>be 23, army tank loader (load shells into cannon of the tank) 2007
>on patrol in al Khadra, Baghdad
>daytime
>whole platoon (4 tanks)
>sporadic small arms fire here and there
>no big deal, it's a fucking tank
>sounds like popcorn hitting the tank
>hours go by
>riding around
>come to triangular intersection at a sort of park/courtyard area
>surrounded on 3 sides by apartment buildings
>my tank is on point (first in line)
>scanning with M240 machine gun that is on a skate ring around my hatch
>BOOM
>tank bucks
>feels like running into a wall as fast as you can
>body hurts, ears ring, eyes and throat burn, choking on smoke and dust
>can't see anything
>clackclackclackclackclack
>popopopopopopop
>tatatatatatatatat
>complex ambush (initiated with most casualty producing weapon followed with small arms)
>IED in this case
>radio in headset going crazy
>everyone in tank checking on everyone else
>hundreds of bullets hitting tank
>tank commander trying to keep control of us and send info to higher while returning fire
>can't see anything
>can barely breathe
>too much smoke and dust still
>don't want to hurt civilians but can't let them just shoot at us
>open up blindly with M240
>the rest of our platoon maneuvering through side streets trying to get to us
>tank commander tells driver to back up
>no answer
>BACK THE FUCK UP!
>nothing
>everyone kicking the turret wall and screaming for him
>silence from him
>there is a door in the turret that will line up with the back side of the driver's compartment
>commander tells gunner to line it up
>pull door open
>driver not moving
>he's big
>trying to pull him through little door
>screaming at him
>no answer
>he's not helping
>no blood
>he's just knocked out
Cont
Be 23, army tank loader (load shells into cannon of the tank) 2007
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Cont
>shooting has stopped
>me and commander pull driver through door
>notice bone sticking out of his upper arm
>it's very white
>commander, gunner, and I drag him onto the top of the turret
>see another tank has found a way into park
>platoon sergeant climbs up
>tells gunner to get in driver's seat and see if tank will still drive
>does
>putting bandage on driver's arm
>everyone hollering at him
>no answer
>platoon sergeant tells us to take him to Baghdad International Airport and don't stop for shit
>tells another tank to go with us
>get tank turned around and haul ass
>on top of turret talking to driver
>he's out
>telling him that he will be ok
>we're going to the hospital
>holding his hand
>checking for breathing and pulse
>opens his eyes
>they move independently of each other
>one looks up and one looks down
>one left and one right
>like a chameleon
>screaming for his attention
>both eyes focus on me for half a second
>he does
>he was 19
>>he does
He does what?
Dies*
My bad. Kinda drunk
Why are you on Sup Forums instead of /k/ ? Not bitching but curious
Feels bad man. Take care huh. Don't do anything stupid user
Hoping to get on reddit dude
I'm good man. That was like 13 years ago
Hey OP. Thanks for the story. I'm not a vet but goddamn do I have respect for you guys.
Ever check out VetTV? Might help you get through some stuff.
On a side note, is it shitty for non-vets to try to help or is it not something we can understand?
kinda cliché, I know, but thank you for your service.
cool story bro, any other?
I fucking love VetTV. It's as literal as it gets. But war and killing and all that never bothered me, so I'm good. And of course it's not shitty to try to help, but if you haven't been there, then no, you can't understand. Kinda like a virgin trying to relate to sex. But seriously, sometimes, all someone needs is for someone to listen. A lot of guys carry a lot of shit with them because they can't tell anyone because no one understands. If you want to help, just be a friend.
It's all good man
A lot. I was in for 11 years. Been all over the place from europe to the middle east to Asia and all points in between
tell some more then, how many kills do you have?
Right on man. My cousin was in afganistan and saw 2 trucks in the convoy ahead of them get vaporized by a huge IED.
I know he's seen some shit and he's told me a few stories. Like I said, I admire the fuck out of you guys.
Did you get out of the service?
Got anything else? Cool story btw interested.
38
4 were sporadic little actions in iraq
28 were in one 13 hour fight in Sadr city
The other 6 were other litte separate fights in Afghanistan
Yeah, I got out in 2016. In the process of joining the navy right now as gay as that sounds
Nah dog, Navy is legit. My dad and cousin I mentioned earlier were and are seabees
that a great k/d ratio
Got a lot man. Shot a dude in the chest with a grenade launcher once. That was pretty cool. Got sent into a chiefs of staff meeting once where I definitely didn't belong. That sucked. Got drunk in Nuremberg and got on a train and woke up in Munich. Was under investigation for murder and torture, had a bitch accuse me of rape, was on the news, told some blonde reporter from the BBC to go fuck herself, got shrapnel in my arm from a grenade, all kinds of shit
I think it'll be fun honestly. I don't want to be a seabees though. I want to get the cushiest deal job I can ride for 9 years until retirement
If only I could do that on COD and BF5
this was a good read
F
Glad you enjoyed it
Shouldn't you join the chair force for cushy jobs though?
If you're ever in Oregon, I'll buy you a beer
Faggots, i wished l killed you with my IED for Allah.
Checked, but air force isn't gonna happen. Believe me, I tried. The navy isn't set in stone right now, but if it doesn't work, then back to the army I'll go.
That's very unkind
Makes sense. Good talking with you user. Will be monitoring thread.
Good talking with you too. And by the way, Oregon is where I want to go so bad. I've never been to the Pacific northwest. So if I ever make it up there I'm gonna hold you to that beer
I'm in Klamath Falls. Post a thread if you're in the area and I'll probably see it.