Lamh Foistenach Abu!
Posted on 08/04/2009 7:28:47 PM PDT by Eagles6
The Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant in the picture is Michael Burghard, part of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team that is supporting 2nd Brigade 28th Infantry Division (Pennsylvania Army National Guard). I heard the below story first hand last Saturday during a video teleconference between his Brigade Commander and the 28th Infantry Division Commander. I thought that others should hear it as well, as I think it demonstrates the true spirit of most of our troops on the ground.
Leading the fight is Gunnery Sgt Michael Burghardt, known as "Iron Mike" or just "Gunny". He is on his third tour in Iraq. He had become a legend in the bomb disposal world after winning the Bronze Star for disabling 64 IEDs and destroying 1,548 pieces of ordnance during his second tour.
Then, on September 19, he got blown up. He had arrived at a chaotic scene after a bomb had killed four US soldiers. He chose not to wear the bulky bomb protection suit. "You can't react to any sniper fire and you get tunnel-vision," he explains. So, protected by just a helmet and standard-issue flak jacket, he began what bomb disposal officers term "the longest walk", stepping gingerly into a 5ft deep and 8ft wide crater. The earth shifted slightly and he saw a Senao base station with a wire leading from it. He cut the wire and used his 7in knife to probe the ground. "I found a piece of red detonating cord between my legs," he says. "That's when I knew I was screwed."
Reminded me of Jim Thompson for some reason. ;-)>
Ping
Lamh Foistenach Abu!
Wow. This took me back to the Kosovo war, because we had a few personnel win Bronze Stars for flying a desk at HQ USAFE.
Methinks Sgt Burghardt is more deserving.
Burghardt, who retired as a Master Sergeant, was a Gunnery Sergeant at the time. He earned his rank and deserves to be correctly identified.
I’m surprised the liberals aren’t complaining because he gave the insurgent the finger.
Outstanding soldier! God Bless Our Troops!
Here's to him. I'll never forget that picture.
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