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DEL.ICIO.USTied for first in bombs and bullets
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Forward Operating Base Yusufiyah, Iraq — Soldiers jokingly call it the “Leader Board.”
The dry erase board hanging on an office wall here ranks which soldiers have survived the most small arms fire and bomb attacks in Iraq.
Among the 23 Americans who have trained Iraqi soldiers at this base, Spc. Keith Weathers and Maj. Ray Bossert are tied with seven apiece.
Weathers’ closest call was July 17. A roadside bomb hit his Humvee. He felt the shockwave vibrate through his body. Weathers passed out after he stepped outside the vehicle. The gunner and an interpreter in the back seat were wounded by shrapnel.
“You feel the pressure and then you hear the bang and your ears start ringing,” said Weathers, 24, a father of two from Lawrenceville. “It was pretty rough. It banged me up.”
Weathers glanced at the white board Thursday afternoon and noticed he and Bossert survived five of the same attacks.
“I think he’s bad luck,” Weathers said of his longtime friend.
Bossert, 38, of Douglasville, responded: “Do you see me in a hospital yet? No. So, I have good luck.”
The soldiers don’t count mortar attacks on the board because there have been too many. Since June 1, insurgents have mortared this base 73 times.
One 120mm round hit the concrete just outside, spraying Bossert’s office with shrapnel. His wooden walls look like Swiss cheese.
Even the Leader Board didn’t escape harm. The blast knocked it off the wall and bent its frame. With a red marker, a soldier circled a shrapnel hole in it and dated it Aug. 20.
One for the board!
Comments
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By my name is faith
October 14, 2005 11:19 PM | Link to this
Major Bossart, you are highly respected by the men that follow your command. My husband is one of your children out of wedlock.
Notice the polite version of what the guys call themselves. This is a term of endearment and pride.
Disneyland does not hold the monopoly on “Mr. Toad’s Ride’” welcome the new theme park of,….. Yusafiyhaland!!!!! Where at a moments notice, the sky is alight up with fireworks, and the day’s admission comes with a high price. I have heard complaints about the absence of the mints under the pillows, though……….. you loose 1 star!
Jeremy, thank you. A meger main course, yet a meal, none the less. I await dessert. make it good!
For all of you in Yusafhiya doing security….be safe!
By my name is faith
October 15, 2005 06:36 PM | Link to this
Jeremy, you are fantastic! Your articles just get better and better! Louie’s photos, and your reporting, are A+!!!
By Proud Soldier Mom
October 15, 2005 10:42 PM | Link to this
Thank you for sharing some stories of the soldiers station at the Potatoe factory.Really helps us all here back home to really see what these soldiers has been through the last few months. Thank you AJC reporters for doing a great job, keep up the good work! Maj. Bossert know how much SPC Weathers & SPC O’Daniels looks up to you. Pray that you all will not have to keep count on your next location. Know you all are in our prayers, thank you for all you guys do. Spc O’Daniels looking forward to seeing you son when you come home on your R&R. Stay safe / God Bless you all. P.S Weathers pray I won’t be reading any more stories like this one, don’t think I could handle it.
By melman
October 16, 2005 03:02 AM | Link to this
To MAJ Bossert,
I also have great respect for him as a warrior. What seperates him from others? He understands his job is dangerous, demanding, tiring, thankless,important, and much more. He also in knowing these things doesnt complain to the world, he doesnt thumb his nose at others who may not be in the same position, either by choice or not by choice. I call it maturity! In knowing all this I would say he is a hero, kinda like the guy who saves the day, but looks for no recognition, and does understand not all are to do the same job. I tip my hat to you SIR, and I say teach those who surround you, that they are also doing the hard task, the thankless task. tell them not to tarnish it with complaining about thier surroundings, thumbing thier noses at others, and most of all, just be proud knowing you did the tuff job, the one alot of people didnt have the guts to do, or either was not invited, or did not have the skill sets to do the job. The ARMY has many job qualifications, we all choose our paths. I am grateful that MAJ Bossert recognizes this fact that a cook is a cook, and a grunt is a grunt. I have read alot of bad blogs over the last few months, were soldiers are venting, by blasting thier commrades. I do understand the anger, frustration, and only a mature individual will understand, we make choices, we all do. And everyone isnt going to be right along beside us in the fight, that doesnt make them useless. Like the soldier who welded the armor on the IA bongo truck. He doesnt go out everyday kicking in doors, he is also a valuable assett to us the ARMY. So once again MAJ Bossert, thanks for being GROWN. Spread a little of that around. I finish with a story: My ex wifes DAD, was a helocopter pilot in the Korean war, and also in Vietnam two tours. he died with cancer God Bless him. He had 22 distinguished flying crosses, a bronze star with V device, a silver star, MSM, ETC… he was highly decorated. In vietnam he flew the 101st, 82nd in and out for combat missions, extracted wounded, over a 1000hrs alone logged in Vietnam flying into the heat. I say all that to say this. I found all his medals in a box under a bunch of junk in the barn. I was astonished at what I saw, I asked him about why he didnt put this stuff on dispaly, or put it away nicely. His reply was ” all that stuff wasnt that important” what was important to him was that he was there, he served the tuff mission, he did what some would not or could not do. He didnt complain, write his congressman, get his family all fired up, he didnt thumb his nose at other people. Nope, he didnt even advertize it to the family, or the world. He was a great man in my book, respectful of others, he was GROWN! Good job to all you guys in the fias, i been there a few times myself, rode all around your AOR. I was in ST, Michael on the 18 of May for a few days, noone in the 48BCt units was even in this area then, I was riding around down there. Did I advertize, did I thumb my nose. No. Who cares, who cares. Am I better than the soldier who never went outside the wire, NO, I say again NO. So to all you self proclaimed FOBBIT Bashers, GET GROWN!
Thanks, MelManBy my name is faith
October 17, 2005 12:45 AM | Link to this
Melman,thank you
By Karyn
October 21, 2005 10:39 AM | Link to this
Melman, I just wanted to say THANK YOU, that part abot your ex-wife’s dad really touched my heart.That is how we should look at our heros.