Iraq War vet decides to have second leg amputated

Iraq War vet decides to have second leg amputated
Sunday, February 15, 2009 | 7:22 p.m. CST
BY PHILLIP O'CONNOR/St. Louis Post-Dispatch

GREENFIELD — When Iraq war veteran Derick Hurt lost his right leg in a grenade attack five years ago, he fought with doctors to save his left leg and mangled foot.

Now, he wants to lose that leg, too.

Hurt believes he's used the pain in his remaining leg as an excuse for not moving on with his life. He avoided finding a full-time job, lacked goals and spent too many days at his rural home, depressed.

"I used it as a crutch not to do things," he said.