Posted on 11/03/2004 7:31:02 PM PST by SJackson
CAMP BAHARIA, Iraq (Nov. 1, 2004) -- A rifle-mounted scope designed to enhance enemy visibility on the battlefield saved the life of a Marine during a Sept. 17 firefight on the outskirts of Fallujah, but not the way intended.
Sgt. Todd B. Bowers, a member of the 4th Civil Affairs Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, spotted enemy snipers during a security patrol outside the restive town of Fallujah. While returning fire, a sniper-fired round hit Bowers’ advanced combat optical gun site, mounted on his M-16A2 service rifle. Fragmentation from both the ACOG and the bullet were peppered across the left side of Bowers’ face.
“It was about a four-hour firefight. Bullets were flying everywhere, and as I returned fire, it felt like my weapon blew up,” said Bowers, 25, a native of Washington, D.C.
A Navy corpsman removed a piece of fragmentation and applied a pressure dressing to his left cheek.
As the corpsman began calling for a medical evacuation, Bowers refused and kept on fighting alongside his fellow Marines.
“After he was cleaned up, I knew he would be okay, but I was surprised that he didn’t want to leave on a medical evacuation,” said Sgt. Jung Kil Yoo, a member of 4th CAG.
Small pieces of fragmentation can still be seen on the left side of his face.
“Luckily, I had my ballistic goggles on to protect my eyes, without them I probably would not be able to see out of my left eye,” said Bowers.
He can still see the bullet lodged in his scope, which was given to him by his father, John Bowers, two days before leaving to Iraq.
“The last time I saw my dad was the day he handed me the scope,” said Bowers.
His dad was a former sergeant in the Marine Corps, who didn’t want to see his son go into combat without a useful piece of gear.
“The ACOG was the best purchase I have ever made in my life,” said John to his son during a phone conversation.
Bowers’ heroism and loyalty to his unit impressed even those who knew him well.
“I knew he was a good Marine,” said Yoo, 28, a native of Neptune, N.J. “Where some would freeze up, he stood his ground and continued to press forward.”
“Sgt. Bowers was able to keep a cool head about the whole situation,” said Lance Cpl. James J. Vooris, 20, a native of Albany, N.Y., and a combat photographer with Headquarters Company, Regimental Combat Team 1.
With all that was going on around him, Bowers did not have time to stop and think about what happened.
“I didn’t realize how lucky I was till later that day when I sat down to think about it,” said Bowers.
As a constant reminder of how the scope possibly saved his life, Bowers plans to keep the scope and mount it on his mantel when he returns home.
“It’s (the bullet) there and I am glad it stayed there,” said Bowers as he pointed to his ACOG still mounted to his weapon.
Bowers, who has been in Iraq since August, is currently serving a seven-month deployment, his second tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
I have the Trijicon ACOG on my working guns.......excellant piece of gear. Very expensive ! If this Marine still has his on his rifle I'm wondering if it was left for show and tell or is still operational ?
I'm e-mailing Trijicon with this story and if anything ask em to replace the Marines sight . If they won't I'll try and find an addy and mail him one on my dime !
Now that GW's unencumbered with the election I suspect that a world of hurt is enroute to the terrorist assholes of the world and this troop will need a new ACOG !
Stay safe !
Is that ACOG still under warranty?
It's about the most expensive compact reflex/red dot type sight around, but I guess if it stops a bullet from reaching your cranium, it was worth every penny!
Ditto the "ballistic glasses." Don't leave home without 'em!
Trijicon has my E-mail........this guys version is the 900$ version from the pic as far as I can tell....
http://www.trijicon-inc.com/user/parts/products1.cfm?PartID=139
Stay safe !
Do you have that 4X model? How fast is it picking up movers under 100 yards, say, compared to an EOTECH?
That being said, this is one fortunate Marine.
Now let's just hope the fine folks at Trijicon replace this thing at no cost to Sgt. Bowers.
