Marine Sgt. Albert “Bert” Winschel was on an aircraft from Germany headed to Bethesda, Md., Naval Hospital late Wednesday, and his parents were on an aircraft headed to Bethesda from their home in Vicksburg.

Terry Winschel, Bert Winschel’s father, said he and his wife were hopeful they would be allowed to visit with their son Wednesday night at the hospital where he was to arrive at about 7 p.m. after a nine-hour trip. The parents were expected to arrive about two hours earlier.

It was to be the first visit the Winschels have had with their 23-year-old son since he was injured in combat fire in southern Afghanistan on March 2. He was hospitalized in Afghanistan and Germany for wounds to his right hand, pelvis and lower right leg and has undergone “several surgeries,” said his father, the historian at the Vicksburg National Military Park.

Soon after his arrival at Bethesda, Winschel, a member of the 3rd Force Reconnaissance with Marine Special Forces, was to undergo reconstructive surgery on his hand, Terry Winschel said.

His parents were expected to stay in Bethesda “at least until after he is stabilized” from the surgery, Winschel said.

Bert Winschel is a member of the 2004 class of St. Aloysius High School who enlisted soon after graduation. He is the father of a 2-year-old daughter.