"You have an RPG in your leg"
Editor's note: Watch Barbara Starr's report on Sanjay Gupta MD (Saturday at 430pET/Sunday at 730aET).
By Ashley Fantz, with reporting from Barbara Starr and Larry Shaughnessy
If it were a movie, the moment would play slowly.
The big, boyish eyes of 23-year-old Marine Cpl. Winder Perez would widen. His lips would part. The sound of chaos around him would be muted as he watched a rocket-propelled grenade zooming toward him.
Then, snapped back to real time, Perez would look down and think: "Oh, crap! I have an RPG in my leg!"
The whole thing, the entire, awful metal Nerf football-looking RPG was lodged inside his mangled leg. It was maybe a foot long. Its tail - fins, kind of - poked out.
In his shock, the Marine instinctively grabbed his radio to call for help, not realizing that it was totaled.
WATCH: How the RPG rescue unfolded
Perez didn't feel pain. He didn't feel anything. Adrenaline numbed him.
Another day in Musa Qala
It was mid-January in eastern Afghanistan. The Marine unit that Perez led had been deployed for four of their assigned seven months.
January 12 was like most days they'd seen in Musa Qala, the Fortress of Moses, in Helmand Province, a lawless and desolate stretch in southwestern Afghanistan where Pashtun tribes lived. It was hell there for American troops. Perez's men had taken fire several times. Musa was a Taliban stronghold.
Among many other dangerous jobs the Marines had, they were tasked with investigating when reports came in that an improvised explosive device had been found in the area. They got that kind of call on this day. So. They went to check it out, to verify that it was indeed the type of crude bomb that had killed thousands of Americans during the nearly 11-year war. Secure, verify, log, remove. That's what they did.
This call was no different. The IED they were called to check was legit.
When they finished their work, the Marines packed up and were headed back to the base.
It's unclear who fired the RPG that hit Perez. But it came from the south, a direction where the unit had caught fire before.
In the seconds after the Marines scrambled, they realized Perez was down. They ran to him and realized, in an awesomely frightening moment, they were looking down at an unexploded grenade.
Marines do what they have to do. It was no different in this case.
One of the troops leaned over Perez and joked, "I'm glad I have my protective glasses on."
A terrifying vote
The unit lifted and moved the wounded Marine quickly to a secure spot where they could avoid being hit by any more incoming fire. They tied a tourniquet and called for assistance.
A U.S. Army Medivac team that happened to be flying already was radioed.
Pilot Capt. Kevin Doo should head toward Perez's location.
He listened as he was told Perez's situation. The crew understood the stakes immediately.
Moving Perez into their helicopter meant moving the RPG. The device could explode at any minute. It could go off while they made the 65-mile flight to the nearest medical facility. All aboard could die. At the very least, medics working over Perez could take devastating shrapnel wounds if the RPG exploded.
"There was quite a bit of alarm among the crew at the time, as you can imagine," Doo said.
"Each of us on the aircraft had to agree to take this patient on," said Spc. Mark Edens, one of the medics aboard.
Each medic on the helicopter voted. It was unanimous. They were going to try to save the Marine's life.
'You have an RPG in your leg'
Perez would have likely bled out if the RPG had hit his femoral artery. The device was lodged only a few millimeters away.
When the medics touched down, troops lifted Perez and placed him in the helicopter.
Incredibly, he was still alert.
"Are we good?" Perez shouted.
The bird lifted off and flew to the nearest medical unit. Every minute felt like an hour.
They landed at a base, and Perez was gingerly removed.
By this time, he had started to feel. He asked Navy trauma nurse Lt. Cmdr. James Gennari for more painkillers.
Though the medicine was thick in his veins at this point, Perez was still clear-headed enough to notice that there didn't seem to be a rush of medics around his gurney.
"Where is everybody?" he asked.
"You have an RPG in your leg, and everybody's staying away from you," Gennari answered. He decided to tend to Perez alone thinking, "I am not going to ask somebody to do what I am not going to do."
Perez fully realized, "I'm not the one being protected. I am the one being protected from." He was quiet.
"I promise you," Gennari told Perez. "I will not leave you until that thing is out of your leg."
"Cool," Perez uttered, and then passed out.
An unusual recovery
With Perez knocked out, explosives expert Army Staff Sgt. Benjamin Summerfield came to help and began the crude but necessary work of getting that RPG out of his body.
Gennari grabbed the fins of the weapon protruding from Perez's flesh. The RPG budged a little.
An explosives expert stood next to Gennari and gingerly wrapped his fingers around the device. The RPG was stuck. The two then pulled the fins downward toward Perez's feet and yanked again.
Finally, the hulking metal came loose from Perez's flesh, and a specialist carried the device.
The medic stuffed the gaping hole in Perez's leg with sterile cotton and tightened his tourniquet.
He was carried into surgery.
Days later, Perez woke up in a military hospital in Germany.
He opened his eyes and saw nurses. He immediately reached down to check to see whether he still had his leg.
He felt for the leg that had been ravaged by the RPG. It was still there.
"Am I going to be able to keep it?" he asked.
Highly motivated
For months, doctors at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where he's been slowly recovering, have made sure that Perez has the best possible chance of not only keeping his leg but walking again.
In fact, Perez has recovered in a way that has shocked his doctors.
He's now walking with a cane. The braces he wore when doctors secured his shattered femur are now gone. Scars on his left leg are visible when he sits, and his black Nike shorts crop up a little.
"Imagine someone heating up a pole and putting it in your leg, and imagine that attached to that pole is a bomb," said Perez's trauma surgeon, Lt. Cmdr. Elliot Jessie. "We were concerned whether he would keep his leg or not. He had a big injury, a lot of soft tissue damage."
There's no simple explanation for why Perez has recovered so swiftly, he said.
It's lucky that the RPG missed his femoral artery, sure, said Jessie. But there's also something intangible about the way troops like Perez get better.
"He's a Marine, so he's highly motivated," said Jessie. "The first thing they want to know is when can I get back to my unit and when can I get back to being me. ... That makes taking care of them relatively easy."
Perez sat in a metal folding chair in a small room at Walter Reed, answering questions from a reporter. He looks like a typical 23-year-old. You have to look closely to see his scars.
He speaks clearly and calmly. He's polite and direct.
"I sure didn't want anyone losing their life over me," he said, recalling the trepidation the troops had to work on him.
He talks about why he enlisted at 18. No one in his family had been in the military, and it seemed like the right thing to do.
He grew up in the Bronx. He joked that being a Dominican-American requires that he love baseball.
'This is my job'
Some of his buddies from his unit are home now. They have visited him. Two weeks ago, he went with them to take in an Orioles versus Yankees game in Baltimore.
