Soldier Shot by Intruder at Bosnia Base

TUZLA AIR BASE, Bosnia-Herzegovina — An American soldier was shot and wounded in the shoulder Friday after challenging an intruder at a base in northern Bosnia.

The soldier was identified as Spc. Shawn R. Austin, a 21-year-old tank driver from Tacoma, Wash. The wound was not considered life-threatening, and Austin was in stable condition at a U.S. field hospital, spokesmen at U.S. headquarters in Tuzla said.

He was the second American peacekeeper in Bosnia to be wounded by hostile fire.

“Actually, I didn’t realize I was hit until after I had unloaded my 9-millimeter in his direction, and then I started feeling the pain then,” Austin told CBS.

Austin was shot at 1:45 a.m. while he was on patrol. He spotted an intruder in civilian clothes attempting to break through concertina wire around Camp Linda, in Bosnian government-held territory near Olovo, 40 miles south of U.S. headquarters, military officials said.

Austin challenged the intruder, who fired a shot that hit him in the left shoulder. The intruder fled, and no more is known about him, spokesmen said.