Benefit set for wounded Evansville Marine

By GINA DUWE

Monday, June 1, 2009

Photo

Marine Cpl. Jacob 'Jake' Janes, 23, a 2004 Evansville graduate, recently visited war memorials and monuments in Washington D.C., when family members came to visit him there. Janes is recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center after having both his legs amputated from injuries suffered when he stepped on an improvised explosive device April 3 in Afghanistan. A spaghetti dinner benefit for Janes will be held Friday in Evansville.

EVANSVILLE — Marine Cpl. Jacob "Jake" Janes has a long road to recovery, but his positive attitude is taking him far, his cousin Nate Katzenmeyer said.

Janes, 23, an Evansville graduate, had both of his legs amputated after he stepped on an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan two months ago. He also suffered injuries to his arm and hand.

Since May 1, he has been recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

"He's leaps and bounds, attitude-wise and recovery-wise, ahead of a lot of the guys," said Katzenmeyer, who visited Janes over Memorial Day weekend.

Janes' typical mornings are filled with therapy, Janes said in a phone interview.

He said he doesn't know how long he'll be at Walter Reed because doctors don't tell patients when they can expect to go home.

"I could get an infection tomorrow," he said.

Since Janes was injured, many people have said they want to do something to help, Katzenmeyer said. People can show their support at a spaghetti dinner benefit for Janes on Friday in Evansville, he said.

The benefit is sponsored by the Evansville Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Lions Club and VFW.

It's a great opportunity for kids to learn and get involved in the community, said Ann Larson, committee chair for the Cub Scouts.

"A lot of the kids hear things on TV but don't really know people that have been affected directly by the wars," she said.

A benefit also was held last weekend at Black Bridge Bowl in Janesville, and the Evansville wrestling team is planning a summer camp to benefit Janes.

Janes said he's thankful for all the support he has received from back home. He plans to return to Evansville when he can and wants to have a house and "hunt and fish."

Living at Walter Reed is like being in a hotel with a cafeteria and a bar, he said. He has been fitted with a prosthetic for his left leg, but his right leg needs more time to heal, Katzenmeyer said.

The soldiers at Walter Reed push each other in their recovery.

"If a normal person were to walk up to us and step in a conversation, they'd think we're mean," Janes said.

Katzenmeyer witnessed the guys poking fun at each other and told Janes they were "kind of hard core," he said.

"That's just our way of pushing each other," he responded.

Family members have been coming and going to visit Janes. His cousin and other family were able to tour some of the war memorials with Janes recently.

"He really wanted to go to Arlington (National Cemetery), and we got pictures at the monuments," said Katzenmeyer, who also served in the military. "It was really, really nice. Obviously being in D.C., the veterans treated him very well."