Military Medical Team Makes the 'Toughest Call' (GI IMPALED BY BOMB - courage abounds!!!)

ABC News ^ | 9/22/07 | Ruth Reiss

[paulat]

Unexploded Rocket-Propelled Grenade Impales Army Private in Afghanistan By RUTH REISS

[snip]

One RPG skidded past Lt. Mariani's vehicle. All of the vehicles had to quickly get out of the "kill zone." But before they could get to safety, two rockets hit Pvt. Moss' Humvee.

Staff Sgt. Eric Wynn, 33, the soldier in the front passenger seat, felt one slice through his face. Moss remembers the truck practically lift up. He was thrown up against the Humvee and then moved to return fire.

"I smelled something smoking and I looked down ... and I was smoking," he said.

Wynn turned to tell Moss where to fire and saw the tail fins of the RPG sticking out of Moss' side.

Roughly the length of a baseball bat, an RPG travels at the speed of a bullet. At the front end is the warhead -- a large grenade. The detonator and fuel are contained in the shaft. On the back are its fins, pieces of metal that stick out like legs on a camera tripod. The RPG is the weapon of choice for many of the world's guerillas.

Luckily for Moss, the company medic Spc. Jared Angell, 23, who the soldiers call "Doc," was in his Humvee

[snip]

A Human Bomb The RPG that had plowed into Moss' lower abdomen stretched from one hip to the other. If the RPG went off, it would kill everyone within 30 feet of him. Yet Angell stayed close, bandaging his wounds and stabilizing the weapon so that movement wouldn't cause it to explode.

Moss was still fully conscious, so Angell ordered him to not look down at the injury. He didn't want Moss to panic.

[snip]

[Monkey Face]

WHOA!

No wonder you’re so pumped! It sounds like a good day, alright!

[sionnsar]

*clap-clap-clap*
Oh goody! Photos!

I hope so. Have to download and process them - a multi-step operation since I shot them in RAW mode (similar to shooting on film, there are more processing steps to get to photos).

But in the meantime, here's one I took in Dortmund (Germany) earlier this week. LoM collects rhino photos, so this was another for her collection.

[sionnsar]

Here's one. This is probably not much more than a couple of miles from my house, but it's 10 - 15 miles by road. The fall colors appear to have peaked while I was away, but there's still more than usual for here.

[sionnsar]

There was an unusual amount of traffic on this road. (West Snoqualmie River Road, I think it's called, running between Fall City and Carnation.) We soon saw why.

[sionnsar]

This scene is about a mile from my house, as the crow flies. It's about a 10 mile drive.

[sionnsar]

From the previous photo (looking east), back up about 200 feet onto a footbridge, then turn left to look north along the Snoqualmie River:

[sionnsar]

A scene in the Carnation Swamp (a wetlands preserve):

[Tax-chick]

Nice pictures.

[sionnsar]

Thanks.

[Monkey Face]

Great stuff! Thanks!

[Not A Snowbird]

Hi, ‘Face!

Yawn. Stretch.......

[Monkey Face]

Me, too! I slept in until almost 0700.

[Not A Snowbird]

I stayed up too late watching the Indians-Red Sox. Actually, it watched me.

[sionnsar]

Me, too! I slept in until almost 0700.

Me too. Gotta get ready for that 6 AM teleconference tomorrow.

But now it's time to get ready for church.

[Monkey Face]

I went to bed really early, but read until 2100, when my eyelids slammed shut. I think it was a good book....

[Monkey Face]

I was going to go today, even had my clothes laid out. But my back decided it should stay home, so I decided to stay home with it. ;o]

I never know until I wake up, if I’m going to feel like attending church. But I still lay out my clothes the night before, just in case.

[Tax-chick]

I wish I’d had my clothes out this morning - it was cold, and I couldn’t get anything out of my closet because Vlad was asleep.

The lizards were thrilled when I came down and turned their heat lamp on, and the catz were threatening to eat the lizards if I didn’t hurry up with the cat-nibble.

We had two babies baptized at the Spanish Mass (well, it’s trying to be Spanish, but Father Hawker wanders into Latin when he loses his focus.) Cute babies!

[Monkey Face]

I’m sorry about the delay in answering. I’m watching “The Guardian,” with Kevin Costner.

Now I’m hungry, so I put some frozen lasagne in the microwave to warm it up for lunch. Or dinner....depending on my bedtime. Which can show up any time it feels like it.

Last night was in the 60’s, which is better than it has been, but it’s time for falling temps, though days are still in the 80’s.

We’ll be seeing the leaves litter the yards, soon.

[Tax-chick]

It was in the 40’s here, and we had the windows open. Hope you enjoy your lasagne! We’re having pancakes.

[Monkey Face]

I made this earlier in the week and froze it, so it was really good!

I coulda had pancakes...if I’da thought about it! LOL!

When it gets to the 40’s at night, here, I’ll trade the box fan for a small heater....;o]