Posted on 09/13/2009 8:44:32 AM PDT by Saije
Forward Operating Base Shank, Afghanistan - The soldiers in his New York-based combat unit call Staff Sgt. Brandon Camacho the "Bullet Magnet."
Camacho - either the luckiest or unluckiest soldier in Afghanistan - is on his second tour here with the Fort Drum-based 10th Mountain Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team.
The reason for the nickname: He's just earned his fifth Purple Heart after being shot in the left knee in a firefight 100 miles south of Kabul, military officials said.
"One of my friends said, 'You're the luckiest unlucky person I know,'" said Camacho, 24, who grew up in Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands.*****
Camacho's first Purple Heart came in 2004, after he was hit by shrapnel in the left knee when a mortar round hit his outpost in Iraq.
His second was earned two years later in Afghanistan. A bullet grazed his left knuckles as he peeked around a corner during a firefight. A few months later, he was hit in the left shoulder by a tracer round.
Camacho returned to Afghanistan in December. In May, he was again shot in the left shoulder, just inches from the last shot, during a close-range firefight in a wheat field.
"I lost a lot of blood," he said. "It missed my bone by a half inch."
On Sept. 8, Camacho was out on a recovery mission after two Apaches took out several insurgents who had attacked a local government center.
"We heard voices and I took a peek around the corner and a guy popped out about 5 feet in front of me," he said.
A round ricocheted and hit him in the left knee, not far from his earlier shrapnel wound.
"I don't know why it's always my left side," he said, laughing.
(Excerpt) Read more at nydailynews.com ...
May his angels continue to protect him - actually, he should now be taken out of all combat areas - he’s done his part!
What kind of political PORK has our brave
Mountain troops training at sea level ?
Stop peeking around corners...!
Because your right side is protected.
This warrior can show folks back home why he’s got all those medals.
Nothing like “in the flesh” documentation.
Here’s hoping he stays safe. Actually, a lot safer wouldn’t be
a bad idea.
Hafa Adai Sgt Commacho. They need to pull you from the fields of fire. You have served the CNMI and US well. The people of the CNMI and USA are proud of you. Time for some extra paid leave to rest upon the wonderful beaches of your home.
CPL USMC, thanx your brother in spirit and more. Hope to return to your homeland soon.
The “Mountain” title is an historical title only. They are not mountain troops, but Light infantry, capable of fighting in any environment. Just like the British call some of their tank units “Lancers”. They haven’t seen a horse or a lance in years.
The 10th Mountain Division originated at Camp Hale The history of Camp Hale Camp Hale is located between 10.000 feet and 14.000 feet in altitude. Considerably better for training a Mountain Division than at sea level. You seem woefully ignorant of history.
If you want to take me on in a military history match, I’m up for it.
Camp Hale is a part of the World War II history of the division and they have not been a mountain division since the end of that war. In fact, except for the attack on Mount Belvedere, they did not use their mountain training in the fighting in Italy. Your ignorance of their current mission and organization is leading you to make really stupid remarks. Keep at it if you wish.
I asked a simple question about readiness and training.It takes the human body seven to twelve months
to acclimate to the high altitude of Afghanistan.Meanwhile Pork-barrel politics in congress are putting
these troops in harms way.I refer you to the HISTORY OF THE 10th MOUNTAIN DIVISION
In January 1954, the Department of Army announced that the 10th Division would become a combat infantry division, and be sent to Europe under a new rotation policy. The 10th Training Division was reduced to zero strength in May 1954. The personnel and equipment of the 37th Infantry Division were brought to Fort Riley, and on June 15, 1954, became the new 10th Infantry Division. In what became known as Operation Gyroscope, the 10th replaced the 1st Infantry Division in Germany. The headquarters of the 10th Division was located in Wurzburg, with all units stationed within a 75 miles radius. Stretched in an arc, from Frankfurt to Nurenburg, the 10th occupied a strategic center position in the NATO defense forces. With 9 Infantry Battalions, 4 Artillery Battalions, and one Tank Battalion, the 10th Infantry Division was a powerful military force. The 10th Division was in turn replaced in Germany by the 3rd Infantry Division in 1958. The 10th was then sent to Fort Benning, Georgia and inactivated on June 14, 1958.
You are hopeless, my friend. You can’t even read the history that you have posted. When reformed, the 10th Mountain Division was retitled as the 10th Infantry Division. When the division was reactivated yet again in the 1980’s, it was organized and equipped as a light infantry division, not as a mountain division. It was allowed to wear the mountain tab and to style itself the 10th Mountain Division as a tribute to the legacy of the World War II achievements of the division. The United States Army does not have any mountain divisions and will likely never have them again. The worldwide commitments of the U.S. Army preclude forming specialized units. The 10th Mountain Division, in the past 20 years, has served in Somalia, Haiti, Iraq, and Afghanistan. They take their turn for deployments to Afghanistan just like all other units of the Army and train accordingly.
You need to abandon your original premise, it does not reflect reality.
He was always concerned about readiness and training. I know that the first question he would have asked would have been Have you reviewed the Division's TO&EBefore my father retired, he lead IG teams at the Army level.
Is the 10th Mountain Division prepared to operate in the mountains ?
Hey ya’ll.... I’m in SSG Camacho’s platoon... thought you’d like to know that he is headed home finally.... with his FIFTH Purple Heart!! He said that he doesn’t want to leave his Soldiers but the medics say he has to go home.
best!
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