He's a Yankees fan, of course. "They lost but, hey, I got to see them," Perez jokes.
It was so nice to just be with them again, be normal, not the guy who went through all this hell.
"We went out," he said. "We drank a little. Did man stuff. ... We didn't really talk about stuff we went through over there."
Perez wants to be able to get on a patch of grass soon and hit a few balls.
Of course, he does. He will. When he says this, it isn't sentimental. His voice has an edge, but he's not going to lose control of his emotions, especially not in front of a news crew taping his interview for CNN.
"What, am I going to sit around and cry about it?" he says.
He sees a lot of guys in rough shape at Walter Reed. It's hard to compare bad experiences in war, but he's seen guys who've had it pretty awful.
There were guys in his unit who didn't come home, Perez is asked.
"We had our downs," he replies.
It's a hard thing to explain to people who haven't been there.
"From the time I got hit, to the time I got knocked out, I'll be honest with you, I wasn't thinking about it. It would've been a big explosion. I wouldn't have felt a thing," he said, stressing each word so that he can be better understood.
"The thing I was thinking about is: 'Who is going to lead my Marines? Who is going to take over for me? Are they better off without me?' " he said. "That's everybody's biggest fear - having to leave your Marines behind.
"This is my job. My job included a lot of stuff that may happen. One of those things happened to me. But those guys, those guys, they were there for me."
Barbara Starr and Larry Shaughnessy contributed to this report.
Watch Gennari and Summerfield try to remove the RPG:
@natlsecuritycnn on Twitter
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The tourniquet and bandages was my son's handiwork. He was the first one to Perez and patched him up. He was a squad member and not a true medic but still saved his life. This is now in some medical journals.
My son-in-law is SSG Benjamin Summerfield. He is very humble about this experience. He removed the RPG. He then took it and detonated it. I give much credit to all that participated including his guys behind the blast walls that supported him and the medic that was there to keep Perez calm. It was a LIVE RPG. I don't know why it didn't detonate when it hit, but I assure you it detonated afterwards.
Army, Navy,Marines just doing their jobs so airheads like most of you respondees have the right to babble your BS on line.
The denuclearization of South Asia (Subcontinent) particularly India is imperative.
Quid pro quo transfer of nuclear technology by USA to third world countries such as India needs to be opposed on moral grounds. Billions of people live in that neighborhood and would be at risk from such catastrophes which I am sure the American people would not like to be a party to. We are all well aware that that region is prone to floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, and of course terrorism placing such nuclear installations at tremendous risks. US Congress is urged to reconsider and cancel all the agreements for the transfer of such technologies due “Force Majeure”.
Too late for that. India has its own nuclear program now. they are doing things we can't do here because of EPA regulations. India is working on a quantum weapon that was first proposed by Sandia National Labs. Sandia had put in for federal funding by the DOE but was turned down. They exported the technology to India and Israel. Those were the two countries least likely to fall into the hands of our enemies. As a result, India has tested a working micro scale model. From what I have been told, you point it at your enemy and the simply die in place. You wave a larger weapon over a great swath of the enemy and thousands just drop dead.
A "quantum weapon"? They just "die in place"? That's utter nonsense.
What does any of that have to do with this story about a Marine who survived a direct hit from an RPG?
Obelisk: What do your ramblings about India and nuclear technology have to do with this story about the young Marine with the RPG in his leg?
I have Dungeons & Dragons in my leg?!?! FUUUUUUUUUUUUUU-
In my Jolly Green unit we wore a shoulder patch that read "That others may live". I changed it unofficially to "we will come for you". The guys on the ground must know that we WILL come.
Is that an RPG in your pants or are you just happy to see me?
Surely all those who risked their lives helping this marine deserve some form of commendation, especially the ones who removed the RPG knowing they could be dead or maimed, equal to the risk they took to help a fellow comrade. I hope there is a follow up, if that wasn't bravery nothing is.
xvet
An excellent post also fit enough to be in ‘Belief’ Blog. It is well known that fortune favours the brave(s).
In Hinduism it is accepted that if God wishes to keep you alive nobody can “take you out”.
Wish a speedy recovery to Winder Perez, I personally suffered a fractured leg at one point of time in my boyhood days and understand how desperate can one be to get back to his feet.
Sayan.
This belongs in the Belief Blog every bit as much as stories about soldiers getting killed and permanently disabled. If "God" deserves credit for the good things, then he logically deserves blame for the bad things.
Exactly. If God was involved wouldn't he just make the RPG miss?
If god really cared he'd just prevent wars in the first place. god is an abusive parent if he exists at all.
In Sweden, "Semper" is a baby milk brand, and "Fi" is the name of an extremist feminist party.
Lars,
Talk to the average Swedish person. Your slums are overrun with Muslims milking your system yet they hate you and they bring more everyday from the poorest and most radicalized parts of the world. Next time you try to comment on America protecting the rest of the world from evil, at least have the guts to stand up in your own country before running your mouth. My ancestors are from Sweden and I'm ashamed bunch of cowards.
Yes and a MOST WONDERFUL man tried to do something about it...He MASSACRED scores of Swedes!
I have visited Sweden and I thought that the people were genuinely very warm and nice, but I guess there can be exceptions.
Odd comments I got. Interesting to hear foreigner's perspectives on Sweden, but "Jack Black" makes no sense. I have nothing against America "protecting the rest of the world from evil" (if that's true), nor do I have anything against American Marine soldiers. I merely pointed out what "Semper" means in my part of the world.
Nice to hear that "dakota2000" have a positive view of Swedish people, but it would be interesting to know what "exceptions" he or she is talking about and why.
You really got some weird answers on that one..I thought it was funny and interesting..people are so strange and so willing to be offended at absolutely nothing..no wonder the world is so violent..we seem to be a fairly insane species, quick to fight and slow to think, yet we feel we are the top species on this earth? I began to believe we are all nuts in one way or another.
Cpl. Perez should play the lottery... It's nice to hear news from the war that isn't bad. Least not as bad as it could have been. I am curious though. Did they figure out why it didn't detonate?
Nurses aren't medics especially a LT. Commander Nurse...
we wish you all the best , marine . semper fidelis .
YUUUUUUUUTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!
No I'm just happy to see you.
THIS IS NOT NEWS! It is not appropriate to show these types of videos to the public. What moron is in charge of content on CNN? Ban Sanja Guptas story this Sunday...THIS IS NOT NEWS!
It's a cool story that brings closer attention to American wars – something that's really needed in our society.
Tim, you are completely wrong. This IS news. More specifically, it is GOOD news. I was glad to read this article, and see the video clips. I'm grateful to CNN for making it possible.
