As injured soldier continues to recover, Sedalia residents reach out to help Yantz family

After multiple surgeries and countless hours of physical therapy, Joe Yantz is learning to drive using his left foot and plans to participate in an upcoming bike ride.

The 21-year-old Sedalia native was injured by a improvised explosive device while deployed to Afghanistan in June. Yantz, a U.S. Army airborne infantryman, suffered lacerations to his face and moderate injuries to his right thumb and neck. He also has had his right leg amputated above the knee.

A punctured eardrum will be surgically patched in the coming weeks.

According to Yantz’s mother, Diane Yantz, her son’s wounds are healing nicely.

“Medically Joe is doing very well,” she said. “He has just been cleared for the fitting of a prosthetic leg.”

Yantz, a 2007 Smith-Cotton High School graduate, is undergoing outpatient therapy at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C. with his mother by his side. Diane Yantz said her son is living in a hotel on the post and is able to come and go as he pleases as long as he attends formations and his appointments.

“This gives Joe the freedom to be an active 21-year-old again,” Diane Yantz said, “which he definitely is.”

In a few days, Yantz plans to participate in a Soldier Ride in New York where he will join other soldiers from Walter Reed to ride bicycles more than 100 miles over several days.

Yantz plans to ride a hand pedal recumbent bike. Diane Yantz said the bike ride is considered part of her son’s therapy.

As Yantz has recovered in Washington, D.C., family members, including his father, sisters and younger brother, have visited at various times over the last two months. Diane Yantz plans to stay through the summer until her job resumes in August.

Several organizations and residents have held fundraisers to assist the family with expenses during Yantz’s recovery. And three more have been scheduled.

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and School will hold an old-fashioned ice cream and cake walk to benefit Yantz from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday in the gym, located at 701 South Massachusetts Ave.

The event will feature homemade ice cream, pie, cake and hot dogs. The Helen G. Steele Music Club will perform at 4:45 p.m. and Mary Frances Herndon, whistler, will provide entertainment at 5:10 p.m. Freewill donations will be collected for the concert.

Associate Pastor Jeremy Freeman said congregation members decided to host a fundraiser because the Yantz family attends their church.

Members of the 40 & 8 and Smith-Cotton High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps plan to hold a fundraiser from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 31 at Walmart. The groups will be selling hot dogs and chips and 100 percent of the money raised will be donated to the Joe Yantz Support Fund.

A fish fry, sponsored by the American Legion Post 642, is scheduled to be held from 1 to 5 p.m. August 7 at 2016 West Main St.

Gail Hinton, post bar manager, said members wanted to support Yantz because he was injured serving our country.

“There is a lot of expense associated with Joe’s recovery,” Hinton said.

The event will feature fish cooked by Commander Darren Ross and the cost is $5 per person.

Hinton said a silent auction and giveaways also will be held during the fundraiser.

 A fund also is in place at U.S. Bank.

Diane Yantz said she is thankful for the generosity of area residents.

“We are amazed at the outpouring of care that we have received from everyone in Sedalia,” she said. “Joe receives cards and letters daily. The support is heart-warming.”