Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack - Gizmodo Comments

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

N@tedog — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:36:34 EDT

@Barion: I stand corrected, humbled.

N@tedog

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

GundamSLR — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 22:08:50 EDT

i say give him the damn cross! god damn he must have big cohones to do that

GundamSLR

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

bitgod — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 19:10:16 EDT

Did he remember to shout "IT'S A TRAP!" first?

I'd buy him a drink none the less, I'm sure he's got plenty of drinks lined up for him already.

bitgod

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

PynkFloydd — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 19:00:06 EDT

I was an RTO (radio guy) in a rapid deploy line unit for the U.S. Army for a time. If the British radios are anything like the U.S. ones, they're only about 4" wide by 12" long. He had a lot of pure luck. From what I know about shaped charges and explosives, I think what saved his life is that he layed on his side. ...essentially redirecting the blast instead of just absorbing the deadly shrapnel and amplifying the blast pressure. If he would have layed directly on it, he probably would have been dead.

PynkFloydd

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

Scotland — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 18:44:33 EDT

@superbryant88: "Walking in the darkness among a group of four men, Croucher stepped into a tripwire that pulled the pin from a boobytrap grenade." - [www.timesonline.co.uk]

"So he screws up just to be honored?" is wrong "kurrupt_1" as im sure others have pointed out.

Scotland

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

Plasmafire — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:44:57 EDT

My best friend in the army tells me the following:

They teach us in BCT to take off our helmets and put it over the grenade and then lie on the helmet. Theory being that it will contain the blast and protect you, or at least contain it enough where it won't kill everyone else around you.

Plasmafire

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

Plasmafire — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:42:11 EDT

It wasn't the backpack itself that sheilded him from the blast, but rather what was in the backpack... he can thank his superiors for all the crap they make him haul around.

Plasmafire

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

Skeptical_Geezer — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:16:04 EDT

This is one of the reasons soldiers are treated so harshly during training - to make them bond to the other soldiers in their unit and think of them as brothers rather than some git stranger from hundreds of miles away. Evolution has prepared man to act altruistically for family - strangers ... less so.

Skeptical_Geezer

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

Geisrud — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:09:36 EDT

All the troops regardless of where they are or active duty status have some stones. I have nothing but the highest respect for our soldiers and our allies who fight so that I don't have to (although, I did try to enlist back in '98).

Sir, Thank you for all you do.

Geisrud

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

superbryant — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:55:17 EDT

@njgtechguy: no what happened is he set of a rigged grenade which I believe is like when they pull the pin and set the grenade up against a door so, when the door is opened the lever is no longer depressed which makes it explode.

superbryant

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

Pender — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:29:03 EDT

I don't understand. Wouldn't it have been a better idea to throw the grenade rather than lying on it for several seconds? Maybe not, if you don't know when it's going to blow.

Pender

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

EBone — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:13:08 EDT

Hero.

EBone

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

dasnake — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 12:09:35 EDT

nice, like takign a bullet for your best friend this is a true example of bravery!!

dasnake

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

coolfelix — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 11:35:01 EDT

@N@tedog: says the fatbeard sitting at his desktop

coolfelix

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

WhateverWorks — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 11:30:20 EDT

@kurrupt_1:
He jumped on a fscking gernade to save his friends you dick wad. If he hadn't most likely everyone would have gotten seriously injured to the point of incapacitation including him, so was it smarter to try and block the grenade and have friends left alive and capable of possibly caring for your wounds or just sit back and wait for everyone to get blown to hell?

WhateverWorks

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

krugorg — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 11:29:47 EDT

He meant to say that the predicted kill radius (i.e. everything dead in the circle) of that type of grenade is 5 meters, not circumference. Casualty radius is 15 meters. Yeah, he was definitely lucky as well as being very brave!

krugorg

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

krugorg — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 11:25:39 EDT

By the way, he meant to say the grenade had a 5 meter killing radius, not circumference. 15 meter casualty radius. Yeah, he was damn lucky as well as being extremely brave!

krugorg

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

Razta — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 11:22:13 EDT

Nice job!!! Thanks for serving!

Razta

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

DaOtter — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 11:21:24 EDT

@Sergeant JoKer: DragonSkin didn't meet the criteria because the ceramic discs shatter too easily. Bulletproof it may be, but only for one hit each. Sad, really. I thought it was hella tight... :-\

DaOtter

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

kurrupt_1 — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 11:19:54 EDT

So he screws up just to be honored? Well it could have been far worse. Good to know he lived not to make the same mistake twice.

kurrupt_1

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

DTownIndy — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 10:36:27 EDT

Long Live the Heroes!!!

DTownIndy

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

SgtBeavis — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 09:26:24 EDT

@nevin:

A valid point. I'm not sure how the British military will evaluate it but in the US military this would be considered "in the face of the enemy" because the soldier dealt with an enemy weapon that was intended to kill a British soldier. Either way it is bravery in the highest regard when you intentionally take action to save others when you know you will most certainly die.

