Press Newswires
English
(c) 2004. The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (AP) - George Perez still feels the sweat between his toes when he exercises. He's still plagued with nagging cramps in his calf muscle. And sometimes, when he gets out of bed at night without thinking, he topples over.

In many ways, the 21-year-old Army specialist is haunted by the leg he lost to a roadside bomb in Iraq more than a year ago. The phantom pains are a constant reminder that he is not the same man he once was.

But Perez is determined to prove to himself -- and to the Army -- that he is no less a man, no less a soldier, that he is not damaged goods.