"Proud" Cedar Falls Marine in High Spirits After Blast Injuries

A Cedar Falls native who was wounded in Afghanistan last week is in high spirits and doing well, though he has a long recovery ahead, his sister Ashley Grandon, of Cedar Falls, said today.

Sgt. Quentin J. Hamilton, 25, a Marine, was injured when an improvised explosive device detonated Jan. 31. Hamilton's good friend Sgt. William Stacey, a Marine from Seattle, was killed in the explosion.

Grandon said Hamilton fractured his pelvic and hip, broke his tibia and shattered his left foot. There was also shrapnel in his body and a lot of bruising.

"The recovery is going to be long, obviously," Grandon said. "He had hip surgery on Tuesday, with two plates and 10 screws. There's another surgery scheduled on Friday."

She said the family hopes he can come home in the spring, but for now, they're taking things one day at a time.

"In a general way everybody is relieved he is alive," she said. "I think everyone’s just grateful that it's just the injuries that it is. But I’m his big sister, and I’m still concerned."

She flew to see him when she got the news and arrived back in Cedar Falls Monday. Hamilton is being treated at Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego, CA.

Hamilton, who graduated from in 2005, is stationed at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, CA. He was on his fifth deployment. He had previously done one tour in Iraq and was on his second in Afghanistan.

An account has been set up at for donations to support Hamilton and his family's expenses related to his recovery. People wishing to donate can go to the credit union and ask to put money in Quentin Hamilton's account.

Cards can also be sent to Hamilton via Grandon. Cards should be sent to 2018 Waterloo Road, Cedar Falls, IA 50613.

"He’s a Marine. This is what he wanted to do. The best thing you can do is just support, support, support," Grandon said. "He’s a very proud Marine."