NationStates Jolt Archive

SEMPER FI!

Leading the fight in Ramadi, Iraq 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.

Something similar happened to me after this really spicy mexican meal. *nod*

Something similar happened to me after this really spicy mexican meal. *nod*


LMAO!!! That gave me a mental image too! :p

Where did you copy and paste this from then?

how did he get the name "Iron Mike" and especially "Gunny"

beats a nickname I got though...

Something similar happened to me after this really spicy mexican meal. *nod*

Only LG could turn a story about a wounded soldier into hilarity in one post.

Your reputation sir, is well deserved.

how did he get the name "Iron Mike" and especially "Gunny"

beats a nickname I got though...

Dunno about "Iron Mike" but "gunny" is a common nickname for marine corps sargeants.

how did he get the name "Iron Mike" and especially "Gunny"

beats a nickname I got though...

Gunnery Sergeants are known (sometimes affectionately) as "Gunney".

Lucky man.

how did he get the name "Iron Mike" and especially "Gunny"

beats a nickname I got though...

"Gunny" is the term for any Marine w/ the rank of Gunnery Sergeant. Like calling a Liuetenant "Lew" or a Captain [Navy] Skipper/Cappy.

In the Corps, the Gunny has a certain thematical distinction and mythical quality.

Semper Fi, Iron Mike!

I'd love to see the pic-I'd print it and keep it.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a186/kecibukia/BADASS.jpg

SEMPER FI!

Leading the fight in Ramadi, Iraq 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.



That is an awsome story. SEMPER FIDELIS!

SNIP

not a scratch! I predict he’s made of Iron or something (or he could just be a lucky son-of-a-bitch)

And why is he going commando?

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a186/kecibukia/BADASS.jpg

Thanks!!


Its amazing he is still intact.

The guy is a hero. Imagine how many people he has saved from being killed or maimed.

Congrats to the man. I ain't a supporter of the war, but this guy is somebody.

The amateur SOBs didn't use enough shrapnel in the piece - blast only knocks people away and give them burns, shrapnel does piercing damage. The man was lucky someone ran out of metal scraps for that bomb.

Only LG could turn a story about a wounded soldier into hilarity in one post.

Your reputation sir, is well deserved.

I thought it was important to set the proper tone as early as possible. :)

The guy is a hero. Imagine how many people he has saved from being killed or maimed.
Urmm none, and he might well be into minus figures?

Urmm none, and he might well be into minus figures?

So he's minus for disabling dozens of explosives?

Urmm none, and he might well be into minus figures?

The article clearly states he is credited with disabling 64 IEDs and destroying 1548 pieces of ordinance.

This man HAS saved lives and prevented maiming & disfigurment.

So he's minus for disabling dozens of explosives?

I think the point was is that he has probably killed more people than he has saved. How true this is I don't know.

So he's minus for disabling dozens of explosives?
No, minus for probably shooting a fair amount of Iraqis.

No, minus for probably shooting a fair amount of Iraqis.

Ah, so you're demonizing again. You do realize that those explosives target Iraqi's as well, right?

Ah, so you're demonizing again. You do realize that those explosives target Iraqi's as well, right?
Yep.

Doesn't really change my biased opinion, to be honest.

I think the point was is that he has probably killed more people than he has saved. How true this is I don't know.

Well- a reasonable person would expect this man to be more associated with bomb disposal unit.

Smugly speculating that he has likely killed more than he has saved simply exposes the one making the statement as having a petty bias that twists how they percieve things.

Ah, so you're demonizing again. You do realize that those explosives target Iraqi's as well, right?

dont waste your breath-that ones rendered himself/herself irrelevant.

Well- a reasonable person would expect this man to be more associated with bomb disposal unit.

Smugly speculating that he has likely killed more than he has saved simply exposes the one making the statement as having a petty bias that twists how they percieve things.

I'm not being smug, just trying to explain Yootopia's post

EDIT which I happen to disagree with

Spicy mexican dinners I have eaten have killed more people than they saved. I still eat them. :)

Spice mexican dinners I have eaten have killed more people than they saved. I still eat them. :)

Perhaps it is because they were also partly responsible for removing a dictator from power?

Perhaps it is because they were also partly responsible for removing a dictator from power?

How did you know about my visit to Chile in 1990? :confused:

dont waste your breath-that ones rendered himself/herself irrelevant.
Himself.

And yep, I'm prejudiced.

I'm not being smug, just trying to explain Yootopia's post

EDIT which I happen to disagree with


I realized that- I wasnt referring to you.

I realized that- I wasnt referring to you.

Ta

How did you know about my visit to Chile in 1990? :confused:

You are known as El Flatulento throughout all of Latin America. The people love you, but Chavez is worried that you will be able to compete with him for the people's hearts, seeing as how you can provide free gas.

