What close call are you thankful to have survived in combat this 4th of July?

LTC David Stender — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 09:13:26 -0400

What close call are you thankful to be alive from? On 3 July 2003, my Force Protection team was ambushed with an IED and small arms fire in Baghdad, Iraq. We had wounded, but all survived to continue mission; the frustration has always been no visibility of the gunman and the innocent civilians caught in the same aftermath. A great reason to be thankful for the 4th of July!

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Jul 3 at 2015 9:48 AM

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 09:48:14 -0400

On the night of 28 Oct 1968, at Fire Support Base Rita in the Fish Hook area in RVN, in a heavy barrage of recoilless rifle and rocket propelled grenade fire, C-22 was hit by an RPG round causing the damage which you see on the left side. Four days later C-22 was instrumental in repelling a heavy ground attack by a North Vietnamese sapper battalion supported by intense rocket and mortar barrages.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/34540417@N07/ [login to see] /in/photostream/

That M109 was right behind my sleeping position!

155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer, M109 (C-22)

One display reads: C-22, an M109, self-propelled 155mm howitzer, was built by Allison Division of General Motors in 1967. It entered the U.S. Army inventory on 6 Jan 1968 and was received at Letterkenny Army Depot 16 Feb 1968. C-22 was shipped to Vietnam 1 May 1968 and was issued to 6th FA BN, 1st INF DIV, on 22 June 1968. On the night of 28 Oct 1968, at Fire Support Base Rita in the Fish Hook area in RVN, in a heavy barrage of recoilless...

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 3 at 2015 9:49 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 09:49:39 -0400

No where near as bad as yours, Sir. Our base got hit with a few rockets. The landed in an open field, so no one got hurt.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Jul 3 at 2015 9:50 AM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 09:50:47 -0400

Glad you are okay!

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jul 3 at 2015 10:09 AM

COL Charles Williams — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 10:09:56 -0400

LTC David Stender, as I am sure you know, there are likely many. I remember several that involved casualties, which were too close. I remember one in Sadr City during the Surge, where a squad (then another) from the 118th MP Co (Abn) showed up to the TF 134 convoy that had been hit by an EFP, and had significant casualties. They were the closest patrol, and arrived, set up a security perimeter, as the enemy was closing in, had a "mad minute" or two... until all enemy activity ceased. Then they became first responders, and evacuated all the personnel. Being from Fort Bragg too (The 118th was in the 89th at the time), it was funny to hear everyone talk about this MP unit that should up, and how bad ass they were... I think most folks have/had no idea what MPs actually do in combat.

The other(s) are recall are all the late night flights with HVC 1, cold quiet, and clear over Baghdad and then the UH60s would fire flares (shit!) and the AH 64s would start engaging targets. The last, would be one day on MSR Tampa, we stopped for a security halt (flat/piss break) on the long haul to Bucca, and as were pulling away, behind the last vehicle, I huge Blast erupted on the roadside behind us... I suspect there was an IED there and someone was trying to detonate it, but the CREWS was interrupting the single.

Happy 4th and thanks for your service. I hope you and Girls are great!