Must-Watch: Soldier Impaled With Live RPG; Comrades Risk Lives To Remove It

The print version:

Moss was on a litter on the helicopter’s floor; other wounded soldiers were positioned on the floor and in seats. Correa and Smith pushed the helicopter’s speed to its limits.

Correa had previously flown medical evacuation missions in Iraq with the 30th Medical Brigade. For Smith, a former Bradley vehicle mechanic who went warrant, it was his first combat zone mission as a helicopter pilot.

“I didn’t really think about it until a couple of days later,” he said. “It was like, ‘wow, we had live ordnance on the helicopter.’”

Staff Sgt. Christian Roberts, the crew chief and veteran of medical evacuation flights in Iraq, said concerns for personal safety took a back seat to saving Moss.

“At the time, we weren’t thinking, ‘This helicopter could blow up,’” said Roberts, 33. “We were thinking, ‘This young soldier’s going to die and we need to get him some help.’”

“I never saw anybody with live ordnance in them,” he said. “I’ve seen decapitations, amputations, gunshot wounds to the head-- I never thought I’d be flying along with a patient who had something in him that could blow up in your face.”

Here's a video report, definitely a must-watch. His friends call him, um, "Rocket Man."

He's missing two thirds of his intestines and part of his hip and will need additional medical help, but he's, well, watch for yourself.

Thanks to William.

posted by Ace at 06:13 PM

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