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.

[Timeout]

I emailed Sean Hannity with this information.

I included a link to this thread, pointing him to your post. I hope they'll do a feature on Sgt. Popaditch.

[TexKat]

Thats great Timeout, I hope that Fox News will also.

[DollyCali]

She could be "Ceegar-ette"!

Very Clever.. I like that !!! .. hope she posts & whatever feels good to her for a screenname.. but we can't hurt to offer a few suggestions... *G*...Glad she will be having her man home in near future..

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[amom]

Tonk I thought you'd find this thread of interest.

[amom]

http://www.foxnews.com/video2/bagCam.html

BagCam, for old times sake.

[DollyCali]

Holy cow.. I didn't know that those things were still up... wow. I recall during war I would try to load those & each time would crash my computer (d**n Windows ME edition) now with XP Pro.. no problem.

Thanks for link.. interesting/exciting/tense memories from those days over a year ago, weren't there

[amom]

interesting/exciting/tense memories from those days over a year ago, weren't there

An understatement. Did we get ANY sleep for those many days? I know I don't think I did. Bless all those brave souls both then and now.

[DollyCali]

no sleep then & I am still using the same crummy monitor that flickers & gives me a headache. I had just joined FR & was getting NOTHING else done.. no housework, no yard work.. no cooking.. just following the war.. and heaven help if you went out a few hours.. had 2 or 3 thousand posts to catch up....and surely would NOT want to miss anything.

I just got home from freeper's ohioWfan welcome home party from Iraq for her son ERic.. nice looking & wonderful young man(20 years old).. going to grab a glass of wine & work on pictures a bit.

Hope you have a great Easter... (if you celebrate that)

[Rose in RoseBear]

Pingpingping!

[WHBates]

Yes, tough times lie ahead. I wish them well.

[amom]

no sleep then & I am still using the same crummy monitor that flickers & gives me a headache. I had just joined FR & was getting NOTHING else done.. no housework, no yard work.. no cooking.. just following the war.. and heaven help if you went out a few hours.. had 2 or 3 thousand posts to catch up....and surely would NOT want to miss anything.

LOL oh yes...playing catch up was worse than not sleeping EVER!

I just got home from freeper's ohioWfan welcome home party from Iraq for her son ERic.. nice looking & wonderful young man(20 years old).. going to grab a glass of wine & work on pictures a bit.

Oh boy! It's so nice to know he's home. What a handsome lad. You going to post pictures? If so give me a ping?

Hope you have a great Easter... (if you celebrate that)

Yes thanks. And you too!

[Jackie-O]

Thank you Texkat for your kind efforts to get in touch with our Hero's family. I will e-mail some prayers for his speedy recovery and my thanks for his devotion to our great nation.
Hope you had a blessed Easter!

[Jackie-O]

I have been thinking of Nick and April since I read this thread yesterday. Praying for them and hope they join our FReeper family...they will find much support here!

[Jackie-O]

Ping to post #7 and #94.

[Humidston]

Thanks for the ping, Meek.

And prayers for our friend! May he return home safely, into the loving arms of his wife and family.

[DollyCali]

same here Jackie.. in fact insomnia right now is the intense anxiety for this family. May God protect them & give the ALL peace & strength...

He is Risen.. He is risen indeed... all else pales...

[CheneyChick]

Thanks for the ping, Jackie-O. My heart goes out to his family and fellow Marines. He's a hero.

[VOA]

Current update on Popaditch (5-17-04) at
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1138031/posts?page=1