Posted on Feb 12, 2015
What is your first reaction to the toughness this Soldier displayed?
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Daily Military News & Combat Footage at FUNKER530.com - http://vid.io/xGB While on route in Eastern Afghanistan, a U.S. Army convoy gets attacked. This soldi...
Watch from a first person's view as a US Army machine gunner's turret takes 2 hits by RPGs during a mounted convoy in eastern Afghanistan. Although dazed by the impact, he responds in the way that we would all aspire for: he continues mission (Charlie Mike) because he is loyal to the mission and to his brothers and sisters more than his own personal safety. If this doesn't fire you up, please check your pulse.
** Question for RP members: What is your first reaction to the toughness this Soldier displayed? **
//
Note: this is a raw first person video that may conjure up memories for some RP members.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThFZ-TX2bc8
** Question for RP members: What is your first reaction to the toughness this Soldier displayed? **
//
Note: this is a raw first person video that may conjure up memories for some RP members.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThFZ-TX2bc8
Mission
Values
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 78
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CPT Aaron Kletzing, my first reaction, after the initial shock of the RPG impacts, was one of inspiration towards that young gunner. He personifies the Army Value of selfless service and I am personally proud to have Soldiers like that in the ranks.
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SPC Darrin Hart
In my unit there was a whole lot more four letter words used in a situation like this. Likely suffered concussion and hearing loss. Many years later physcological issues with hyper vigilance and depression issues....just from the fact of existing within an environment where anyone, anywhere, at any time will try to kill you and everyone with you (as just seen a point blank rpg to the face). Knowing what will happen to you If captured...we see how well that works. There will be wounds he will not know about until he leaves that killing field. Over 20 Veterans a day are killing themselves as we speak about this video. Hope he will be one of the lucky ones. But stopping at a gas station and your gun truck is on fire...mmmm....that might be a bad idea with people a hundred yards away that just tried to kill you...just sayin.
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SPC Luis Acevedo
Depends on the shock wave he could easily end up with TBI. I was recently diagnosed with TBI and my deployment was in 2006.
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Am I the only one wondering why the gun was unmanned for over 2 minutes??
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SGT (Join to see)
Just to clarify: I'm not saying the guy is a pussy, or that getting hit by a RPG (or IED) is no big deal, or anything of that nature. I'm just curious why, after being attacked, no one got in the gun. You can hear them talking inside, so clearly people are conscious (besides his moaning). Was it a skeleton crew (driver, TC, gunner), or were the pax scared or didnt know what to do?
Why?
Why?
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SPC Luis Acevedo
I personally have seen situations like this and I've seen the gunner or gunners around light the living hell out of the area. Maybe this guy ears were ringing like crazy but the convoy is not one vehicle. So get your POG ass back on the guns and start shooting them fuckers.
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SGT Richard Collins
All the of the patrols me and my brothers went on in Iraq anytime we got hit with IEDs or RPG someone stepped up and returned fire. we we're going to do our best too make sure someone was going to die that day.
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So I guess I'll be the bad guy here.... Poor security to start with. He was the first truck in the convoy, first rocket never should have happened. That 240 out ranges a RPG easy. An aggressive posture could have prevented it all together. 2nd shot again not being vigilant, spinning the turret wildly instead of to the direction you just took contact to kill the person shooting at you, (the gunners whole purpose) Almost 90 seconds there abouts after the second one hit with no forward security, lucky they didn't get hit again. Took someone inside telling him to get back in the gun for him to realize the truck was on fire. I saw lack of discipline and poor security and an easy target. He's lucky he's not dead. Before you blast me, yes I have been that gunner, no RPGs hit my truck, lord knows they tried.
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SGT (Join to see)
Don't know if you've been to Afghanistan or not, but an aggressive posture doesn't always work. They were surrounded by plenty of locations the shooter could have been hiding. The gunner can only cover so much at once. As for spinning the turret wildly, I've never been the victim of on attack like that but I'm guessing after an RPG goes off right next to your head you might be a little dazed...
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Some service members are harder than woodpecker lips! I feel sorry for him when he no one believes his war story about "No S#!$.....there I was.......hit by 2 RPG's and didn't get a scratch." "YEAH, RIGHT!!!"
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Sgt Chuck Clark
That's not true! There were quite a few of us in my outfit in Nam. That's pretty condescending in my book.