You know what's great about this country? Freedom. You have freedom that other countries don't have. For instance, you have the freedom to click on the link to this story. If you don't want to read about good news from the war then DON"T CLICK on a any links or read the stories. It's that simple. And yes, it is news. Might not be news to you, but to others it is.
I think, that as a voter, I need to know what is going in our military conflicts. I think I need to know the real sacrifices people are making at the request of our democratically elected leaders and for our benefit.
i love the comments about soldiers and marines there is some small differences, they train marines to go till theres nothing left and to be arrogant (not in a bad way) because it gives them the confidence to face any challenge no matter the odds they are the shock troopers of the US ment to be deployed any where at any time while still being effective without support from armor, thats why they get the nice new gear where army infantry usually gets the short end of the stick. (look at the anit-tank weaponry the marines have compared to army infantry, you'll laugh)
or maybe its because they are a very small fighting force using the concept of "we are on our own" and the Army is Mmmmmm not.
Agreed, you need to brainwash men into believing they're invincible so they're willing to be first to die should we ever get into a real war with a real enemy.
Dang. That's one hell of a pain tolerance.
'Crap, I think I've got an RPG in my leg.'
Freakin' awesome, Marine. NIcely done.
Also, an UX RPG is, for the most part, a ticking time bomb. Where the fuze is placed and what it hits is purely academic. Heck, I remember one of my instructors talking about seeing one 'skip' along the ground without popping, only to go off about 150 yards behind him.
Thank you for your service. Now go scramble me some eggs.
Bet you wouldn't have the guts to say that to his face you freakin pu$$y.
The quality of these people is amazing. Hope everyone involved gets home alive.
A soldier is a person trained for warfare. A Marine is one kind of soldier. It doesn't matter whether the word "marine" is associated with the term "navy", "corps", "infantry", or whatever. It is still a soldier. Get a grip!
Obviously you never served in the Armed Forces.
There is a world of difference between a Soldier and a Marine.
Looks like each of the different branches feel the same way. I am an airman. Call me a soldier and I'll pop ya!
I think he's referring to the actually defination of the word soldier. the actual defination of the word marine, deals with water, soooooo
OORAH FOX 3RD PLATOON! until any of you come back from combat, dont speak your mind of what we are doing over there. until you go through the hell we do, keep your american hating comments to yourself. you can message me and ill glady buy you a ticket to any country that doesnt have a democracy. call my bluff. The marine corps is not needed by the united states. THE MARINE CORPS IS WANTED BY THE UNITED STATES PEOPLE. anyone who has a clear head on their shoulders will know that any marine corps grunt will give their life without hesitation to ensure that americans can continue to live with no fear. Afghanistan is a country controlled by a gang that bullies and steals from the population. Majority of Afghans love us there and are happy we are tying to make a difference. Cpl Perez is one example of a mans will to live.
ps cpl perez's platoon had to force the army pilots to take him. literally at gun point. semper fi army, some "brothers" you are.
That's actually not true about the army pilots. They willingly took Cpl Perez. They were pretty heroic in there actions. I served with Fox 2/4.
Freaking HEROES!! All of them in every sense of the word. Thanks!
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BRAVO, Marine Cpl. Winder Perez and all of the brave men who saved your life, including Navy Lt. Cmdr. James Gennari, Army Staff. Sgt. Benjamin Summerfield, Capt. Kevin Doo, Sgt. Robert Hardisty, and Spc. Mark Edens. Thank you all for your service to our country.
I guess its American as apple pie to find the differences in anything and segregate and discriminate accordingly. MARINE, ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE, you are all wrongful invaders in the holy land enforcing white western supremacy on those poor souls. Youre there because of a propaganda lie of the greedy wealthy, who victimize your families back home with inflation. Joblessness, and homelesness. And yet you still fight among yourselves about status of regiment. SMH!
Blak: I am a proud American. However, I do NOT support the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. We should not have invaded either country. We do not belong there. However, I support our troops who are being forced into fighting a war that not many of them believe in. We are at the mercy of our leaders as to where our troops are deployed. They are merely pawns in a larger game.
thats interesting
You're here because of a mistake your father made with your mother! Pig!
funny
Blak, I am glad you have the freedom to speak your mind. Marines like the one before paid that price so you have the freedom to speak. God Bless you. I forgive you and hope God above has mercy on your soul for your feelings about our country. If you don't like what the US Military is doing (supporting our Commander In Chief), then move. Semper Fi to the rest of the United States and her Marines.
There has never been peace without a single dominant military force to enforce it. this is historical fact. BTW we have, by far, the best economy in the world and we run the world. Complain all you want, but the message is clear: you mess with the best, you will lose. Now why don't you be a good boy, let your women get educated, stop blowing up school children for allah, and stay out of America's way.
What is a big deal? Just do not hit the nose tip of an RPG round with a hammer. Doing everything else with it is perfectly safe.
I used to be a Marine like you then I took an RPG to the leg.
Nice!
I am just wondering why there are comments about Marines not being soldiers and soldiers not being Marines - What? Anybody who goes into combat is a "soldier" in my mind and it doesn't matter whether they are Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard or freakin' Boy Scouts - they're all "soldiers" if they are engaged in combat in a war zone! Get over your egotistical selves "Airborne all the way!"
If you haven't been one "Mother Green's Gyrenes" You will never understand the difference between a soldier and a Marine. One phrase says it for me Semper Fi do or Die.
UURAH!
hey ORDINARY AVERAGE AMERICAN!
IF YOU DONT KNOW WHAT ITS LIKE TO BE A MARINE, THEN KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO YOURSELF!.. MARINE IS NOT A SOLDIER!.. MARINE IS A MARINE. IF YOU DONT HAVE FAMILY IN THE MARINES, YOU DONT KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE. YOU DONT RATE TO BE A MARINE.
Hey Marine! You may be a hero, and you may be good at what you are doing, and you may believe that being a Marine is the greatest. I won't argue about that, but if you don't understand that a Marine is a kind of soldier then you have a deficiency in understanding what the word "soldier" means. A soldier is a person trained in warfare. You are trained in warfare. Therefore, you are a soldier. A Ferrari may be a great car, but it still a car.
, you may be whateve
Yep...it's a car, but some are willing to pay a fortune for it. Not everything that has four wheels is just a car. Some cars are pieces of art. In the same logic, some soldiers are much more than just 'soldiers'. If you put in the same basket all men and women who wear a uniform that means you don't understand much about warfare let alone elite training and expertise. I'm Israeli and I can tell you, the US Marine Corps are far more than just soldiers.
Good day.
Do you remember January 3, 2007?
