ACOG saves Marine's life in unexpected way

[RKCheung]

For those who care...

Bowers (if I recall correctly) is indeed right-handed.

Only M16A2's are issued at 4th CAG, no M4's whatsoever (though we sure would have liked them!).

Also, DNS, didn't anyone ever tell you not to let the truth get in the way of a good sea story!?

Bowers' deployed addy for those who want to contact him:

Sgt. Todd Bowers, USMC
4th Civil Affairs Group DET 4-4
Unit 43559
FPO-AP 96426-3559

 

[mons meg]

I sure hope noone is suggesting that the story isn't 100% God's Truth, since it was written by a Lance Corporal in the USMC!

I just thought it was a cool story, and if the SGT feels lucky that the enemy round hit the scope, well...he was there. Trijicon should definitely send him a new one just because it would be cool of them to do so.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Don't let the truth get in the way...

is sadly a concept that goes a long way and then the lines blur between when we are telling good stories and when we building arguments.

Personally, I see no need for fabrication when the story is already really cool. Why isn't it enough that the scope did an amazing job of stopping the incoming round? Why isn't it enough that the marine suffered injuries as a result and had the proper mind set to realize that he wasn't seriously hurt and that he needed to stay in the fight with his comrads?

In the story, the hero is not the scope, but the soldier. Not only that, but the story is still very amazing without the claim of saving the soldier's life. If the scope saved the soldier's life, it was because it is a fine piece of sighting equipment, rugged as hell, and will maintain proper zero even after a lot of abuse, short of stopping incoming rounds. The scope saved the soldier's life, probably several times, by making him a more effective warrior at much greater distances.

It most definitely is a cool story, but the cool part did not need to be fabricated.

As yes, I assumed he was in proper firing position, behind the scope and nose to charging handle as the story said that the scope was struck while he was returning fire. The splatter on the left side of his face, combined with being struck on the left side of the scope seemed to support the notion of his position replative to the gun.

 

[ceetee]

Two small items...


1. If he was shooting lefty, the left side of his face would have been turned slightly more away from the impact, thus less likely to receive wounds, no?

2. One mile = 1720 yards (at least it did several decades ago, when I was in elementary school...things change). Therefore, 800 yards is less than a half mile...

 

[9mmMike]

In the story, the hero is not the scope, but the soldier.

Excellent point!

Mike

 

[SMLE]

RKCheung

First, Thank You for your Service Marine!

Second, I just sent you a PM.

Third, having a bullet pass that close to you face is a MAJOR cause for "pucker factor". Anybody who can experiance that without having to change their skivvies deserves some respect.

 

[c_yeager]

did anyone else notice that the story said it was a M16a2 but the picture looks like a M4?

The picture shows a fixed carry handle so its no M4. It looks like it has a telestock though. I would assume that the telestock was added to the A2 by the marine. This is fairly common practice for guys that find the A2 stock way too long. Any marine savvy enough to obtain an ACOG before shipping out probably had the foresite to get a new stock too.