Pvt. Alex Murtha of the 101st Airborne Division is heading to a United States hospital after sustaining serious injuries Monday during a suicide bombing in Afghanistan.

Murtha's unit was escorting a NATO convoy to a government office when a motorcyclist blew himself up next to them.

The bombing claimed the lives of two soldiers from Murtha's unit and 10 Afghan schoolchildren. Murtha has already underwent three surgeries in four days at a German hospital to remove shrapnel from his body. Murtha believes that had he been one person back, he would have been killed in action.

Murtha's mother and stepfather, who live in Island Park, are eagerly awaiting his return, which is expected sometime this weekend in order to continue his medical treatment.

Murtha has been awarded the Purple Heart.

For more from Murtha's mother, watch the clip to the left or click News 12 Extra on Optimum TV channel 612.