You may not like G.W. Bush, and will declare that the following is wrong! But this is a History lesson, so I'm sending it to all, regardless of party. And, I bet I know who won't read it – those who are afraid of the truth. But it IS history, and nothing we do can change the facts listed here!
The day the Democrats took over was not January 20, 2009; it was actually January 3, 2007, the day the Democrats took over the House of Representatives and the Senate, at the very start of the 110th Congress.
The Democratic Party controlled a majority in both chambers for the first time since the end of the 103rd Congress in 1995.
For those who are listening to liberals propagating the fallacy that everything is "Bush's Fault", think about this:
On January 3, 2007, the day the Democrats took control of Congress –
The DOW Jones closed at 12,621.77
The GDP for the previous quarter was 3.5%
The Unemployment rate was 4.6%
George Bush's Economic policies had SET A RECORD of 52 STRAIGHT MONTHS of JOB CREATION!
Remember that day...?
January 3rd, 2007 was the day Barney Frank took over the House Financial Services Committee and Chris Dodd took over the Senate Banking Committee.
The economic meltdown that happened 15 months later was in what part of the economy?
Answer: BANKING AND FINANCIAL SERVICES!
THANK YOU DEMOCRATS (especially Barney), for taking us from 13,000 DOW, 3.5 GDP and 4.6% unemployment to this CRISIS by (among MANY other things) dumping 5-6 TRILLION Dollars of toxic loans on the economy from YOUR Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Fiascoes!
(BTW: Bush asked Congress 17 TIMES to stop Fannie & Freddie – starting in 2001 because it was financially risky for the US economy). Barney blocked it and called it a "Chicken Little Philosophy" (but SURPRISE – the sky did fall!)
And who took the THIRD highest pay-off from Fannie Mae AND Freddie Mac? – OBAMA! (As a senator from Illinois)
And who fought against reform of Fannie and Freddie? OBAMA and the Democrat Congress – especially BARNEY FRANK!
So when someone tries to blame Bush... REMEMBER JANUARY 3rd, 2007... THE DAY THE DEMOCRATS TOOK OVER!"
Bush may have been in the car, but the Democrats were in charge of the gas pedal and steering wheel while they were driving the economy into the ditch.
Budgets are not passed in the White House. They are passed by Congress, and the party that controlled Congress since January 2007 was the Democratic Party.
Furthermore, the Democrats controlled the budget process for 2008 & 2009 as well as 2010 & 2011. Obama has now gone 1,000 days without a budget, and is still blaming it on the Republicans! In that first year, Congress had to contend with George Bush, which caused them to compromise on spending when Bush, somewhat belatedly, got tough on spending increases.
For FY 2009 though, Nancy Pelosi & Harry Reid bypassed Lame Duck President George Bush entirely, passing continuing resolutions to keep government running until Barack Obama could take office. At that time, they passed a massive omnibus spending bill to complete the 2009 budget.
And where was Barack Obama during this time? He was a member of that very Congress that passed all of those massive spending bills, and he signed the omnibus bill as President to complete 2009. Let's remember what the deficits looked like during that period:
If the Democrats inherited any deficit, it was the 2007 deficit, the last of the Republican budgets. That deficit was the lowest in the previous five years, and the fourth straight decline in deficit spending. After that, Democrats in Congress took control of spending, and that includes Barack Obama, who voted for the budgets.
If Obama inherited anything, he inherited it from himself and a Democratic Congress.
In a nutshell, what Obama is saying is: "I inherited a deficit that I voted for, and then I expanded that deficit four-fold since January 20th 2009."
Wow, go f yourself
Why make a comment that is guaranteed not to be read because of it's ridiculous length?
And what did the deficit look like when Clinton left office and Bush took over?
Keep drinking that GOP / Tea Party / Fox News Kool-Aid, it just displays your own ignorance.
Look someone gets it.
You're Snooped (and Daily Kos'er)
Sooo.... the democrats shot the rpg into his leg? I dont understand...
Bill, I dont know you but that was not a smart move with that comment. How dumb could you be to post that in a public chat forum and h
ow dare you take this story and turn it into something political. You need to be investigated. I do not feel that you are safe for this country.
Is that an RPG in your leg or are you just happy to see me?
They took a Vote on the chopper!!!!?????? Who the heck was in charge? Jeez, no wonder the Army can't get anything done. The pilot is in charge, he makes the decisions, right or wrong. I mean, I give them credit for being willing but a vote!! Imagine, "I need your platoon to go around and provide cover on the left, It might be dangerous so please take a vote among the platoon to see if it's OK"
Semper Fi
Wow, you are such a keyboard hero! If you were in that chopper, I bet that you would be the one who vote "Screw that guy and the RPG". In reality, those guys in the chopper probably finish voting within 1/2 a second.
Kevin, i.e. knucklehead, it's the marine corp, not a democracy!
Actually it was an Army Helicopter. But I'm pretty sure if they had said no the Marines would have commandeered the helo to save their buddy. And to kevin Ibased on his comments I believe he is saying the vote was ludicris there shouldn't have even been a question about saving the Marines life, risk is part of their business.
I actually know some of the men on this mission. It wasn't a vote, the pilot made the decision for better or worse and would have lived with the consequences had it gone wrong. The way the story is written in that "they took a vote" is incorrect.
He had a role-playing game stuck in his leg? Did someone microchip him?
Moron.
You are disrespectful.
When we're over there fighting for the rights and freedom of Americans, we're not fighting for yours. That was extremely disrepectful and I am ashamed of you. Hundreds of thousands of American lives have been changed and lost for you and you're mocking the heroism of a Marine who nearly died to give you that right. You disgust me.
Some are more equal than others, eh? It's good to hear you admit that you'll only stand up and fight for selected Americans.
Especially not ones who use that, freedom of speech, you call it?
Thank you for all that you do, USMC MCASCP. I just recently lost a friend who was a marine and my whole perspective of all that the armed forces does has been heightened. Armed forces self-sacrifice for our country, each other and the aim for greater good should not go unrecognized.
You guys all win the Can't Take A Damn Joke award of the day
Despite your comment, I'll bet you can't either.
Lighten up people, it's just a joke! Sometimes people make jokes about their mistaken first thoughts about something, I actually had the same thought myself not knowing what RPG stood for. I mean seriously are you all suffering from roid rage? Learn to function in normal society.
This story made me teary eyed. My marine friend didn't make it home and wasn't as lucky as this brave man. I think it is important to note the bravery of the medics as well. They were willing to give their life to save a fellow marines life. I am so thankful for the men and women we have serving our country. To risk ones life for another, there is no greater sacrifice. Thank you members of the armed forces.
