Report From a Forgotten War
By Oliver North
August 8, 2008
Page 2 of 2
Strongpoint "Bravo," Aug. 3, 2008:
The improvised explosive device detonated directly beneath the lead vehicle of our first patrol. The explosion blew Chris Jackson, our Fox News cameraman, from his seat on the right rear of the vehicle. Though heavily armored, the Humvee was engulfed in flames immediately.
Trapped in the front of the burning vehicle were the wounded driver, Cpl. Arnaldo Figueroa, and Sgt. Courtney Rauch. Despite his own wounds from shrapnel, Jackson immediately jumped up and rushed back to the flaming vehicle to rescue Rauch.
As ammunition "cooked off" inside the vehicle, Jackson helped the Marines drag Rauch and Figueroa to safety behind the next vehicle in the column. While two medical corpsmen, Jose Pena and Gregory Cox, administered first aid to the wounded, Lt. John Branson deployed his Marines to secure a helicopter landing zone.
Within minutes of the explosion, an armed UH-1N "Huey" and an AH-1J "Cobra" gunship appeared overhead, followed immediately by a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter. Less than 20 minutes after the blast that had wounded them, the two Marine casualties were in the air headed for the hospital.
It has been a great blessing for me to have spent most of my life in the company of heroes -- people who put themselves at risk for the benefit of others. That certainly defines the young Americans here in Marine Expeditionary Unit 24. Hero is a word that also applies to our Fox News cameraman, Canadian Chris Jackson.
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Oliver North is the host of "War Stories" on Fox News Channel, the founder and honorary chairman of Freedom Alliance, and the author of "American Heroes."
COPYRIGHT 2008 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC.
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Note -- The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, and/or philosophy of GOPUSA. >> Back -- Page 1 2
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