Posted on 01/25/2006 5:23:27 PM PST by SandRat
IRAQ(Army News Service, Jan. 24, 2006) -- For many Soldiers, even the new Advanced Combat Helmet is a necessary evil; it can be cumbersome when in the dining facility trying to handle a tray of food and it causes headaches and tension in the neck when worn on lengthy missions.
Sgt. Shawn Snyder of 3rd Infantry Division’s 2/7 Scout Platoon is one Soldier who will never complain about wearing his helmet again. With good reason … it saved his life.
Snyder’s mission was to serve as a routine escort of the Explosive Ordinance Disposal detail to the forensics building in downtown Tikrit so that EOD could pick up explosives that the Iraqi people found.
“Usually what we do is block off each end of the street so that they [EOD] can go in and pick the stuff up,” Snyder said.
Snyder was standing up in the turret scanning his sector and waving off traffic for about 15 minutes when it happened. He recalled hearing a shot and feeling “a little jerk.”
Snyder quickly called out to his driver and team commander to ask who was firing. Then he saw the Kevlar particles flying around so he jumped down in the vehicle and wondered if he was dying.
Snyder removed his helmet and felt around on his head ... there was no blood. The round, most likely a 7.62 mm from a sniper rifle, ricocheted off the upper left side of the helmet, shredding the outside and slightly cracking the inside.
“I didn’t get a concussion … didn't even get a headache,” Snyder said in a matter-of-fact tone.
Snyder is married with a 13-month-old boy. When the 25-year-old Snyder told his wife what had happened, “she took it as best as a wife could, knowing a round almost killed her husband a month before he got home,” he said.
He will get to keep the helmet when he returns to Fort Stewart, Ga., in less than a month as a memento of an event that he said will never be forgotten.
(Editor’s note: Staff Sgt. Mark Wojciechowski serves with 133rd MPAD)
I know the story says he can keep the helmet but I don't trust any of the REMs when he goes to turn in his LBE.
Yup. That's what they're supposed to do. I had a helmet save my life once, too. But it was when I was logging. Too bad it didn't also save me from a broken back. Oh well, at least I'm still here to tell about it over 30 years later.
Outstanding!!!
The difference between a live grunt and a dead grunt... not just socks anymore.
but really, I think the designer of the helmet and whoever made it available to the troops deserves an award or something, good job.
Thank God for kevlar.
I still remember that POS helmet we had in Nam. Weighted a ton and couldn't stop anything.
Would it have killed ARNews to publish a picture of the used helmet?
Yes, the fiberglass helmet liner was light and comfy but protection only ala a construction hardhat or so. Add the steel pot and it was heavy.
Maybe if I'd worn it day/night I'd think different but for an occasional wear (occasional field exercises in the woodlands of the garrison), it only gave head and neck aches.
They FINALLY shortened the back of the helmet so that it didn't ride down over your eyes whenever you looked up or were prone.
Ah, I was wondering about that. Thanks!
BTTT
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