Sleeping US Marine accidentally killed by his own gun

Reuters | 4/03/03

[kattracks]

Sleeping US Marine accidentally killed by his own gun

AS SAYLIYA, Qatar, April 3 (Reuters) - A sleeping U.S. Marine was killed by his gun in central Iraq when the weapon accidentally discharged, the U.S. military said on Thursday.

The Marine's M-249 Squad Automatic Weapon fired one round into his chest, U.S. Central Command said in a statement from its war headquarters in Qatar.

The accident took place on Wednesday night near the city of Kut, the statement said.

The soldier's name was not disclosed, but Central Command said he was with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force's 1st Marine Division.

"The Marine died honourably in the service of his country," the statement said.

04/03/03 16:14 ET

[PatrioticAmerican]

A chest wound? A guy sleeping with his gun loaded is one thing, but to get hit in the chest by accident??

[RetiredArmy]

A sleeping U.S. Marine was killed by his gun in central Iraq when the weapon accidentally discharged, the U.S. military said on Thursday.

Sorry, but M16's/pistols don't just get up in the middle of the night and go off. Beside, it is not a gun in the military. It is called a WEAPON! Stupid press.

[dandelion]

Exhausted from battle and days of bad weather; God rest his soul. Semper Fi.

[Aerohawk]

This is unfortunate. Let's just hope some paranoid safety officer doesn't decide that "for their own good" everyone needs to unload their weapons every night.

[yonif]

He died defending this country, nontheless.

[freeper2003]

Yes....I can hear it now....

DO WE RELLY NEED BULLETS...?

Freep

[freeper2003]

really..sorry

[A2J]

He died defending this country, nontheless.

Amen.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

God rest his soul and watch over his family. This is heartbreaking.

[ladtx]

This is unfortunate. Let's just hope some paranoid safety officer doesn't decide that "for their own good" everyone needs to unload their weapons every night.

Ditto. I saw it happen in Vietnam. Got to the point of having to disarm our gunships on the flight line. Then when we were attacked in the middle of the night, the crews were out there under fire, at night, re-arming their aircraft.

[4.1O dana super trac pak]

"The Marine died honourably in the service of His country"

Enough said.

[Servant of the Nine]

This is unfortunate. Let's just hope some paranoid safety officer doesn't decide that "for their own good" everyone needs to unload their weapons every night.

The military obviously needs "Trigger Locks". < /sarcasm >

So9

[jdege]

I'm not familiar with the SAW - it came into service just as I was leaving.

Does it fire from an open bolt? Most machineguns do (to reduce the risk of cookoff).

If so, a slipped sear means a discharge. This may mean that despite my general disdain for the term "accidental discharge", (they are almost always better termed "negligent discharge"), this may actually be an accident.

Most "accidental" discharges involve someone pulling the trigger - this would not have.

The only "safe" way to handle an open-bolt firearm is to close the bolt on an empty chamber. But to not do that in a combat area is a reasonable choice after balancing the risks, not the act of negligence it would be in other circumstances.

[jdege]

The M249 isn't an M16.

[earlyapex]

Plus, the M249 is a officially a "crew served" rather than an individual weapon. In rare instances, the SAW may "cook off" a round. But, that would only happen after an extended bout of firing - not while the operator is sleeping.

Odd story. Tragic nonetheless.

[jospehm20]

I never did trust the safety on open bolt weapons.

[PackerBoy]

I don't know much about weapons like this, but didn't it have a safety? I can understand sleeping with a loaded weapon in a combat zone, but this accident seems preventable.

In any event, how tragic, indeed. God rest his immortal soul. He's still a hero in my book.

[Ajnin]

That warrior may have been so exausted from sleep deprivation that he unknowingly let the weapon slip into an unsafe position.

See you at the gates Marine, Semper Fi.