But whether he gets the VC or not he has one helluva story to relate to his kids and grandkids. He also has a lot of families that are very thankful their sons, fathers, etc are coming home because of his actions.

SgtBeavis

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

MastaFalse — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 08:51:11 EDT

WHOO! I see we humans still possess noble qualities. This motherfucker has BALLS.

MastaFalse

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

evilR3 — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 07:38:20 EDT

Selfless acts like this one deserve the highest level of commendation. Regardless of whether or not he tripped it, he recognized his fault and without hesitiation put his life for his brothers in arms. There is no price greater than that of sacrificing ones own life...

evilR3

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

nevin — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 07:20:59 EDT

It sounds really harsh, but I don't think he will get the VC for this. It is very difficult to get one at all.

He will get the George Cross. It is still unclear as to wether a booby trap counts as being in the face of the enemy, which is one of the conditions for the award of the VC. The George Cross doesn't require that.

[en.wikipedia.org]

nevin

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

Stalhandske — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 06:16:46 EDT

Some time ago a SEAL saved his friends by doing the same, but he did it face down instead and unfortunately he didn't survive, RIP.

Stalhandske

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

jackbrown — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 05:59:32 EDT

summary should be re-written to underline the fact that he didn't drop his own grenade or something. He set off a booby trap by stepping through a door. When he realized what had happened, he jumped on the grenade. Pretty goddamn heroic.

jackbrown

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

Aqua32 — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 04:42:25 EDT

Way to go, man. Way to go. Makes me wonder how many others would have done the same.

Aqua32

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

Barion — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 03:45:00 EDT

@N@tedog: No, I don't get your point. Did you actually read what happened? I mean, really, carefully, thoroughly read the story? Not the summary here, but the actual article to which this blog entry links? Because if you did, you'd see that this was a booby-trap, set by the Taliban, with the tripwire on the ground at shin level, and it occurred in the dark, around midnight, with everyone wearing night vision goggles. The grenade was actually higher up, on a stick, but the force of the tripwire apparently caused it to fall off and land near his feet. His quick thinking and willingness to sacrifice himself to save his mates is beyond commendable, and you call him a stooge?

Barion

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

Sergeant JoKer — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 03:28:05 EDT

Very heroic and a blessing that he survived. A true hero!

Anybody ever watch the episode of MythBusters that shows whether or not somebody could save their squad by throwing themselves on a grenade? I guess this guy confirmed the myth.

@AnonAMoose: DragonSkin is so awesome. I wish the military would approve it. I have to wear Interceptor Body Armor, which weighs a shit-ton and will only stop a round or two before the ceramic plate shatters and becomes worthless, unless I am one of the unlucky ones who gets the fragments from the bullet and plate shoved in my throat.

Sergeant JoKer

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

AnonAMoose — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 02:15:37 EDT

Holy crap.... the army rejected dragon skin !

AnonAMoose

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

AnonAMoose — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 02:12:03 EDT

Really cool that he did that, As for teaching soldiers to do that well... not such a good idea. he got extremely lucky. altho they are making huge advances in body armor now a days. I was watching Future Weapons on the Military channel and saw a segment about dragon skin. they placed a dummy in dragon skin body armor on a live nade. they say that the armor held up to the blast. as for the person ... i wouldnt think that they would survive.

AnonAMoose

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

xluckyx — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 01:49:43 EDT

@N@tedog: Dude, shut up. He was GIVING HIS LIFE and made it out of it okay. Quit being a tool.

xluckyx

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

N@tedog — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 01:31:08 EDT

I mean... I'm glad he's alive and everything.. but still you get my point...

N@tedog

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

aaron8301 — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 01:30:50 EDT

I sincerely hope this lad receives the Victoria Cross.

My hat is off to you, sir.

aaron8301

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

N@tedog — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 01:30:19 EDT

This nutjob gets the Victoris Cross for being a friggin stooge!?!? How about my gramps gets it for losing feeling in his leg in WW2 fighting with these backward jackasses or any of the thousands of other guys who did jobs ten times as 'heroic'. What a crock.

N@tedog

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

bunch.of.wackos — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:51:37 EDT

Good thing he had some heavy duty com equipment in the backpack... had it been a MacBook air the story would be different... those things wouldn't protect you from a heavy cough

Enough jokes.. is good to see some people still have courage and everything that is defined as worthwhile in a human being... i hope more politicians (UK, US, worldwide) understood the basic truth of this actions...

bunch.of.wackos

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

tegronin — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:38:34 EDT

not like the dude is ever going to read this but...

there are no words to describe the honor in selfless act that you performed. Possibly a result of your training or of values instilled into you, but you acted when others would wait to react. I would approve your Victoria's Cross if I could. Certainly you have displayed that you should be recognized as a gentleman.

tegronin

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

Neight — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 23:56:39 EDT

How much longer till grenade-washed jackets and pants become the rage?

