Valyou remains in recovery


MILLERTON - Stephen Valyou, the 31-year-old Millerton native who was shot in Iraq two weeks ago, is recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

According to an official at Walter Reed, who is not a spokesperson and cannot be quoted by name, Valyou is in stable condition.

"He is improved and out of ICU and on to the ward," The Millerton News was told.

His wife, Melissa Totman Valyou, 27, and his mother, Cathy Bilquin of Florida, are with him. Valyou's 2-year-old son, Nathaniel, is staying with Melissa Valyou's parents, Rebecca and Don Totman of Daisi Hill Farm in Millerton. Valyou also has a sister, Stephanie, in Millerton.

Valyou arrived in the United States last week after being shot in the shoulder by a sniper in Iraq during a mortar attack. The bullet went in through his shoulder and exited through his back, according to his mother-in-law.

Valyou was first treated in a field hospital in Iraq, and then taken to Germany before being taken to Walter Reed. In another few weeks he's scheduled to go to a rehabilitation center in Tampa, Fla.

"He is recovering and still located at the Walter Reed hospital, and within the next few weeks he's going to be relocated to Tampa. He has a ways to go and as far as recovery, we're not sure how much he's going to have," Rebecca Totman said. "He has a real recovery period to get through yet."

Valyou is a soldier with the U.S. Army and is stationed out of Fort Drum in Watertown, N.Y., which is home to the 10th Mountain Division. He is a specialist in EOD, or explosive ordnance disposal, which is likened to a bomb squad. The EOD is not, however, part of the 10th Mountain Division. He was sent to Iraq in November.

His in-laws request that area residents continue to support the troops.

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