Marine in 'Fall of Baghdad' Photo Injured

AP ^ | Fri, Apr 09, 2004 | KEN KUSMER

[Eurotwit]

INDIANAPOLIS - A Marine from Indiana whose smiling, cigar-smoking image helped symbolize the fall of Baghdad a year ago suffered severe head injuries in fighting this week in the besieged Iraqi city of Fallujah.

AP Photo

Gunnery Sgt. Nick Popaditch, 36, of Terre Haute, marked Friday's one-year anniversary of the fall at a U.S. military hospital in Landstuhl, Germany. Surgeons removed a piece of shrapnel that lodged near his optic nerve when a rocket-propelled grenade slammed into his tank Tuesday in Fallujah, his wife said Friday.

"He had to have his right eye removed. He's very concerned about that," April Popaditch said from Twentynine Palms, Calif., where her husband is based.

She said they spoke for 45 minutes after his surgery ended.

"I cried to him like anyone would to their loved one. Everything just came out," she said.

She said she told him, "I thank God that you have your two arms and two legs. I thank God for the wonderful Marines who were right around your tank to get you off to safety."

The two, who were married 13 years ago Thursday, also exchanged anniversary greetings. They wed a few days after Nick Popaditch returned from his first tour of duty in Iraq (news - web sites) during the 1991 Persian Gulf War (news - web sites), and now have a 10-year-old son.

April Popaditch spent their wedding anniversary a year ago watching video footage of her husband's tank in Baghdad. An Associated Press photograph captured him smiling and holding a cigar in his hand with a statue of Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) looming in the background shortly before it was toppled.

His company finished its Iraq tour last year, but he joined another company that left for the region at the end of February, April Popaditch said. It was sent to Fallujah, where four Americans were killed and mutilated last week. Fighting this week in Fallujah has killed four Marines and more than 280 Iraqis.

"He is one of those Marines who has his hand raised anytime there's something overseas," April Popaditch said. "He says he goes for the people we lost on September 11."

Popaditch probably will be moved to a hospital in the United States within a few days, said Maj. Daniel Smith, executive officer of the 1st Tank Battalion based in Twentynine Palms. Losing an eye will end Popaditch's tank career, Smith said.

"He's been in the tanks enough, so he will be fine with that," April Popaditch said, but she added she hopes her husband can continue in the service.

[Dubya]

Put me in please.
Dub

[TexKat]

Gunnery Sgt. Nick Popaditch, you, April and family are our heros. Get well soon. We will be waiting to hear from you.

[DollyCali]

Ok, now we are hoping the Ceegar Guy will not only read this article regarding him but REGISTER AND POST..... and of course we hope he will register as CEEGAR GUY... and April can be Ceegar Guy's Gal or something like that..

I hope he gets to the old Situation room threads where during slow times there is the rival posting of his vs Belly Girl's pix.

And yes, he will always be our hero with one or two eyes, patch or prosthesis..

I heard a story once that when God permits an eye to be removed that he gives one an extra dose of the "inner eye".. now what exactly that can be OR mean might vary but I like to think of it as the idea of intuition; sixth sense...

God Bless you April, mom & Ceegar Guy

[arasina]

I wonder if he knows how much that fantastic photo of him inspired us over the past year. I wonder if he knows how much we appreciate his service to our country. He gave his eye for liberty. Thank you, Gunnery Sgt. Nick Popaditch! God bless you and yours.

[null and void]

Amen!

[arasina]

Nick Popaditch came home from the seven-month tour in July. He went back a few months ago with Charlie Company because they needed him. He didn't have to go back to Iraq at that time, she said.

Wow. What a FINE Marine! What a man!

[TexKat]

You've got freepmail.

Thanks for asking about my son DC. He is at his home at the present enjoying his leave and 9 month old son. His unit (3rd ID) are back at the point of waiting for the call again.

[TexKat]

Thanks MeekOneGOP. I was not too awake this morning, I should have just asked to be freepmailed, but either way will suffice. You've got freepmail.

[hoosiermama]

"Ceegar Guy" wounded....address for cards/notes now available!

Another bump to keep this thread going..... Know anyone else who has a large ping list?

[Dubya]

SEMPER FI TexKat

[Happy2BMe]

Very nice. Send a blanket card also please on behalf of all FReepers.

[Wolfstar]

It takes folks of extreme courage to fight for freedom.

Yes, and there are many ways to express courage in the fight for freedom. We here on the home front MUST, as Shakespeare put it, screw our courage to the sticking point and fight for President Bush's reelection. Iraq and Afghanistan are not the only fronts in this war.

[Tunehead54]

His company finished its Iraq tour last year, but he joined another company that left for the region at the end of February, April Popaditch said. It was sent to Fallujah, where four Americans were killed and mutilated last week. Fighting this week in Fallujah has killed four Marines and more than 280 Iraqis.

"He is one of those Marines who has his hand raised anytime there's something overseas," April Popaditch said. "He says he goes for the people we lost on September 11."

---

Where do we find such men? In America. Land of the free because of the brave.

[MeekOneGOP]

Thanks for the Freep mail ! ;^)

I ALMOST included a note "or Freepmail TexKat", but thought you might not
want to do it that way to avoid flooding the Freep mail or some other reason.

Anyway, I'm sure your Freep mail Inbox is getting plenty of hits anyway now !

Thanks and have a GREAT Easter.

While I'm at it, this is a HOOT ! ...

Rapper Easter Bunny!

[anymouse]

Get well soon gunny.

[SuziQ]

"He says he goes for the people we lost on September 11."

Too bad the Dims seem to have forgotten them.

[Sacajaweau]

Ain't he beautiful!!!!!!!!! Made my day!!!!!!!

[RightWingMama]

And yes, he will always be our hero with one or two eyes, patch or prosthesis..

Amen! God be with you, Ceegar Guy.

[Timeout]

...and April can be "Ceegar Guy's Gal" or something like that...

She could be "Ceegar-ette"!

Though she might not like that. Hmmmm.