I am so proud to have people like this young man serving our country and defending our families. For anyone who does not feel the same, I am sorry for you as you do not know what truly makes this country great. Thank you Devil Dog!
defending out families from what? The Iraqi Army and Taliban who were all set to invade the US? lol such feel good sheeple here in the states.
You are a moron. A service member does not get to pick and choose his battles. He or she is willing to go wherever to take care of business and it may very well be a direct attack one day. They don't get the luxury of deciding and should not be denigrated because you don't agree with the politics of whomever is in charge. That being said, what have you ever done? I'm guessing nothing because people like you are nothing but parasites who feed off other peoples work and sacrifices and offer nothing in return but whining. Don't you have an OWS rally to go to loser?
Sorry, did you forget about 9/11?
Hey Keith,f u c u.
Kieth, sorry about all the static you are getting. No one should disrespectful simply because you have not paid attention to what happened in New York City or the Pentagon. Nor should anyone call you stupid simply because you failed to observe the people all over the Middle East dancing and singing praise to Allah and Osama bin Laden in the streets, when the towers in America came down. I appologize for people considering you ignorant and mindless because you have failed to see the women being beaten in shopping malls for failing to adhere to their husbands whims. So sorry for all of these people considering you an imbecile. And since I have made appologies for others, perhaps someone can appologize for me when I call you an ignorant selfish fool. You are an ignorant selfish fool.
I'm glad all these people told you off so I would not have to. You must have such a small, unknowing mind to not realize that these are battles and wars that have been faught so your dumb butt can keep having rights and freedom...idiot!
Keith,
I would refer you to an old quote from someone you MIGHT respect, Abraham Lincoln: "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt." Additionally, you need to remember what George Orwell said: "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." It seems that the "pacifists", such as you seem to be, also forget the definition of pacifism: "A philosophy of nonviolence, historically only practiced by those who rely on the killing and dying of others in defense of their privilege to practice that philosophy." In other words, you have shown how ignorant you are of the real world by belittling the brave young men and women who risk their lives and futures to give you the right to voice your opinion as you have just done. I'm sorry for you.
You have a right to be proud... When he come home to you tel him an old Vietnam Marine said "Semper Fi" – all of us old ones are very proud of them.
The young ones too. OOHRAH! Devil Dog
OW...OW...OW...OW...
That is a tough guy right there...
I know where I would like to stick about 200 or so RPGs. In the whitehouse, and it would not be in their legs.
Gee, I didn't realize this article was about Obama. Thanks for informing me.
That was a pretty dumb comment, Bill. Shows a real lack of understanding of what is going on.
Bill, look forward to your Secret Service call, pal.
Ditto
Oh my god. These stories send chills down my spine. It makes me so grateful that my friend (a Marine) came home alive and unharmed. God bless every single one of the men and women overseas right now.
Bring them home!
Amen!
Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine, Coasty, Guardsman, Reservist. What else do you want to know?
Please don't lump Coast Guard in there. They are not military.
Technically, they are.
During wartime, the Coast Guard becomes a part of the United States Navy and answers to the Joint Chiefs of Staff... actually, I think now they have a position on the Staff....
The U.S. Coast Guard is one of the five armed forces of the United States and the only military organization within the Department of Homeland Security. Since 1790 the Coast Guard has safeguarded our Nation's maritime interests and environment around the world. The Coast Guard is an adaptable, responsive military force of maritime professionals whose broad legal authorities, capable assets, geographic diversity and expansive partnerships provide a persistent presence along our rivers, in the ports, littoral regions and on the high seas. Coast Guard presence and impact is local, regional, national and international. These attributes make the Coast Guard a unique instrument of maritime safety, security and environmental stewardship.
Techinally they are not ass hole....they are under the department of transportation....not the D.O.D
Hey Nick! Nope... YOU are wrong. They are not in DOT anymore. After 911, they became part of the DOHD. And the Commandant of the Coast Guard has a seat with the JCS when sitting with congress. Did you know they actually were the part of an animal called the Marine Department of Revenue! Wow! Seafaring taxcollectors!
Are they better off without me?'
That has to be the worst thing to have to consider.
This should make that guy on America's Got Talent very, very ashamed.
"You have an RPG in your leg, and everybody's staying away from you," Gennari answered.
This is almost like a macabre version of Alice in Wonderland, or Hitchhiker's Guide. Just a wonderfully creepy quote!
Yeah except it is real, and Alice and the hitch hikers don't have to live with the wounds after telling you that juicy tid-bit. Enjoy others misery much?
Time for a special prosecutor to be appointed to investigate Obama's favorite campaign tool of releasing classified information to "look more presidential" regardess of the damage to US national security and risk to lives of American operatives and those who assist America. See the articles on NYT or The Hill, because the DNC has not released CNN to publish it here.
Is it boring have a one track mind? I couldn't imagine hanging out or having a conversation with someone as boring as you.
What has your statement got to do with this story?
We should all be ashamed of our invasion of Afghanistan.
Until you have been over there and seen what we are doing (saving whole generations of people and giving them better lives), you really don't have an opinion! Just saying......
Yeah because it is 100% certain that the country will remain stable and not just go back the way it was or even worse. Thanks for the clairvoyance .
Wow. Could you possibly be anymore brain dead? So what you are saying is, it's ok for countries to attack the USA, the USA should do nothing to respond?
lol Americans . Please idiot name the "country" that attacked the US.
keith silence is usually considered consent. And the taliban not only didn't try and stop al queda, they provided them with training grounds, celebrated their attacks, and tried to stop us going after them. So what does that mean?
OMG...are you Muslim or one of the many Mrs Binlades? Probably just an Obama(thus Muslum) lover....
Not all blacks are Muslim, and not all Muslims are blacks. Or, are you just being racist?
This article isn't for political opinions on whether we should or shouldn't be in Afghanistan. We are there and we have brave men and women giving their lives an ideal that they believe greater than themselves; that should be the focus here. Thank you service members for all that you do.
Well.... maybe when we leave things will return for the poor people of Afghanistan to where it was when the Taliban ruled. Maybe not. Maybe now, however, before a religious group decides to take action against the United States of America, that group might think twice. So far, and correct me if I am wrong, even the most outspoken opponant of the wars in the Middle East, who got himself elected President, failed to see fit to pull out troops from the Middle East according to his timeline. It's because, he values the effort of these troops to not only to protect the United States, but..... they are protecting all that he really knows is good and right. Funny.... people blame this all on the Bush family, yet very few recall the day we call Nine Eleven.... and blame the real perps.... Something like blaming a pretty woman for being raped because of the "way she dresses" by saying "she was asking for it".
I am quickly becoming a big fan of yours Thor
Hat's off and much graditude to our Military. Thanks to all of you.
