Land mine injures Amador grad in Iraq Land mine injures Amador grad in Iraq (April 18, 2003)

Parents of Wally Mayer III startled by Marine visit

Marine Cpl. Wallace Mayer III, 27, a 1995 graduate of Amador Valley High School and son of Ginny and Wally Mayer of Pleasanton, was injured in Baghdad last Friday by an anti-personnel mine that exploded nearby. He is being treated for shrapnel wounds at a military hospital and is expected to recover fully.

Word of the injury was delivered to his parents in what the Mayers believe was an extraordinary and unnecessarily startling way. They were at home Saturday night when two Marines knocked on their front door with news about their son's injuries.

"When I opened the door and saw the two Rangers, my heart stopped," said Wally Mayer, who owns W.H. Mayer Accountancy Corp. on Black Avenue. "Usually when you hear about the military going to someone's home, it's to report something much worse than an injury. I think they should have at least called us in advance to say why they were coming over."

The Mayers had talked to their son Thursday night - Friday morning Baghdad time - for the first time since he had moved out of Kuwait, so they knew where he was. The landmine accident occurred about four hours later. After emergency treatment, he was airlifted back to Kuwait, where he called again Sunday morning with news of his accident and to say he was all right. His parents said they would have preferred having that call first before being surprised by the Marine visit to their home.

"It's been quite a week, and not a Saturday night I would wish on anyone," said Wally Mayer, who went back to work Sunday, where he and his associates completed work on tax returns before the April 15 filing deadline, always the busiest week of the year for the accounting company.

The Mayers' son is expected back at Camp Pendleton within the next few weeks. A graduate of Sacramento State University with a degree in criminal justice, he is planning a police career after his San Bruno-based reserve unit - the 2nd battalion, 23rd Marines Echo Company - is deactivated.