“I Saw My Death Coming” MrBallen’s Insane Story Of Getting Hit By A Grenade
Chris Williamson・26 minutes read
A Navy SEAL recounts a harrowing experience in Afghanistan involving intense combat, a near-death grenade incident, and the emotional aftermath of the trauma. The speaker's recovery journey included medical evacuation, treatment for shrapnel injuries, and facing the emotional repercussions of the traumatic event.
Insights
- Navy SEALs have an intense training regime, with deployments to Afghanistan lasting seven years and involving combat situations with armed adversaries and near-death experiences.
- The narrator's experience in Afghanistan included prolonged gunfights, encountering armed fighters, witnessing the detonation of a grenade causing shrapnel injuries, and receiving medical aid involving tourniquets and a danger-close air strike, showcasing the harsh realities of war and the resilience required for survival.
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Recent questions
What was the speaker's experience during their deployment in Afghanistan?
The speaker described their intense combat experiences during their deployment in Afghanistan, including engaging in gunfights, encountering armed adversaries, and surviving a grenade explosion that caused shrapnel injuries.
How did the speaker's team handle encountering armed individuals during a mission?
The speaker's team encountered armed individuals during a mission in Zargar, leading to a close-quarters gunfight where the adversaries threw grenades over the wall. Despite the adversaries holding grenades as a last resort, the team engaged in combat to neutralize the threat.
What were the narrator's thoughts during the intense combat situation?
The narrator's rational thoughts during the intense combat situation focused on ensuring their family could recognize them if they died, highlighting the emotional and personal impact of the life-threatening experience.
How did the narrator's recovery journey unfold after the traumatic event?
The narrator's recovery journey involved receiving medical aid, including tourniquets on their legs and a danger-close air strike called in to neutralize the threat. They were airlifted to a medical tent, then to Germany, before returning home to face the emotional aftermath of the traumatic event.
What were some of the challenges faced by the speaker during their deployment in Afghanistan?
The speaker faced challenges such as engaging in prolonged gunfights, witnessing casualties among Afghan partners and their team's dog, and surviving a grenade explosion that caused shrapnel injuries. These experiences underscored the intense and dangerous nature of their deployment in Afghanistan.
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Summary
00:00
Navy SEAL's intense Afghanistan deployment recounted
- The speaker was medically evacuated from Afghanistan after two deployments, which is considered the shortest tour for Navy SEALs, lasting seven years due to extensive training.
- The first combat tour in Afghanistan involved intense gunfights, resembling what the speaker had anticipated after rigorous training.
- The deployment to Afghanistan began with a military flight from Virginia to Germany, then to Afghanistan, with a noticeable change in atmosphere upon entering Afghan airspace.
- The speaker described the intense landing in Afghanistan during winter, highlighting the unfamiliar yet beautiful mountainous terrain.
- During a mission in Zargar, a highly contested area with mud huts and IEDs, the speaker's team encountered a group of armed fighters openly patrolling the streets.
- The mission in Zargar led to a prolonged gunfight lasting six hours, resulting in casualties among the Afghan partners and the team's dog.
- A drone spotted military-age males near the team's exfiltration point, leading the speaker's fire team to investigate despite the Rules of Engagement requiring identification of weapons.
- The team unexpectedly found the armed individuals mere feet away, leading to a close-quarters gunfight where the adversaries threw grenades over the wall.
- The adversaries had pulled the pins on the grenades, holding them as a last resort, functioning similarly to a suicide bomb if discovered.
- The speaker, not directly involved in shooting, witnessed the intense gunfight in the middle of the night with the aid of night vision and an infrared spotlight from a drone.
12:47
Surviving a Grenade Attack: A Soldier's Story
- The flashing of an IR strobe light during a combat situation helped slow down time perception.
- The narrator experienced a near-death moment when a grenade hit their shoulder and fell to the ground.
- The narrator's rational thoughts during the incident focused on ensuring their family could recognize them if they died.
- The grenade detonated, causing shrapnel injuries that felt like rocks hitting the back and legs.
- The grenade's design involved a fuse that splintered metal to create razor blades for shrapnel.
- The narrator initially recalled surviving the grenade but later learned the true events from the person who saved their life.
- Medical aid was provided, including tourniquets on the narrator's legs and a danger-close air strike called in to neutralize the threat.
- The chaotic aftermath involved gunfire from various directions and the narrator's calm medic providing assistance.
- The narrator's recovery journey involved being airlifted to a medical tent, then to Germany, and finally returning home to face the emotional aftermath of the traumatic event.