My feet are killing me from those new wedgies I bought. Oy!
You most certainly need a wedgie but not on your feet.
You must be one f*****up individual
Like the ad said, QUIT THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN ...Bring the troops back home now please !!
The guy is a hero. They all are. We would be home now if we fought a proper war instead of a heart and minds friendly war. You go in kick all butts no matter who they are, get a complete surrender. Take over the place and only then give it back to them. You don't fight a war with a toothpick mentality. You lay the hammer down get the job done, and don't worry about anybody's "feelings" use whatever tools get the job done and finished no matter what. Just talk to the WWII vets, there is a reason we call them the greatest generation.
No doubt this guy is hero, but the president who send him there isn't. The president who will bring him back will be.
Nixon brought our troops home from Vietnam,how many consider him a hero?
Nixon was indeed my hero until he lied to me. I would still respect him for ending that stupid war. Just like Bill Clinton was my hero until he lied to me. I still respect him for pulling the country out of 4 trillin dollar deficit caused by Reagan's tricke down effect.
The point is war is horrible and civilians will help turn it off if they are in the path of it. You bet they'd turn on the Taliban and the others in a blink of an eye. Anything that reduces the horribleness of war will lengthen it. If they hide behind folks you go through them, the next time the people won't hide them. You have to take over completely, then and only then, can you start the process of giving the country back to them. Anything besides total conquering is a peace that is made up of smoke and mirrors.
Kudos to all...the Marienes, the Army, the Navy nurse, and the Air Force final Llifeguard flight...true teamwork from the best and brightest this nation has to offer.
It makes me wonder how many critical patients have not been properly managed, because the vote was NOT unanimous.
Believe me4, that vote is going to be unanimous or the crew will be reduced
best and brightest? then why here in NY when I go to the hospital the place is loaded with foreigner doctors but the "best and brightest" we have are working as security guards or other crap jobs?
America's young brains apparently aren't used for learning but for being blown out of their heads.
It is because many foreigners do not have the same national pride as many of our young people that are willing to risk their lives for a greater good.
Think I would of peed myself..
So Congress wrote the Soldier and Sailor act long ago... to most, it doesn't really matter if you call a military person a soldier or marine or sailor.... however.... the Marines are part of the Navy, actually, so if one becomes enamoured with the usual pedantic followings; then this young man is.... yes..... a sailor! Hoo Yah Mrs Robinson!
Nice try. Marines are not Sailors. It is true that Marines are part of the Department of the Navy – the Men's Department.
Make that comment to a Navy SEAL and I guarantee you won't be standing for very long.
No doubt, yes, we sailors have always left mens work to the USMC. No loss of pride there! But when you need a miracle, you call in God.
Thor, I would love to see you tell a Marine he is a sailor.....good luck with that one.
I have... 20 years in Navy Diving Programs..... it was pretty easy. It went like this: "Hey sailor, next time when I shove your head under water, it's not because I wanna play water polo. See that flash of light over there? That's called incoming. Get your f()&n a$$ down!" That SAILOR (marine) had no quarrel at all.
Army – Soldier
Navy – Sailor
Air Force – Airman
Marine – MARINE! HOO-AH!
I just wish i could say thank you so much for what you guys and girls in the service has done and went through for us in America and other people in other countries..It doesn't matter what part of the Service your in i'm really proud of each and everyone of you.May God bless everyone of you and keep you safe.I just wish this war was over and you guys could come home.my prayers are with you.
the marine commendant sits with the joint chiefs ALONG SIDE of the navy chief of staff, they are technically under the dept. of the Navy but are not actually part of the navy, and i've never heard a marine say hoo yahh.
That's cause it ain't in their vocabulary. It should be Ahh OO! ... from the gut... Hoo Yah is reserved for .... another.
I hope that everyone involved with the rescue of this soldier is recognized for their bravery and valor. The soldier pulling the RPG out of the leg did'nt even have his helmut on! Amazing, truly amazing.
He's a Marine not a soldier. It may make no difference to the random person posting here but it makes a huge difference to all Marines. Address him correctly as a Marine or not at all.
Thanks for being a nitpicking d!ck Bob and missing the entirety of his nice post.
Actually, the soldier pulling the RPG out was an Army Staff Sgt. for what it is worth. Why does everyone have to be hostile?
"Why is everyone hostile?" Because this is war dammit!! lol
He's not a Marine. The guy that actually pulled the RPG out and detonated it is Army SSG Benjamin Summerfield. He's the one without the helmet. He's my son-in-law.
Each medic on the helicopter voted. It was unanimous. They were going to try to save the soldier's life.
THat's right...because that's what we do. Army Medic for 21+ years! Congrats to this Marine and kudos to the Medivac team as a whole! Well done.
You vote on whether you'll risk your life in a war zone for other service members who are risking their lives to keep you safe and suffering from a possible deadly injury? Don't pat yourself on the back.
Shut up, Bob. I would like to see a situation like that present itself to you and you decide to risk your life for someone. You would probably run like a little girl and hide until it was all over.
Bob has some anger issues. Stop being a d!ck Bob
Procedure dictates they are not to allow someone wounded with live ordinance to endanger others. This procedure is routinely ignored by a vote between all involved in the risk. Vote is usually to save the individual as long as it does not compromise the mission.
Had that been Marines on the evac, there would've have been no vote, no discussion, no time wasted. Voting in war time is dangerous and dumb.
Wow!
This is a miracle. God has a plan for this young man who will go on to do better things than fighting wars.
Hmm. So your invisible friend God injured him and brought him suffering as part of the plan? Yuk, this fairy tale character is a pretty mean thing.
That RPG could've easily blown up and taken his life and the lives of the medi-evac crew or medical staff. God was looking out for them. Just because he went through a lot of pain and suffering doesn't mean God wasn't there to protect this Marine. If you want to be an atheist, fine. But don't disrespect those of us who do believe.
I really dislike these stereotypical canned statements. "God has a plan." "God was looking out and protecting them."
So what would you say if the RPG had exploded in the Helicopter killing the marine and all aboard? "Oh, it's okay. god has a plan for these people." Oh... wait... THEY'RE ALL DEAD! "God as protecting..." Oops, not he wasn't or they wouldn't be DEAD!
While I respect your right to chose your religion and beliefs, please don't try to fit me, or anyone else, into this "Grand Plan." I don't believe in it, I want nothing to do with it, and I don't want to hear about it. Instead say something more along the lines of "Thank God that this soldier was able to survive and deal with this whole ordeal." It would be more appropriate.
A soldier is a Marine, Army,Navy Air Force, Coast Guard no matter how you look at it these fine men an women serve our country in the highest regard for life,liberty and Freedom never mistake truth for weakness.
