steveo21 Posted February 8, 2006 Share Posted February 8, 2006 http://afemalesoldier2.com/2006/02/04/not-a-good-day-to-die/ Leading the fight is Gunnery Sgt Michael Burghardt, known as "Iron Mike" or just "Gunny". He is on his third tour in Iraq. He had become a legend in the bomb disposal world after winning the Bronze Star for disabling 64 IEDs and destroying 1,548 pieces of ordnance during his second tour. Then, on September 19, he got blown up. He had arrived at a chaotic scene after a bomb had killed four US soldiers. He chose not to wear the bulky bomb protection suit. "You can't react to any sniper fire and you get tunnel-vision," he explains. So, protected by just a helmet and standard-issue flak jacket, he began what bomb disposal officers term "the longest walk", stepping gingerly into a 5ft deep and 8ft wide crater. The earth shifted slightly and he saw a Senao base station with a wire leading from it. He cut the wire and used his 7in knife to probe the ground. "I found a piece of red detonating cord between my legs," he says. "That's when I knew I was screwed." Realizing he had been sucked into a trap, Sgt Burghardt, 35, yelled at everyone to stay back. At that moment, an insurgent, probably watching through binoculars, pressed a button on his mobile phone to detonate the secondary device below the sergeant's feet. "A chill went up the back of my neck and then the bomb exploded," he recalls. "As I was in the air I remember thinking, 'I don't believe they got me.' I was just ticked off they were able to do it. Then I was lying on the road, not able to feel anything from the waist down." His colleagues cut off his trousers to see how badly he was hurt. None could believe his legs were still there. "My dad's a Vietnam vet who's paralyzed from the waist down," says Sgt Burghardt. "I was lying there thinking I didn't want to be in a wheelchair next to my dad and for him to see me like that. They started to cut away my pants and I felt a real sharp pain and blood trickling down. Then I wiggled my toes and I thought, 'Good, I'm in business.' As a stretcher was brought over, adrenaline and anger kicked in. "I decided to walk to the helicopter. I wasn't going to let my team-mates see me being carried away on a stretcher." He stood and gave the insurgents who had blown him up a one-fingered salute. "I flipped them one. It was like, 'OK, I lost that round but I'll be back next week'." Copies of a photograph depicting his defiance, taken by Jeff Bundy for the Omaha World-Herald, adorn the walls of homes across America and that of Col John Gronski, the brigade commander in Ramadi, who has hailed the image as an exemplar of the warrior spirit. Sgt Burghardt's injuries -- burns and wounds to his legs and buttocks -- kept him off duty for nearly a month and could have earned him a ticket home. But, like his father -- who was awarded a Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts for being wounded in action in Vietnam -- he stayed in Ramadi to engage in the battle against insurgents who are forever coming up with more ingenious ways of killing Americans. Reprinted From: http://sgtsledgehammer.blogspot.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoCommiesGo Posted February 8, 2006 Share Posted February 8, 2006 Wow, that is an amazing thing to survive the bomb blast and have the fortitude to get up and walk away. That kind of attitude is what gives me hope. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visionary Posted February 8, 2006 Share Posted February 8, 2006 Whew...for a second there, I thought this story was about a soldier who ended up becoming an insurgent himself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RabidFan Posted February 8, 2006 Share Posted February 8, 2006 Read that last week....great tale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PleaseBlitz Posted February 8, 2006 Share Posted February 8, 2006 WOW! What a tough sonofa****. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Air Force Cane Posted February 8, 2006 Share Posted February 8, 2006 the explosion was several months ago- he is back on duty in Iraq now :notworthy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herrmag Posted February 8, 2006 Share Posted February 8, 2006 That is a bad man. I don't care how "tough" someone is. Surviving an explosion, and just going back for more. I love the pic too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoeRedskins Posted February 8, 2006 Share Posted February 8, 2006 Congrat "Iron Mike" your on the same level of bad assery as Chuck Norris. :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airborneskins Posted February 8, 2006 Share Posted February 8, 2006 Yup, who says that our body armor doesn't work? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMac Posted February 8, 2006 Share Posted February 8, 2006 Wow. What an amazing story! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redskins Diehard Posted February 8, 2006 Share Posted February 8, 2006 If that story makes you feel good, rest assured it is being replayed almost on a daily basis. My BN issued no less than 45 Purple Heart awards during our time in OIF ranging from small scrapes to multiple amputations...I never heard a single one complain about it. While going through physical therapy once we got back I saw guys fighting to stay on active duty despite their injuries and even one that wanted to return with a prosthetic leg. I am not attempting to diminish this thread or this man at all...he is a hero and a great warrior, just wanted to let you know that there are plenty with his mettle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Mike Posted February 8, 2006 Share Posted February 8, 2006 If that story makes you feel good, rest assured it is being replayed almost on a daily basis. My BN issued no less than 45 Purple Heart awards during our time in OIF ranging from small scrapes to multiple amputations...I never heard a single one complain about it. While going through physical therapy once we got back I saw guys fighting to stay on active duty despite their injuries and even one that wanted to return with a prosthetic leg. I am not attempting to diminish this thread or this man at all...he is a hero and a great warrior, just wanted to let you know that there are plenty with his mettle. And I salute you all. :notworthy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dead Money Posted February 8, 2006 Share Posted February 8, 2006 Awesome story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanCollins Posted February 8, 2006 Share Posted February 8, 2006 What a bad@$$, somewhere the Duke is smiling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCRunner Posted February 9, 2006 Share Posted February 9, 2006 Are these homemade bombs? How could it not have done more damage? He's awfully lucky but the mental torture he must have gone through in those moments probably was excruciating. I wonder if this experience made him more careful or more daring? He's got cute legs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickalino Posted February 9, 2006 Share Posted February 9, 2006 :notworthy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted February 9, 2006 Share Posted February 9, 2006 There's always been a theory that you can be at a certain spot at a certain range from a grenade/bomb when it goes off and not get hurt. Guess this guy proved the theory Good on ya! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonef1de Posted February 9, 2006 Share Posted February 9, 2006 Thats one bad Marine. If you want to read about more bad marines do a google search for Carlos Hath**** and read his book Marine sniper. The man is the absolute hero of all Jarheads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickalino Posted February 9, 2006 Share Posted February 9, 2006 In addition to his other amazing talents, the Sargeant is also Bi-Lingual. He spoke a universal sign language to his adversary, the insurgent, in a language that even an Arab could understand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Air Force Cane Posted February 9, 2006 Share Posted February 9, 2006 amen Redskins Diehard! there are wounded at Walter Reed who are happier with missing limbs- than many of the civilians I know whose biggest problem is which outfit to wear to work.. and thank you for your gallant service to our country!! :applause: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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