Semper Fi.
L
I see the makings of a fine magazine ad.
I can't be honest as to the Eotech. haven't used one.
My ACOG (same on in the link) rides on a M4 and is a running jackrabbit killing machine for quick snap shooting out to and beyond 100 meters. A few runs from Trijicon had some troubles as the ACOG was illuminating the user if the badguys had NVG's. Since been corrected to best of my knowledge.
Stay safe !
How is it when moving from light to dark, such as from sunlight into thick cover, or into a structure? I hear it can go dark, sort of.
Tell em !
Trijicon, Inc.
49385 Shafer Avenue
P.O. Box 930059
Wixom, MI 48393
Phone: 248.960.7700
Fax: 248.960.7725
Customer Service
1.800.338.0563
Email
info@trijicon.com
Customer Service Hours
9:00 a.m - 5:00 pm EST
(My email to Trijicon)
Hi Guys,
Have you seen this picture of Sgt. Todd Bower's ACOG? He's a Marine in Iraq, whose life was saved by an ACOG in an unconventional manner. I suggest you might want to trade his old sight even up for a new one, and put his in your museum.
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/20041128127/$file/ACOGcloseuplow.jpg
I really wish I could afford one of those Triji sights, but to be honest with you my Aimpoint ML is just awesome.
It's kind of like that scene in the first Terminator movie. "You just put the red dot where you want the bullet to go."
Once you have it zerod, you just about can't miss with it. I really like it because I don't have to close one eye. If you mount it just right, the sight seems to disappear. All you see is the little dot.
I love it.
L
I've not used mine in a shoot house....can't answer that. I haven't experienced such as you described walking out of a dark range shelter to a bright firing line so not sure if it's common......
The ACOG is very rugged as the pic in this thread attests to.....
My Pet AK has an Aimpoint 5000M version that I have used in a shoothouse in ABQ NM at DOE's CTA......It works well !
If I had to choose either as a civilian with self defense needs I'd go with the Aimpoint 5000M flavor for cost, durabilty and function overall......
As ya well know, troops are hard on gear and the ACOG is the stronger of the two yet very expensive. Just my opinion.
Compare this Marine's reaction to that of Quick John Kerry in 'Nam. Damn but I'm glad he won't be our President.
If ya get a chance borrow some NVG's and use yer aimpoint with em in the dark on a live range. Hold your rifle down at about chest height kinda looking over the optics vs thru the sight. The image of the dot will "appear" in a ghost image on the target. Pull the trigger and watch the hits. Kinda an optical illusion that works.......:O)
Stay safe !!! Aimpoint is a fine tool as is the ACOG . Yer well equipped with either or IMO.
If this kid doesn't get a free replacement, they should fire the marketing and sales staff - for blowing a priceless advertising opportunity.
If the Mfg. DOESN'T do the smart thing, I'll bet we could raise the cost of replacement in this forum in about 30 minutes...
Then, we would have to put the Mfg. on a $hit list...
Semper Fi
Heh! I know that place...
You're making a good argument for iron sights and lots of practice!
Honestly, I can't stand aimpoints, parallax sights, or God forbid, laser dots--'cuz I spend more time looking at the pretty sights than getting on the target.
By the time I acquire the dot and the target, I could have had a couple of fairly good shots off at the goblin.
It's all personal preference, of course....
(I usta be 'chookter' until the ex started cyber-stalking me here...)
I think for pure speed in helter skelter zero to 100 yard shooting, nothing is faster than the EOtech. The bright circle around the dot reticle with the horizontal and vertical lines is fantastic. Much faster pickup than a single red dot like the aimpoint. For shooting from bouncing vehicles, it's hard to beat. And less $$ too.
But out past 100 yards, I think the ACOG is much superior, so on balance, I'd pick it, if I could afford it!
No good Marine name. G_d, I love these guys.
Already he's more of a hero than John "the braggart" Kerry.
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