September 21, 2004
"This is my last day. I’m going out with a bang."
This is from a great story, about a Marine and some Blackwater contractors in a tough spot during the fighting in Najaf last April:
...The noontime battle stretched into the afternoon. Young figured he’d die.When you vote, think about how Democrat leaders can see lots of nuances and "shades of gray" while they decide whether they support American forces this week...“I thought, 'This is my last day. I’m going out with a bang.’ If I had to die it would be defending my country,” Young said Friday.
“I just felt like we were losing ground, and I thought, 'If I’m going to die, I’m not going down without a fight.’ I knew we were seriously outnumbered. They were coming at us with pretty much everything they had. We were seriously struggling to keep our ground.”
The insurgents had machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades, and a sniper shooting out the window of a local hospital.
Young saw a red flash, then blood spurting 5 or 6 feet out of the jaw and neck of a contractor. He reached into the quarter-sized bullet hole in the man’s jaw and pinched his carotid artery closed, then dragged the man across the roof to where his medical kit lay sprawled open.
Midway across the roof, Young heard a loud smack. Pain danced across his face, chased by adrenaline, and he forgot about it. After a medic packed the man’s wounds with a substance that clots blood, Young strapped the man to his back and carried him downstairs. In all, the Marine left the roof five times: twice to transport wounded comrades, three times for ammunition.
When a group of U.S. Army military police officers joined the fight, Young used his experience as a weapons instructor to talk them through it. Conserve your ammo. Slow and steady before you squeeze. Adjust your sites for range and distance. Take breaks so your gun barrel doesn’t melt...
(thanks to Mudville Gazette)
Posted by John Weidner at September 21, 2004 07:52 AM | TrackBackThat was a good story.
Posted by: Jack at September 21, 2004 08:56 AMThanks for linking to this story. We need to spread the word about heroes like You. Also, if you look back on the 13th of September I have a post about a young Airman who was seriously injured on September 11th of this year. Also, worth sharing.
As you can see by my site, this is the sort of thing I blog frequently. I am anti-Democrat, pro troops and too the point.
I like your site. If you would consider adding my blog as one of your permanent links I will reciprocate. Please let me know via email if you are interested.
Thanks
SlagleRock Out!
Posted by: SlagleRock at September 21, 2004 05:47 PMIn the above comment I wrote:We need to spread the word about heroes like You
It should have read:We need to spread the word about heroes like Young.
CPL Young was the subject of that post. My fingers were just moving tooooooo fast. :)
SlagleRock Out!
Posted by: SlagleRock at September 21, 2004 05:49 PM
