Iron Mike

Snopes.com ^ | 2006 | Unknown

[RedStateRocker]

September 2005, Marine Gunnery Sgt. Michael Burghardt, a 35-year-old native of Huntington Beach, California, who had served with the Marine Corps for 18 years (the last 15 of them in bomb disposal), was called upon to disarm some improvised explosive devices (IEDs) near Ramadi, Iraq. As a member of an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit, Sgt. Burghardt was tasked with locating, identifying, disarming and disposing of the IEDs that Iraqi insurgents have increasingly been using as offensive weapons against U.S. troops.

...

The Omaha World-Herald photograph of Sgt. Burghardt displayed above — taken in the aftermath of the bomb blast and showing him "standing on his own two feet, pants cut off, legs bandaged and directing a single-digit salute of defiance at his attackers" — appeared in that newspaper five days later and quickly became one of the most popular iconic images of the Iraq War. As the World-Herald noted of its origins and impact: ... with two new young Marines in his ordnance disposal unit — and the insurgent attackers undoubtedly looking on — "I didn't want them to see the team leader carried away on a stretcher," [Burghardt] said.

[RedStateRocker]

A friend sent me this link, checked it out on Snopes and it's true.

Just wow's all I can say; they set a bomb off under the man and he walks away giving them the finger....

[martin_fierro]

[johniegrad]

The shrapnel obviously never reached his balls.

[ChefKeith]

Posted a few months ago here.

I use that pic as my desktop background.

People do a double take at the screen and ask what is that?

I tell them and they just go- WOW!

[saganite]

Impressive. I wouldn't want him on anybody's side but mine.

[baltodog]

Eff em' all.

I know it's easy for me say behind my computer...

But, seriously, eff 'em all.

First, it's because of imperialism.

Then, it's because of Israel.

Now, it's because of freaking cartoons.

Eff 'em all.

[Dawsonville_Doc]

Marine Gunnery Sgt. Michael Burghardt, a 35-year-old native of Huntington Beach, California

I hope all the people who want to "give California to Mexico" read this.

[Vision]

Now this is an American

[satchmodog9]

Brass balls need no armor.

[jazusamo]

You bet. Sgt. Burghardt is one of America's finest and we thank him.

[91B]

I've seen this picture and I admire the Gunny. But up till now I didn't know the context. Good for him for showing Haji what he thinks of their attempt to kill him, but next tim JUST SEND THE ROBOT!!!

[Gordongekko909]

Duh. He's a Marine. The shrapnel knew better than to attempt an assault on this guy's balls.

[91B]

Should read "next time".

[A.A. Cunningham]

Could have checked it out on freerepublic.

Injured Marine defies atackers

Marine bomb expert shaken but not deterred by IED

[A.A. Cunningham]

That's Gunnery Sergeant to you.

[jazusamo]

I apologize for that omission, you are correct.

[truth_seeker]

"Huntington Beach, California..."

[Jumper]

So our newest Iron Mike follows in the footsteps of the original, swaggering Paratrooper cast to represent all the Airborne in WWII. A bigger than life Iron Mike can be seen at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Also seen there is nice Special Forces Bronze.

Good job Iron Mike of today, and yesterday.

[facedown]

Makes one proud.

[Syberyenta]

The shrapnel obviously never reached his balls.

coulda bounced off...