I'm literally angry with rage!

I don't have to love the marines at all!

You can't dictate my feelings!

You go away!

Fascist!

You are known as El Flatulento throughout all of Latin America. The people love you, but Chavez is worried that you will be able to compete with him for the people's hearts, seeing as how you can provide free gas.

YAY! :D

How did you know about my visit to Chile in 1990? :confused:

:p :p :p :p :p :p, LG i think you have a stalker:eek:

props to the guy! its good to see taht some one can still have a sense of humor after getting blown up:)

Spicy mexican dinners I have eaten have killed more people than they saved. I still eat them. :)

The dinners?

Or the people?


Hey Trilby; you forgot your sarcasm tags again.:rolleyes:

The dinners?

Or the people?


Exactly! :)

not a scratch! I predict he’s made of Iron or something (or he could just be a lucky son-of-a-bitch)

And why is he going commando?


Pants got blown off.

Congrats to the man. I ain't a supporter of the war, but this guy is somebody.

The amateur SOBs didn't use enough shrapnel in the piece - blast only knocks people away and give them burns, shrapnel does piercing damage. The man was lucky someone ran out of metal scraps for that bomb.


Actually if you read the article he defused the Bomb but was standing over the det cord . When the spotter tried to trigger the IED he blew the det cord .
If it was a bomb ...he would be another dead Marine .

Pants got blown off.

...and fell down stairs holding buttered carrot? yeah we have all used that story before

With that said how does one have there pants blown off it would be a useful trick:)

Congrats to the man. I ain't a supporter of the war, but this guy is somebody.

The amateur SOBs didn't use enough shrapnel in the piece - blast only knocks people away and give them burns, shrapnel does piercing damage. The man was lucky someone ran out of metal scraps for that bomb.

aint that a pleasant comment....sucks to be so bitter i suppose.

As lefty anti-war as I am, that dude has balls. Probably harmed him a little to stand so soon, but I guess it did his team good.

It seems he has picked a frickin good job there, that's a lot of ordnances to defuse, Even if he's killed a lot of people (If he's in the bomb squad, I doubt it) he's saved heaps, deserving or not.

(Note: It was remote controlled, so I doubt this one (at least) would have killed innocents, just army peoples (Before you say it, yes some of them can be considered innocent too))

SEMPER FI!

Great story, awesome pic. :D

Here's the Stars and Stripes version, that gives more detail: http://stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=33481&archive=true

Pants got blown off.

His colleagues cut off his trousers to see how badly he was hurt.

Oops... ;)

how did he get the name "Iron Mike" and especially "Gunny"

Gunny's been explained. Do we really need to explain why a guy named Michael who survived being blown up and was back at work in less than a month got a nick like that? ;)

beats a nickname I got though...

Which is....

Congrats to the man. I ain't a supporter of the war, but this guy is somebody.

The amateur SOBs didn't use enough shrapnel in the piece - blast only knocks people away and give them burns, shrapnel does piercing damage. The man was lucky someone ran out of metal scraps for that bomb.

Actually if you read the article he defused the Bomb but was standing over the det cord . When the spotter tried to trigger the IED he blew the det cord .
If it was a bomb ...he would be another dead Marine .

Stars and Stripes (see above link) says it was a third IED, consisting of an artillery shell, that was behind him..

The day Burghardt found himself checkmated by a roadside bomber was Sept. 19. He was in Ramadi’s wild Tammim neighborhood as part of a team of bomb technicians responding to the scene of a chaotic ambush in which four U.S. personnel were killed.

Burghardt, who was looking to clear an evacuation route for the vehicles, hopped into what he thought was a recent bomb crater. He said he saw an interesting piece of shrapnel in the 4½-foot- deep hole and wanted to investigate. As he took a closer look, the shattered gravel beneath his foot suddenly shifted, revealing a package wrapped in orange plastic and a cordless telephone base station.

Realizing that he had just stumbled onto a primed explosive, Burghardt stuck his knife in the dirt and dredged up a red detonating cord that led to a pair of 122 mm artillery shells. He cut the cord with scissors and told the rest of his team to stay back.

“I thought I had done good,” Burghardt said.

But what he didn’t realize was that a second detonating cord ran from the base station to a third artillery shell buried behind him. The triggerman, figuring perhaps that he wouldn’t lure anyone else into the trap that day, placed a telephone call to the base station.

“That’s when I heard the distinct crack of that artillery shell,” Burghardt said.

The explosion sent Burghardt 10 feet into the air and dropped him in a heap on the road as his team watched in horror.

Wow! Amazing! I see now why they use "The few The proud" slogan!
Guys like him don't just grow on trees ya know!