Wrong
Thank you for your service and bravery Cpl WInder!! You are the prime example of how great of an example this country could be if we all just stopped bickering about politics on comment boards and whining like little girls.
Are you sure it's not a COBOL? Hahahahahahahaha
No. It was /free RPG, which is inspired by COBOL
Thank God for all our men and women in the armed forces, whatever branch they serve in. You are all GREATLY appreciated by every patriotic American.
"One of the troops leaned over Winder and joked, "I'm glad I have my protective glasses on."" That Marine must walk bowlegged because the size of his b*lls must be damn near crippling.
True that.
They all have mega-balls!
Like motivator said, the young man is a Marine, not a Soldier. A Soldier serves in the Army. A Marine is a Marine.
True, but in the end all enlisted serve and protect the same country, and I thank every single one for that!!!!
I love how people miss the entire point of a story to nitpick. Panties must be firmly in a bunch with this one
I dont understand these posts. Why are people just being so flat out mean? Who cares if he is a soldier, or a marine, or an airman. This man left his life, put it on hold, for the sole purpose of trying to make the world a better place. He doesnt care about politics, he cares that he is trying to help. He gave an entire year/9 months/6months whatever his deployment was, of his life, to try and help a country where he doesnt know a sole. Then, he got blasted in the leg and will have life long injuries from this. How about a high five, or a thank you instead of just being flat out mean and saying he'll work at McDonalds. Such a sad place this world and country are becoming.
absolutely agree. Pure bravery...regardless.
No one's is really being "mean". And believe me, even Cpl Winder would be one of the first to say the he is a Marine not a soldier. We all know that we are all on the same team, fighting the same fight, but each of our services instills pride among the branch we serve. And from what I believe, The Marines have the most pride. even though some will argue that statement we aren't being mean we are just being proud.
"In his shock, the SOLDIER instinctively grabbed his radio to call for help, not realizing that it was totaled."
I'm sorry, but Marines are not (and proudly so) soldiers.
sol·dier
noun
1. a person who serves in the military forces of a nation
2. an enlisted man or woman, as distinguished from a commissioned officer
3. a person of military skill or experience
Hmm, looks like you're wrong.
Hey Michael, throw away your dictionary and start destroying yourself. I'll tell you when to get up. Push.
Agreed, Marines are not "soldiers" per se...but they sure as Hell loved the soldiers who saved this Marine and all the other Marines saved by "soldier" medics. Let's not get to full of ourselves. I was Army for 21+ years, but a Marines first back in 1970-71. We all serve, and serve proudly. No disrespect was meant by calling him a soldier.
Honestly boys, get over the name recognition! Do you really think he was repeating "marine" in his head while all the other branches of the military were saving his life? Everyone is proud of who they serve..........we get that!
Americans.....this is actually a great story in that a Marine was doing what Marines do. Once injured a National Guard chopper picked him up. Then a Navy trauma nurse began caring for him.........while an Army EOD tech removed the round. To me that is truly a joint team....to any who have served in the past 10 years thats normally how it works. They work great together, especially from the Battalion level down. Just good people trying to do the right thing.
I guarantee the Air Force also gave the MEDEVAC their short notice weather brief to even take off. It was truly all of us.
I guarantee the Air Force flew him to Germany. It's not a Matrine thing or an Army thing. It's an American thing.
Thats EXACTLY my point! Well said!
When I was stationed on Guam in the early 90's, I remember reading a story in 'The Pacific Stars and Stripes' about this former N. Vietnamese soldier whom had been living with a mortar round in his chest cavity since the war. Apparently there'd been a direct hit on him (just below his collar bone), and just like this instance, the round hit soft tissue and failed to detonate. There was this unforgettable picture of an XRAY of his chest accompanying the article. Some Navy docs had planned to operate on him, at that time. Don't know how it turned out.
Hey died, when one of the army medics voted not to save him.
Marines were originally ship protectors for the Navy. However the US needed grunts. People of no importance to take the first wave of bullets in order for the real branches of service to take better aim. Don't believe me then look it up.
That may have been true at the inception of the Marine Corps, but the Marines who survived those first engagements were tough. And they and the Corps evolved and became an elite force of amazing men and women.
Thank you to all the people fighting for our country. Thank you for giving up your legs, your arms, your sanity or even your lives.
Feeding the troll or not, I couldn't let this statement go unresponded too.
Glen
Good point...the navy has been incapable of protecting itself ever since inception.
Good call jtucker. The Marines have never mounted to anything or delivered any appreciable military results during any campaign...ever. They've always just died and then the "real" fighting began. You're an idiot.
Buzzsaw, i know your being sarcastic, but there are probably quite a few people here who dones know about Guadalcanal, Iwo jima, okinawa, vietnam, fallujah etc. and thus they might think your being serious lol. I'll clear it up, Buzzsaw is joking everybody.
Marines aren't Soldiers, Marines are Marines, Soldiers are from the Army, that is so annoying knock it off
It's annoying when pretentious pr!cks such as yourself nitpick over and over
Great story. Sure glad everyone was safe and that he was able to recover quickly! 🙂
they can write a book about this punk but what about the afghanis?
What's there to write about? We've been there over 10 years and the Afghani's are still unable to run their on country like it's the 21st century. Take it from there.
They were running their country their style, and when we went it, our puppet is running their country our style. Once we pull out, pizza boy Karzai will come back to Fremont and Afghans will again run the country their style.
but only because cold war politics helped it get to its most dismal state first.
But... but... "I" Killed Bin Laden !!!
Vote for "ME" !!!
he's gonna have some great stories for the folks back at the McDonald's.
What did they do to his eyes ?
Why they so dark ?
Thats why you don't go to the captains bridge.
Why don't they use the damn phone ?
To the dude talking about soldiers and marines trash talking each other. it is called inter service rivalry. i will talk smack about a marine all day, in good fun, but as soon as a civilian tries it, i got the marines back. it mostly is all in good fun.
I am a soldier and it upset me a little too when the writer called him a soldier. A Marine is a Marine. But it doesnt make me too irate tho. Civilians dont realize there is a difference.
Obama does not care about our Vets, and his plans will make sure that they suffer for the rest of their lives.
Shutup AXXHOLE cause you really don't know what your talking about..
It was George Bush who enforced "Stop Loss" wrecking the veteran lives. Veterans were in the worst ever state during his time. He was only interested in stealing foreign oil for the oil companies he represented, and got thousands killed and tens of thousands injured without rehab plan.
