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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Sniperâs story of being wounded in Baghdad |
| 2004-06-19 |
| EFL - just a sample From their viewpoint on the roof, Johnsonâs men had seen movement in the neighborhood to the east. âI could have shot a whole lot of guys who were carrying guns, but just because a guy is carrying an AK-47 doesnât mean heâs bad,â he noted. âHe could have been a guy just protecting his house.â It was a bad neighborhood. As Johnson and the corporal watched the armed men, the situation changed. âWe wanted to call for backup with a tank or a Bradley fighting vehicle so we could continue surveillance without being seen,â he said. Johnson was alert because cars were converging on the area, not a good sign. âCars were pulling up without lights, scooters were coming in and out and 20 to 30 military aged Iraqis appeared, it was crooked,â Johnson explained. âIt was after 10 at night, there was no reason they should be out there like that. The residents had been warned to watch for American soldiers and told we were not to be aided. The day before they had found an IED in front of the building. The security guards had said after dark the militia was out in force. They were right.â As Johnson turned to signal the private to radio for backup, âthe first set of fire came over my head. I backed into the building (room on top of the roof) and called for backup,â he said. âWe had been compromised. I was standing, still watching the east and the first shooter fired again. âIt felt like someone had sacked me in football or checked me in hockey,â Johnson recalled. âA hard, hard hit. I went right off my feet. My left arm was instantly numb. I had seen a flash out of the corner of my left eye and the shots echoed in the small room, boom, boom, boom.â |
| Posted by:Super Hose |
| #1 "Itâs important that people know I have no hard feelings towards the Iraqi people. Even if I donât get my radial nerve back, even if my arm and hand are never 100 per cent. We are there to fight that fight and give those people freedom. We are the First Team and we are there and we canât let those people down.â An American hero |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-06-19 10:33:29 AM |