'100 percent hero' injured saving Iraqi child

The Associated Press ^ | 4/22/03 12:55 PM

[salmon76]

REPTON, Ala. (AP) -- A 25-year-old Army sergeant from Alabama was critically wounded when a cluster bomb exploded as he tried to save an Iraqi child and members of his unit from being harmed by it, the soldier's family said.

"He's a hero," Gibson told the Register, "a 100 percent hero. He threw himself on an unexploded cluster bomb to save a child and his unit."

[Badray]

Bump for a hero.

[GirlShortstop]

"I'm asking for prayers," Gibson said. "Troy's a Christian, and I am so very proud of him. You like to think your children will do the right thing. He did, and he's an absolute hero."

You got it Miss Gibson!
Bump

[Arkinsaw]

I hope he recovers quickly and can get to the White House for his MOH ceremony as soon as possible.

[Tuba-Dude]

I know there's plenty of folks out there that say Pfc. Jessica Lynch deserves the MOH, but it's cases like these that the medal was created for.

[TruthNtegrity]

I simply cannot imagine someone throwing themselves on an unexploded cluster bomb to save a child and his comrades in arms.

"There is nothing greater than this - that someone lay down his life for another."

God bless this honorable soldier, and prayers heavenward for his full recovery. God bless and keep him.

[TheCrusader]

"I know there's plenty of folks out there that say Pfc. Jessica Lynch deserves the MOH, but it's cases like these that the medal was created for."

This man deserves the Medal of Honor. But Jessica Lynch? She's a strong young girl who proved to be a survivor or sorts. But if they give her the MOH I truly believe it will strip away the deep honor I and many others have for that cherished award. I'd prefer to see the brave men who saved her life get the award. I have a good friend, Joe F., who served three tours in Vietnam in the Army Rangers. He repelled from ropes on buildings in Saigon during Tet, kicked in windows and killed dozens of V.C. He got shot up badly and kept on firing anyway, with the one arm that was usable. He came back for another tour and went to North Vietnam in a rescue attempt at the Hanoi Hilton. There he lost his leg from a mortar blast after being spotted, and he lied in the mud with a dead comrade for 24 hours before carrying the body of his friend to safety. His heroics cost him his leg, and his other combat wounds caused him to have a shoulder replacement, a knee replacement, and a permanently restructured jaw. He was put in for the MOH but did not receive it. There are many stories like Joe's. If this cute little gal from West Virgina, a supply clerk who got lost, captured, and rescued by Army Rangers, Navy Seals and U.S. Marines receives the MOH, it will be a very sad day for so many of Americas real heros, both dead and living.

[stylin19a]

There is a disconnect between this AP release and the initial military release about the incident(assuming it's the same incident). Let's wait for more details before we give out the MOH.

[anymouse]

Bump for a hero soldier.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks for the ping anymouse

[Tuba-Dude]

Aye, agreed--being captured is no basis for being awarded the MOH.

[Tuba-Dude]

I meant to say "just being captured". Stupid "Insert" key....

[McGavin999]

God bless him, and prayers for his recovery. I look at the kids we send over there and I'm just amazed. They are the best of the best and they really do make you proud.

From every TV and article we hear about all of America's faults, but when you look at what we produce, in human terms, it's absolutely amazing.

[dwills]

he lost his leg and his fingers, so his 'recovery' will never be complete

i'd love to get the straight dope on whether this ordinance is ours or not--general myers practically denied that 'cluster bombs' dropped by the US could be causing these incidents

[Badray]

Amen. Fighting to save your own life is (or should be) common sense. Sacrificing yourself to save others is the true meaning of word "HERO". Thank God, he survived.

[Steven W.]

Rumsfeld & Myers were asked about this yesterday and General Myers said the official reports he received said it was NOT a cluster bomblet but some kind of terrorist device that the girl dropped and tried to run away when it exploded. The media seem to have neglected this and not followed up since they so quickly took to the airwaves with the cluster bomblet story because it fit the Paul McCartney stories from the weekend.

[stylin19a]

Thanx for the heads up..that's a way different story than CentCom's initial release. And that is a type of sacrifice that is considered for the MOH.

[salmon76]

bttt

[msru]

I agree, I think that the term "hero" needs to be reserved for soldiers that perform heroic acts, like this soldier.