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CPT (Join to see)
When my grandfather was a combat medic in WWII (Normandy, the rest of France, Battle of the Bulge, etc.) and a Purple Heart recipient, he promised God if he made it out of there he'd go to Mass every Sunday. He kept his promise.
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I can remember when I was RPG'd in 2003 when I was leaving the BIAP. it was pitch black and we had no idea where it was coming from, all I wanted to do was get out of the kill zone.
I can honestly say, this guy is clearly on top of his game. He also stood up there out of the turret to put that fire out and he could have been engaged then by his exposure but he needed to put that fire out so he didn't care about anything else.
I can honestly say, this guy is clearly on top of his game. He also stood up there out of the turret to put that fire out and he could have been engaged then by his exposure but he needed to put that fire out so he didn't care about anything else.
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SSG Marvin Vick
bad feeling.....wanna return fire,,,fully loaded BUT have no clue where to engage....AND don't wanna waist ammo!
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SFC James Rigdon
Hell, I only had 30 rounds so I damn sure didn't want to waste them. We were Support Soldiers we didn't rate ammunition in OIF.
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SFC Mark Merino
SFC James Rigdon Back in the early days! I was like Radar from MASH, wheeling and dealing for .50 cal ammo for our OH-58D's. All of it kept going to the tankers in our regiment. Taking a BN/SQDRN commander up for a recon in a scout helicopter was good for about 1,000 rounds. Engineers will make you a priority for clearing a runway for about 20 minutes of yankin and bankin!
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PO3 James Wissinger
Spiritual no god for me. To much shit happens for a god. In combat or otherwise. The way I was raised and the feelings I have are all I need
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My reaction is similar to my reaction under these circumstances... that our Soldiers are amazing, they do things most people have no idea about, and do it we us and those we know not. And even when dazed and confused, they pick themselves up and drive on for each other. It is a shame, so few really know what our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines engaged in ground combat operations actually deal with. Movies and games really don't explain it. You have to see it, smell it, and feel it. Soldiers are amazing... and they are all volunteers is this greatest of nations.
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SFC Alfredo Gonzalez
" You have to see it, smell it, and feel it. Soldiers are amazing..."
The art part of Leadership... I love our country and I love AND support our soldiers 100%. All the way and then some!
The art part of Leadership... I love our country and I love AND support our soldiers 100%. All the way and then some!
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I don't know about you guys....but, didn't I catch a quick glimpse of Brian Williams right after that RPG attack?????? Lol
As far as this gunner...I would like to shake his hand...well done soldier, well done.
As far as this gunner...I would like to shake his hand...well done soldier, well done.
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Eff those damn RPG's...
Did you all listen to the conversation in the background? Felt bad for the kid, he was definitely rocked. Inside, someone asks if he is okay, he responded, "no". Thank God RPG's are not more accurate...
Did you all listen to the conversation in the background? Felt bad for the kid, he was definitely rocked. Inside, someone asks if he is okay, he responded, "no". Thank God RPG's are not more accurate...
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PO2 Eldon Hale
You are so right.. He was clearly disoriented at the end of the video.. BUT, throughout the exchange, he never showed any sign of weakness or hesitation. Definitely someone who exemplifies the term AMERICAN SOLDIER.. He makes me wish I was by his side. I was Navy, so I never put boots on the ground, but I have the utmost respect for my fellow service members. Thank you as well for your service. USN Retired Boatswains Mate 2nd Class here.
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Wow, I have watched this video several times now -- especially the parts with the RPGs impacting the turret -- and I have to say I am impressed beyond words at how well this Soldier kept his composure and his focus on the mission. I guess you never truly know how you will respond in these types of situations until they actually are happening. But this is also a good reminder of why we all say "You fight like you train, and you train like you fight."
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We can all measure our respective "war stories" against how he reacted. Soldier A is combat wounded, Soldier B got his Convoy Attendance Badge, Soldier C served in the Ashau. It wasn't easy for any of us. Congratulations and thank you for your service. It was an ambush. For the "leader" crying security, vigilance doesn't solve everything. Its Sex Panther; 60% of the time it works ALL the time. Hope that young Hooah gets home safely. You can AAR the stuffing out of it because hindsight is always 20/20. He is an American Soldier, just an ordinary guy in an extraordinary situation. For those of you who know what I mean, there is a fine line between "hardcore/badass" and "I'm not dying in this rat's ass country today." Ya done good stud, now get your "stuff" together and get back to work. Loyalty and Courage.
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