Post by Deleted on May 21, 2009 17:13:51 GMT -6
May 20, 2009 at 1325 hours Baghdad time (+3) a convoy from my company was hit by an EFP (explosively formed penetrator.) The lead truck, an m1151 Up-Armored HMMWV was traveling down the road when an explosion happened and the EFP hit the back window of the passenger side of the truck. EFP's are a thick tube full of explosives with a circular piece of copper on the tip that can range from 4" to 18" and when it is triggered, the piece of copper heats up and while flying through the air forms into like a huge bullet. They have been tested and are said to fly about 4-6x the speed of sound. They have hit an Abrams tank hard enough to flip it over on its turret and the abrams weigh about 130,000 pounds. The Efp went through the 6" thick glass on the m1151, struck the AT-4 missle launcher in the truck and caused it to go off, then continued through the roof armor and into the turret armor where it ripped the turret in half. there were 4 people in the truck, CPL. Lewis who was in the front right (T.C. or truck commander) seat, SPC. Acuna who was in the gunners turret, PFC. Shughart who was in the left front (Drivers) seat and the interpreter Armando who was in the left rear seat.
CPL. Lewis recieved shrapnel into his right arm and rib area.
SPC. Acuna recieved shrapnel into both legs and his right butt cheek, and also a concussion
PFC. Shughart recieved shrapnel to his right arm, burns and shrapnel on his back and shrapnel in his forhead, and also a concussion.
Armando Reciever shrapnel to his head, right arm, both legs, a hole in his throat, burns to his face and right arm, and was thrown out of his door and 6 feet away from the truck.
PFC. Shughart was cas-evaced back her to COP Old Mod and is doing fine and will be back out on mission tomorrow.
CPL. Lewis, SPC. Acuna and Armando were med-evaced by blackhawk to balad where they underwent surgery. CPL. Lewis and SPC. Acuna pulled through surgery and were on their way to Germany in stable condition at 0300. Armando went into surgery in Balad at 1645 hours and came out of surgery looking good at 0400 hours on the 21st. at approx. 0530 hours, Armando started having more problems so they rushed him back to surgery. At 0600 on May 21, 2009 Armando was pronounced dead from all of the injuries he sustained from the EFP.
I just want to say the Armando might have been an Iraqi, but he was just as much american as any soldier in the U.S. Army, he did many great things for Iraq and the United States of America in his 4 1/2 years as an interpreter. He is one of the bravest people I have known and he is one of my hero's. I will miss him alot.
I just wanted to tell everyone about these brave people that i know and wanted you all to know what they have gone through for the people of Iraq and the people of the United States of America.
CPL. Lewis recieved shrapnel into his right arm and rib area.
SPC. Acuna recieved shrapnel into both legs and his right butt cheek, and also a concussion
PFC. Shughart recieved shrapnel to his right arm, burns and shrapnel on his back and shrapnel in his forhead, and also a concussion.
Armando Reciever shrapnel to his head, right arm, both legs, a hole in his throat, burns to his face and right arm, and was thrown out of his door and 6 feet away from the truck.
PFC. Shughart was cas-evaced back her to COP Old Mod and is doing fine and will be back out on mission tomorrow.
CPL. Lewis, SPC. Acuna and Armando were med-evaced by blackhawk to balad where they underwent surgery. CPL. Lewis and SPC. Acuna pulled through surgery and were on their way to Germany in stable condition at 0300. Armando went into surgery in Balad at 1645 hours and came out of surgery looking good at 0400 hours on the 21st. at approx. 0530 hours, Armando started having more problems so they rushed him back to surgery. At 0600 on May 21, 2009 Armando was pronounced dead from all of the injuries he sustained from the EFP.
I just want to say the Armando might have been an Iraqi, but he was just as much american as any soldier in the U.S. Army, he did many great things for Iraq and the United States of America in his 4 1/2 years as an interpreter. He is one of the bravest people I have known and he is one of my hero's. I will miss him alot.
I just wanted to tell everyone about these brave people that i know and wanted you all to know what they have gone through for the people of Iraq and the people of the United States of America.