I am South African and i remember a story where they also had to remove an unexploded RPG from a soldiers chest back in the 80's or 70's, during the war in Angola. the soldier did survive, and the Rocket also did not explode during the procedure to remove it ! you are one lucky dude man ;0) god bless
This Army vs. Marines crap only proves how immature (not how tough) you are. True, Soldiers and Marines are in many ways different. But to insult one branch because you're in another? Why can't you stick to the point of the article? If either of you would have been deployed (or even in the military), you'd know that, as corny as it sounds, all branches, and even Coalition Allies, work as one team. This inter-service insulting is for kids fresh out of training, still wet behind the ears. Get over yourself, and get some experience before you start talking trash.
The Navy always sucked.
excuse me sir, i was in the navy and...well...ok you're right... it sucked.
Motivated, straight talk. Thank you.
The USS Merrimac,
Interservice rivalry is and has always been in good fun. I'm former Army National Guard and my kids' bus driver is a former Marine. We always give each other sh* about our branches, but it's always in good fun. I'm thinking up a comeback right now because he got me good this morning.
you do realize that we do that in good fun? i work on a joint base and interact with all the services....sure we joke about each branch but we all work together perfectly fine and dont get butt hurt over things like civilians do. if you are not in the military you will not understand this because you are not one of us
No hostility intended, friend. I speak from experience–I'm over here RIGHT NOW. And believe me, I'm all about rivalry between branches, but I'll also give credit where it's due, not deny it altogether. Know what I mean?
Lighten up silly-civiian. My husband is retired Army and I am a former Marine. He calls the Corps a cult and I call the Army boy scouts and of course we keep the Navy around for transportation because the Marines haven't learned to walk on water yet. It's grownup style playing between the services, jeeeesh, relax.
Alot of strange things happen on water.
So there was this Air Force General, Army General, Marine Corps General, and a Navy Admiral coming back from lunch at the officers club, where they had a couple and were joshing each other about whose service was toughest. The Marine Officer said, well .. there is no doubt, everyone knows that Marines are the first in the front lines and are tougher. The Army Officer... ahem... well, after all the wars in this world, it is the ARMY that marches through anything and takes the battle to the enemy. The Air Force Officer promptly and proudly states ... Well, strap a F18 to your back and fly faster than any other puss straight into the onslaught of missile fire and flack... and there is no doubt. ... Air Force pilots are tougher. ... Then... after great silence, it was noticed that the Admiral wasn't saying much as they walked down the pier past the massive grey and great ships of the line pierside. The Admiral sees a sailor leaning against the rail of one of the ships, bogarting a cigarette, with his shirt half out and his hat on wrong. Then, the Admiral turns to the rest of the officers and says " You see that sailor?" The other service generals nodded... "Yes, so?". So the Admiral turns back his attention to the sailor and yells "Hey, Sailor, put that cigarette out and square away that uniform!". The sailor promptly replies with "Fu(% YOU!" ... Proudly the Admiral turns to the Generals "Any doubt who has more brass now?"
HAH! As an airman that joke cracked me up
Such a Hero to everyone. Also to the people that helped fly him & the ones that got the RPG out of his leg. They ALL could have been killed. Bless them all. Once a MARINE always a MARINE. Thank you All for your service. SEMPER FI.
so what happened? .i love my boyfriend, i m almost 10years older than him....LOLi met him
via -–Age "ga`p lov`e c 0;M-- it gives you a chance to make your
life better and open opportunities for you to meet the attractive young
man and treat you like a queen. i love that !Maybe you wanna check it
out or tell your friends–
Your crap does NOT belong here. It's nothing but SPAM and you should be banned from further posting.
can't post again?
My son soon to be a marine .im proud.its marines like this that i know hes goin to be okay.thats why we are free today because of soldiers like this an he worried about his men not himself he a hero
Amen, Keith Kirby. And thank your son for his coming service, please. It is because of men and women like him that we remain free today. May God bless him and bring him home safe.
couldn't do something productive with his life huh?
Hey fool, your mothers is hollering down the basement to you. she wants you get off you butt and walk the dog!!! Oh and while you're out, see if you can find some Marines, ya know maybe in a bar tossing back as few or even having lunch and express your feelings about them. I'm sure they would be willing to discuss it with you..... loser.
Kieth, ya havn't been around much, have you?
its like calling a chef at a legit resteraunt a mcdonalds fry cook.
thats why the war in europe ended first.
Because of McDonald's?
Yeah because of the Russians. Lol Americans and their lack of reading.
once again he is not a soldier he is a marine
Even Winston Churchill saw what MacArthur was and didn't want him in the European Theater.
MacArthurs War – Stanley Weintraub
Eiesenhower's Lieutenants – Russel F. Weigley
Read more about the design of the RPG-7B grenade and sigh with relief. Once unexploded, it is very unlikely to explode. The whole drama happened when it failed to explode in his leg (OMG!!!). As all unexploded devices, it posed some danger and unpredictability, but not to the point of the Hollywood edge. The guy was so lucky, when it DID NOT explode on impact. I fired more than 100 training shots with live RPG grenades and saw some unexploded projectiles, they had to be detonated with a TNT stick; throwing rocks on the unexploded devices never detonated them although we, the soldiers, tried it for fun. All the best with recovery and I am sure it will never happen again. To hit a human with an RPG, one must be a magician or fire the pipe from 20 feet. Just a case of good and poor luck together. God bless you, soldier! If the explosion did happen, there would have been less than half a body left, that's for sure.
Yesterday my marine corps buddies and I remebered a Petty Officer seebee in the navy who was "messing around" with a UXO RPG in the rear in Iraq in 2003. UXOs do detonate unexpectedly and they do kill people. RIP Bollinger. Shut up victor.
"You can train a monkey to sit on top of a rocket and flip switches. And you can train a man to sit on top of a rocket and flip switches. That monkey, he don't have any idea of what is under his a$$. That man... well.... I'd say he did alright." This kid with the RPG in his leg.... maybe he was a lot safer than many might believe because of the technical, but, he was the one who saw it in his leg, he was the one who didn't cry like a school girl, ..... he was the one who wants to go back. Hoo Yah kid. I think ya did alright....
A service connected disability of a compound fractured leg with concussion is 4%.
don't ever call a marine a solider
Roger that! Also never call a Soldier a Marine either.
Airborne all the way!
Agreed, please don't call a soldier a Marine. They don't rate it.
Buzzsaw: The soldiers don't rate it? Tell that to the Army Captain and his Army helicopter crew who agreed unanimously to take the wounded Marine and his RPG on board, at the risk of their own lives. Tell that to the Army Staff Sergeant who risked his life to pull the RPG out of the Corporal's leg. Not to mention the Navy officer nurse who stood by the Marine, and so many others who put so much on the line for CPL Perez. Tell me again "they don't rate it".