280PLUS
Member
256th Brigade Combat Team
Camp Tigerland
Baghdad, Iraq
APO, AE 09326
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 5, 2005
RELEASE 20050705-01
256th BCT Soldier survives sniper attack Spc. Chris Foster 256th Brigade
Combat Team PAO
BAGHDAD -- Being able to react to and maintain control of a situation in
a combat environment can be a difficult task for Soldiers. They must be
able to quickly react and assess a situation, in order to ensure their
survival and the safety of those around them.
"Stay alert, stay alive" is the reminder that is driven into the minds
of Soldiers since the first day of basic training and echoes throughout
their military careers.
This axiom was driven home for at least one Soldier on June 2.
Pfc. Stephen Tschiderer, a native of Mendon, N.Y., and a medic with E
Troop, 101st "Saber" Cavalry Division, attached to 3rd Battalion, 156th
Infantry Regiment, 256th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, was
shot in the chest by an enemy sniper, during a routine patrol in west
Baghdad.
While Tschiderer was relaying information to the truck commander of his
M114 Humvee, an enemy sniper team prepared to engage him from inside of
a cushioned silver van being used as a mobile sniper's nest. This nest
was lined with numerous bed mattresses to muffle the sound of a
Dragonoff sniper rifle fired through a hole just big enough for the
shooter to engage his target of choice.
Tschiderer was knocked to the ground from the sudden impact of the
sniper's bullet. The bullet only seemed to have fazed this Soldier as,
adrenaline pumping, he sprang right back up in order to take cover and
locate the enemy's position.
The sniper was unsuccessful in his mission, due to the stopping force of
the Tschiderer's daily wardrobe, his protective body armor, which saved
his life.
"I knew I was hit, but was uncertain of the damage or location from the
hit," Tschiderer said. "The only thing that was going through my mind
was to take cover and locate the sniper's position."
"The shot came from my 12 o'clock position from a silver van parked
across an intersection about 75 meters from my location." said
Tschiderer.
After Tschiderer alerted his fellow Soldiers of the enemy location, they
immediately began to pursue the terrorists.
Due to his heroic actions and quick decisions, Tschiderer located the
enemy while he took cover and alerted the rest of his team on patrol. As
the Saber team engaged and disabled the sniper's position, two
terrorists fled on foot, leaving a blood trail that came from the wounds
of the enemy sniper.
A cordon and search was immediately set up and Tschiderer assisted his
team in the search of the two terrorists. The driver of the silver
vehicle was detained by a team from B Co. 3-156th Inf. Bn. while
Tschiderer and a team from B Company, 4th Battalion, 1st Iraqi Army
Brigade, continued to follow the blood trail which led them to the yard
where the wounded sniper lay in pain.
As Tschiderer secured the terrorist with a pair of handcuffs, he gave
medical aid to the wounded terrorist*the same one who'd tried to take
his life.
Camp Tigerland
Baghdad, Iraq
APO, AE 09326
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 5, 2005
RELEASE 20050705-01
256th BCT Soldier survives sniper attack Spc. Chris Foster 256th Brigade
Combat Team PAO
BAGHDAD -- Being able to react to and maintain control of a situation in
a combat environment can be a difficult task for Soldiers. They must be
able to quickly react and assess a situation, in order to ensure their
survival and the safety of those around them.
"Stay alert, stay alive" is the reminder that is driven into the minds
of Soldiers since the first day of basic training and echoes throughout
their military careers.
This axiom was driven home for at least one Soldier on June 2.
Pfc. Stephen Tschiderer, a native of Mendon, N.Y., and a medic with E
Troop, 101st "Saber" Cavalry Division, attached to 3rd Battalion, 156th
Infantry Regiment, 256th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, was
shot in the chest by an enemy sniper, during a routine patrol in west
Baghdad.
While Tschiderer was relaying information to the truck commander of his
M114 Humvee, an enemy sniper team prepared to engage him from inside of
a cushioned silver van being used as a mobile sniper's nest. This nest
was lined with numerous bed mattresses to muffle the sound of a
Dragonoff sniper rifle fired through a hole just big enough for the
shooter to engage his target of choice.
Tschiderer was knocked to the ground from the sudden impact of the
sniper's bullet. The bullet only seemed to have fazed this Soldier as,
adrenaline pumping, he sprang right back up in order to take cover and
locate the enemy's position.
The sniper was unsuccessful in his mission, due to the stopping force of
the Tschiderer's daily wardrobe, his protective body armor, which saved
his life.
"I knew I was hit, but was uncertain of the damage or location from the
hit," Tschiderer said. "The only thing that was going through my mind
was to take cover and locate the sniper's position."
"The shot came from my 12 o'clock position from a silver van parked
across an intersection about 75 meters from my location." said
Tschiderer.
After Tschiderer alerted his fellow Soldiers of the enemy location, they
immediately began to pursue the terrorists.
Due to his heroic actions and quick decisions, Tschiderer located the
enemy while he took cover and alerted the rest of his team on patrol. As
the Saber team engaged and disabled the sniper's position, two
terrorists fled on foot, leaving a blood trail that came from the wounds
of the enemy sniper.
A cordon and search was immediately set up and Tschiderer assisted his
team in the search of the two terrorists. The driver of the silver
vehicle was detained by a team from B Co. 3-156th Inf. Bn. while
Tschiderer and a team from B Company, 4th Battalion, 1st Iraqi Army
Brigade, continued to follow the blood trail which led them to the yard
where the wounded sniper lay in pain.
As Tschiderer secured the terrorist with a pair of handcuffs, he gave
medical aid to the wounded terrorist*the same one who'd tried to take
his life.
