Saved from the Blast

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Mark Wojciechowski | The turret glass of a Bradley Fighting vehicle that was hit with shrapnel from a 155mm IED.  

MUQDADIYA, IRAQ

02.03.2006

Courtesy Story

133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Story and Photos By:
Staff Sgt. Mark Wojciechowski
133rd MPAD

MUQDADIYAH, Iraq (January 28, 2006) " Rolling through the streets of certain areas in Iraq is no doubt hazardous, so using the right protective gear and exercising good patrolling discipline can mean the difference between life or death for Soldiers in combat.

The Bradley Section of A Troop, 1st Battalion, 32nd Cavalry, 101st Airborne Division, was returning from a night mission on the morning of Jan. 25, 2006, when they were hit by a 155mm improvised explosive device. Keep in mind the blast from this size of IED has a potential kill radius of about 75 meters.

The first Bradley had rolled past, and just as the second Bradley passedâ?¦it detonated.

Pfc. Robert Conley, who was in the turret protected only by thick glass recalls, "it started as a little flash and then everything just exploded sending dirt and shrapnel everywhere."

The blast blew three skirts off of the lower portion of the Bradley, peppered the whole right side of the vehicle and shattered one of the two-inch-thick panels of protective glass around the turret.

Sgt. Steve Adams of Lumberton, Texas, who was inside the Bradley said, "All I heard was a pop and I saw light flash in through the periscopes and then the cabin started filling up with smoke."

One Soldier received shrapnel wound to the hand and a few of the crew members were bumped around a bit, but not many people live to tell about a blast of this magnitude.

The turret gunners are usually exposed to more hazards, however this attack is proof positive that staying below the blast shields can definitely save lives.

• Date Taken: 02.03.2006
• Date Posted: 02.03.2006 11:04
• Story ID: 5305
• Location: MUQDADIYA, IQ