Purple Heart Recipient Gives Credit to Individual Body Armor

Photo By Staff Sgt. Sj Duga | Sgt. Victor Roberts, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team displays his individual body armor that ended up saving his life while out on a mission. Roberts was shot in the back. The bullet is still lodged in to vest.  

MOSUL, IRAQ

05.02.2006

Courtesy Story

345th Public Affairs Detachment

MOSUL, Iraq - Being shot is one thing. Having your Individual Body Armor work effectively while on your first patrol outside Forward Operating Base Courage in Mosul, Iraq is another experience within itself.

While on a day mission in the city, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 172 Stryker Brigade Combat Team was engaged by sniper fire while traveling in their Strykers..

"It was 10 a.m. on September 11th, 2005 and I ended up getting shot by a sniper," said Sgt.Victor Roberts, team leader, 2 Bn., 1st Inf. Rgt., 172 SBCT. Roberts is a native of Mesquite, Nev.

According to Roberts, the unit was on patrol for only 10 minutes before he realized that he was shot while pulling security in the air guard hatch.

"When I got hit in the back by the sniper round, I got pushed forward and initially thought my commander had pushed me to get my attention," he said. "I immediately started to feel a burning feeling in the area and saw no one near me had pushed me."

Roberts said he didn't hear the shot, he and his team witnessed a vehicle on a bridge behind them speed off immediately and determined that is the direction it came from.

Roberts said it took less than thirty seconds for him to realize what had just happened, and then told his commander,

"Sir, I think I've been shot!"

The commander then instructed Roberts to get down in the Stryker and check for wounds.

"My team members only found a small wound on my upper back about the size of a half dollar," said Roberts.

Even with the commander telling him to stay down in the Stryker, Roberts would not abandon his duties or his fellow Soldiers.

"I had an inexperienced private that took my spot," Roberts said. "I made him come down so I could reassume my position till the end of the mission, which lasted about another hour and a half."

According to Roberts, even with his adrenaline pumping and being a little paranoid, he was able to rationalize what had just happened.

"We had good security, so I chalked the incident up as a fluke, and the bad guys almost got lucky."

Point Blank a division of DHB Industries located in Arlington, Va., is the current manufacture of the present Individual Body Armor used by Soldiers in combat today. The latest version of the body armor was put in place in 2004, and is continuously being improved. Point blank insures its products durability against a multitude of ballistic rounds and shrapnel.

"It works and saves lives. I still use the same IBA that I was wearing when I got shot, and that I've had since the start of this deployment because it was hardly damaged" said Roberts.

According to Roberts, he has a lot more confidence in the IBA since being shot. Not only is it safer, the new IBA is lighter in weight, more durable, and holds up to the elements very well.

"I wouldn't trade my IBA for anything outside the wire," Roberts said. "It does what it is supposed to do, save lives, and it's what the Army has tested and approved."

Roberts said many Soldiers are worried enough just about being in Iraq or any combat zone. Knowing that the issued IBA is effective and saves lives is a great relief.

"I actually have a lot more confidence when I'm out on missions now," he said "I even went right back out on patrol less than three hours after being shot, the new IBA makes me feel much safer on the streets of Iraq."

"I love my IBA, I wouldn't be here right now to have received the Purple Heart awarded to me if it wasn't for my Point Blank Body Armor."

• Date Taken: 05.02.2006
• Date Posted: 05.02.2006 10:18
• Story ID: 6219
• Location: MOSUL, IQ