Neight

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

Kingteddybear — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 23:30:41 EDT

Speechless in face of such bravery.

Kingteddybear

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

elint6 — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 22:59:01 EDT

@Hiphopopotamus: @JaggedToaster: It was a booby trap. RTFA.

elint6

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

computermachina — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 22:56:32 EDT

I think people need to know that traps over there aren't easy to spot like some string and sticks. He might of triggered it but just as easily his comrades behind him could of set it off.

computermachina

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

myotheralt — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 22:49:43 EDT

@sfokevin: I have a Dell that is ready to take a bullet for me. /me army combat camera

myotheralt

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

FlashSandbox — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 22:39:28 EDT

Was the pack made with Cordora?

FlashSandbox

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

DustyGozongas — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 22:03:57 EDT

It takes some massive balls to jump onto something thats about to explode. I would have dove in the other direction.

DustyGozongas

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

Jagged Toaster — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 22:02:48 EDT

@Hiphopopotamus: I would guess so. He could have easily set it off and screwed all of them over, but he thought of the others before himself and made sure they wouldn't be hurt. So yes, I say he is eligible.

Jagged Toaster

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

Hiphopopotamus — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 21:52:18 EDT

Nothing but admiration for the guy, but are you eligible for the Victoria Cross for saving comrades from danger you put them in?

Hiphopopotamus

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

Tohe — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 21:37:23 EDT

What a brave lad! Wish you a speedy recovery mate.

Tohe

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

Islandkiwi — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 21:17:14 EDT

Yeah, saying this was a mistake makes it seem like he mishandled a grenade. He set off a booby trap and protected his comrades from the blast, and certainly deserves some recognition for it.

Islandkiwi

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

jcy — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 21:00:03 EDT

someone rewrite this entry, apparently no one's RTFA

jcy

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

Luuey — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 20:56:54 EDT

@banmojo: no man, from what i gather it was a booby trap that he was more than likely trying to diffuse.

Luuey

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

JustThisGuy — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 20:54:34 EDT

@banmojo: RTFA.

JustThisGuy

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

banmojo — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 20:49:21 EDT

God bless this Brit soldier for his selfless actions, but damn man, setting off a grenade on accident? Not sure I'd nominate him for that medal he may receive.

banmojo

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

sfokevin — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 20:07:59 EDT

I am shocked no one has bellied up a comment about their Timbuk2 & MacBook Pro experiences yet...

sfokevin

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

Erwos — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 20:04:21 EDT

Fascinating story. Brave man. Also, I wonder is this is a viable technique to teach soldiers? "If you're gonna dive on a grenade, put your damn backpack on top of it first!"

Erwos

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

hallius — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 20:03:31 EDT

lol @ matto.

hallius

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

LoganC — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 20:02:23 EDT

@thechansen: Oh...yes, you are right. My apologies. After reading it again I see that he set OFF a rigged grenade trap, not set one. I have a lot of respect for people who fight for their countries, and this person went one step further. Great man he is.
-LoganC-

LoganC

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

Digo — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 19:54:08 EDT

Respect.

Digo

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

albtms — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 19:51:10 EDT

Nice, too bad they didn't have better equipment back in the day. Back when the World Wars were being fought, a large majority of the Medal of Honor recipients were dead, from having saved their comrades by jumping on grenades.

albtms

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

matto — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 19:39:52 EDT

He should also get the Butterfingers Award.

matto

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

thechansen — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 19:37:28 EDT

@LoganC: I think it was a trap, not the soldier pulling the pin and saying "oops". Amazing story though.

thechansen

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

pspdud — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 19:34:51 EDT

he didnt set off a grenade by accident. he set off a rigged grenade, quite a bit of difference there.

pspdud

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

emergeoriginal — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 19:33:52 EDT

balls of steel and completely selfless.

i tip my hat to you sir.

emergeoriginal

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

bngi — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 19:24:44 EDT

Must have been a boblbee! na jokes aside.

Cool if its truly what happened, cudos to him.

bngi

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

LoganC — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 19:20:25 EDT

It's nice to hear that he would do that for his fellow pals, though, that's a BIG mistake to make, setting of a grenade by accident. At least nobody was hurt or worse, killed.
-LoganC-

LoganC

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

njgtechguy — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 19:15:53 EDT

how did he accidentaly use a grenade?

njgtechguy

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

Lavallee017 — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 19:14:43 EDT

Great story to round up my weekend! Balls and Bravery are good qualities I'm glad to hear that members of the British Armed Forces possess.

OORAH!

Lavallee017

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

daftrok — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 19:06:56 EDT

They need some carbon fiber armor. Like this:
[newsimg.bbc.co.uk]

daftrok

Soldier Uses Body to Shield Comrades from Grenade Blast, Survives Thanks to Backpack

GeeCee — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 19:03:36 EDT

What I want to know is, where can I order a kickass backpack like that?

GeeCee