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October 29, 2005
Friendly Fire
I was outside the gym after PT this morning waiting for my buddies to come outside. About 30 feet in front of me a see a flash, which is followed by a loud bang - about what you would get from an M-80. Naturally, I flinch, and then I hear 3 bullets zip not too far over my head, so I duck and head back inside.
It is almost a cliche, but time really did slow down in those seconds. Enough so that the time between the flash and the bang seemed seconds, even though that in 30 feet they would arrive miliseconds apart. I was also able to distinctly hear each of the 3 bullets trace their supersonic paths above me and slightly to my right.
We didn't have any protective gear on, so we stayed inside a few minutes. The MPs arrived and investigated. I and a couple others told them what we saw and they started to look around. Eventually, one found an impact site on the side of the building across the street. It was about 50 feet from where I was standing. There was no impact area on the ground, so we figured it was either a mortar or an RPG dud. From what you can see in the photo though, there is no way a mortar could hit there so I was betting on an RPG. Others saw the same flash in the area I saw it, so it must have been a ricochet or another round.
Find out later there was a patrol outside the FOB and a vehicle tried to break through their convoy. The rules of engagement in that situation is to fire warning shots. Apparently, these guys fired warning shots with a .50 cal machine gun and didn't realize they were firing in the direction of the FOB. I'm willing to bet they know now!
Anyway, it got the adrenaline pumping and I really dont know if I should be more relieved or scared that it was American fire that came so close.
Update: FOB stands for Forward Operating Base. You will see FOB Slayer, FOB Liberty, FOB Victory, etc in a war zone instead of Camp or Fort.
Posted by TJ at October 29, 2005 05:14 PM
Comments
As unrealistic as it may sound, I hope that's the closest you come to live fire of any kind.
Posted by: Me at October 30, 2005 04:24 PM
Oh I'm so glad it missed!! Now go and put your helmet on and don't take it off!! Ever!
Posted by: yankeemom at October 30, 2005 06:53 PM
Yoiks! I always find the "friendly" cross-fire stories to be pretty disturbing. But I'm writing with a request: can you include acronym explanations in your posts? In my circles, "FOB" means Fresh Off the Boat. I'm sure that's not the intended reading . . .
Posted by: Jocelyn at October 31, 2005 03:41 AM
Sorry Joce. FOB is Forward Operating Base. Just what they call each camp here.
Posted by: TJ at October 31, 2005 06:30 PM
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