DJIBOUTI — An American soldier battling a potentially life-threatening coronavirus infection is just thankful he is not stationed at Fort Polk, Louisiana.

“I try to keep a positive attitude because there are always people out there who are worse off,” Pvt. Wallace Simpson told reporters. “I mean, think about it: Right now some poor soul is getting orders to report to western Louisiana during the prime of their life. So really, I should be thankful for what I have.”

“The worst that could happen to me is just dying.”