Posted on 05/26/2004 7:36:02 PM PDT by SJackson
CAMP AL ASAD, Iraq(May 24, 2004) -- Lance Cpl. Christian A. Holloway knows what it's like to survive the blast of an improvised explosive device.
"The boom hits and everything becomes silent," said Holloway, an infantryman from Round Rock, Texas. "Your body is in motion, but you can't hear a thing. It's like that scene from 'Saving Private Ryan.'"
Holloway, assigned to Company L, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, along with 15 other Marines, was on a convoy several days ago when his vehicle was struck by an IED. The roadside bomb was made of 155 mm artillery rounds buried in the dirt. The blast tore through a seven-ton truck, wounding nine Marines.
One wounded was evacuated to an Army hospital in Baghdad. The other eight Marines were treated and released. All received fragmentation wounds from the explosion, but eye protection saved the sight of eight of the nine Marines.
The explosion left the Marines dazed, bleeding and wondering how they survived to speak about it.
Lance Cpl. Joseph D. Brooks, an infantryman from Palm Bay, Fla., said the effects of the blast were sobering. He's seen the effects of combat last year during the invasion of Iraq. But that was the enemy. This time, he was battling to keep his fellow Marines alive.
"He had a piece of shrapnel...," Brooks explained of seeing his wounded friend. "During our first time here it was different seeing the bodies of our enemies. But, when it's your friend, your buddy you're giving first aid to, it makes you sick."
The convoy quickly set up a perimeter in search of the enemy. Nothing was there. No movement could be seen. There weren't any wires to trace the bomb. It was triggered by a remote detonator.
"Everything was like second nature," said Pvt. Jesus Rivera, an infantryman from Phoenix. "We weren't even thinking. We just did what we were supposed to.
Rivera added that even one of the worst wounded Marines was barking orders.
It wasn't until after the incident was over that any of them were able to grasp exactly what happened.
"While it was happening we were all just so angry," Holloway explained. "We just wanted to get them back."
"At first I was just angry," added Lance Cpl. Joshua C. Pearce, an infantryman from Dallas. "Then I started thinking about all the other Marines. A lot of these guys have fiancés and wives."
Pearce said one Marine has a son yet to be born.
The Marines in the convoy weren't surprised by what had happened. Rather, many expected it. They trained for it, how to react and briefed it before they left on the mission. Still, none knew exactly what it would be like.
"I was scared at first," said Lance Cpl. Eric S. Freemen, an infantryman and from Thousand Oaks, Calif. "It was like, 'Wow, it finally happened.' It didn't feel real for a while. We all knew it would happen, we just didn't know when."
Several days later, the Marines still wondered how they weren't killed or severely injured.
"There were large holes everywhere," Holloway said. "We are amazed nothing too bad happened to us. Someone was looking out for us."
And it didn't slow them down.
In less than a day, the Marines were out patrolling the same street where it happened. Some still wore the same blood-stained uniforms.
"This is what we do. It's all muscle memory," Rivera said. "They can't stop us."
Lance Cpls. Christian A. Holloway, of Round Rock, Texas and Joshua C. Pearce, of Dallas, both infantrymen with 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, show off pieces of shrapnel from an improvised explosive device. The two were on a convoy that was hit by two 155 mm rounds while on a routine patrol. Pearce is holding a piece which went into his leg.
Lance Cpl. Joseph D. Brooks, and infantryman with 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment and from Palm Bay, Fla. shows off some of his injuries suffered from an improvised explosive device blast. A four vehicle convoy was hit, while on a routine patrol.
Lance Cpl. Anthony J. Rytlewski, an infantryman of 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, was among the Marines who suffered injuries during an attack on his four vehicle convoy May 21.
Wow. These guys must have had angels watching over them. God Bless these soldiers for their courage.
Marine Bump
Marine Bump
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bump for later
God bless them and keep them all safe.
Thank you Father for protecting them. It always amazes me how young these warriors are who stand between us and the terrorists. I am in awe of their courage and determination, and incredibly proud that we produce men like them.
"There were large holes everywhere," Holloway said. "We are amazed nothing too bad happened to us. Someone was looking out for us."
And it didn't slow them down.
Faith in a loving God ... Got some? :-)
ping
Way to go Marines.
I have welder's sunglasses (not cutting or welding glasses, just plain dark sunglasses for shop workers, really) made with polycarbonate (Lexan) lenses. (This clear plastic is the stuff bullet resistant "glass" is made from.) They only cost about $10 a pair, because they're an OSHA item employers have to provide.
They will stop a pellet gun pellet point blank. If you put the lens on the ground, you cannot hammer through it with the pointy end of a welder's chipping hammer no matter how hard you try. I imagine they will stop most frag and blast debris. They come clear or dark, so they could be worn night or day.
They have Lexan side shields which fold out to protect against particles coming in from the side in a shop, and also to cut down the glare of being around welders. The down side is the lenses are soft, and scratch easily, so they have to be replaced more frequently than some other lens materials. I hope the military in Iraq on convoy duty have something at least as effective as those $10 Lexan shop glasses.
Damn stylish, too.
side-note: do you know where I can get my greedy mitts on sheet polycarb/lexan of that type, 1/8" thick and in normal industrial lengths/widths?
If I knew the exact chemical name for the stuff, or a particular rating, that'd be a start.
God bless our Marines and other American military.
You guys are great.
SEMPER FI
Thanks for the ping Race.
SEMPER FI
bump
kewlie! thanks. g'nite!
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