CAPE DOCTOR ACTIVATED TO MEMPHIS BASE

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- A Cape Girardeau immunologist whose naval reserve unit was called up earlier this month to join troops in the Persian Gulf will be serving at the Naval Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.

Dr. Robert Sacha had appealed to the government to excuse him from active duty, citing that his family needed him more than his country.

Sacha's 11-year-old stepson has muscular dystrophy and is confined to a wheelchair, and another stepson, who's 19, was diagnosed in September with cancer.

Sacha twice was denied a hardship waiver from the military, despite a letter he sent to President George Bush asking for his help in the matter. Earlier this month, he said if he was activated, he wanted to be stationed in Memphis, where he at least would be closer to his family.

With his activation this week, Sacha likely will serve at least 180 days at the Memphis Naval Air Station hospital.

Sacha served in the Air Force for eight years and has been a member of the naval reserves for four years. He is one of the 970 members of the Naval Reserve Fleet Hospital Unit that covers the five-state area of Missouri, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas.

The entire unit, consisting of 22 detachments, has been called up, making it the largest medical unit that has been activated in the reserve program.

Sacha operated an office in Doctor's Park, specializing in pediatric allergies. The office remains open for the time being, although Sacha was the only physician in the practice.