IEDs

[AmericanGirl]

I mentioned in the forum that one of my soldiers was burned/injured by an IED. He emailed me, said he was okay, but then he emailed me these pictures and I am trying really hard not to freak out, but let me tell ya, I am freaking out right now.

[Covertness]

You should be freaking out. That kind of shit ain't normal. It's barbaric and cowardly but deadly serious. Your troop said he was OK and that's all that matters. Equipment can be replaced, lives cannot.

Hope his buddies were OK as well. I will pray that the cowards who set off the IED find their way to Hell where they belong.

[USMCRET6391]

I'm with Covert. No reason to be ashamed you are freaking out. Glad he is ok and that everyone else is also

[AmericanGirl]

Thanks guys, I didnt want to freak out on him, he's probably getting enough of that from his family. I can't believe they left that vehicle alive... thank you God for small miracles... all three of them are okay, just burns cuts, bumps, and bruises. He looks pretty rough but I'm just happy he, that all of them are alive

[Panzerman]

Doesn't look too bad, actually - most of the damage you see came from the resulting fire, not the blast. Humvees are very, very survivable vehicles. I crawled out of one looking worse than that unharmed - if the crew compartment stays intact (like the one in the pictures), your chances are pretty good.

[AmericanGirl]

Panzer, I'm not sure if that reassures me that much, but thanks. I'm definitely learning things I'm not sure I ever wanted to know. Its one thing to see a scene like that in a movie or a news clip... but to see it and know it happened to someone I know... its kind of a shock. I give you guys all the credit in the world for what you do... From the bottom of my heart.. Thank you.

[USMC Chuter]

Glad he's ok.

[RR691983]

Yep, nothing much to worry about there. That's pretty much standard fare for a M113/4 after an IED with a resulting fire. I've seen alot worse just from the blasts but those pics are nothing crazy. No worries Kim.

[armyinfmom63]

I know the feeling Kim, Ryans' Humvee got hit right after he first got there, and he didn't tell us until he came home on leave and showed us pics, and that was after he had to explain how he got the small scar under his eye (from scrapnel) that wasn't there when he left.

Like the other guys said, most looks worse then they are, but I really do understand your worries, believe me, I have lived the past 10 mos. with them. Every minute....
But those are done now which I will put in another post. But hang in there, he is fine, and doing good. Wish him the best for us!!

[AmericanGirl]

Thanks guys, I'm pretty much over the shock, and all the guys are okay, they shipped one of them home, he has a crack in his vertabrae but he will be good to go after a couple of months in a neck brace. I am worried about my troop though, he's not doing so good mentally. I have known this guy for a little over 3 years and he's about as gung ho of a soldier that I have ever met, he's been in Iraq 3 times - voluntered to go back over less than 6 months after his 1st deployment, and was there for 4 months and went out again in November. He has been through some crazy stuff including getting a concussion from a mortar that exploded too close to their Humvee and knocked him silly during his first deployment. He pulled his IV out and left AMA so he could get back to his guys. Its just really disturbing that he is really rattled this time, He just got married while he was on leave and he promised his wife he would come home and now he doesnt want to go back out. He volunteered for a convoy run yesterday because he was going stir crazy and it completely freaked him out... He only has a little over 3 months left, I just hope he can hang in there. I feel pretty helpless. of course you know me, I always want to fix things and there is no way I can fix this for him.