The story behind this Rangers survival must be interesting...

[RetPara]

Helmet/dark glasses on the Ranger in formation. Head injury? That has to be one hell of a story of survival.....

 

[RetPara]

Shit.....

Staff Sgt. Dominic J. Annecchini

On May 16, 2012, Annecchini and his fellow Rangers conducted a raid against enemy fighters in eastern Afghanistan.
Serving as a mentor to an Afghan squad, Annecchini followed and supported those troops as they moved into position alongside the American assault force and began to clear the target compound.
When the Afghans entered the last outside door of the compound, their lead man came under fire from five enemy fighters barricaded inside.
The Afghan soldier was critically wounded and fell forward into the room with the enemy, according to the narrative accompanying Annecchini’s Silver Star.
Without cover or concealment, and knowing he would be exposed to the same enemy fire, Annecchini moved toward the wounded Afghan soldier. He entered the compound, secured the breach in the last room, and communicated with his platoon sergeant a plan to recover the wounded Afghan soldier and move him to safety.
While assessing the situation, Annecchini identified the enemy fighters and engaged them “at a rapid rate of fire” with his M4 to protect the wounded Afghan soldier and two other Afghan soldiers in an adjacent room.
Annecchini, still firing, went into the room to recover the wounded Afghan but was shot in the head and critically wounded.
Annecchini’s actions allowed two other Rangers to recover the casualties and clear the compound. He is credited with saving the lives of the Afghan soldiers and Rangers who followed him into the compound.
Today, Annecchini, who has deployed 10 times, is doing well and is mostly recovered from his gunshot wound.
The bullet hit Annecchini’s right night-vision tube, which then burst into his eye protection, cut his nose and damaged his eye. Bullet fragments went through his right brow and damaged his left frontal lobe.
He lost his sense of smell, and his right eye is permanently dilated, but he did not lose his sight. He also still suffers from weakness and balance issues in his right leg because of the brain damage.
“All things considered, I’d say I’m pretty lucky,” he said. “I’m alive and grateful, and moving on with my life and career.”

 

[policemedic]

Awesome. Nothing but respect for that Ranger.

 

[goon175]

Ya know what I love about this picture? They didn't move their scroll's down to the center of the velcro just for the CoS. Everytime a Ranger goes to a big army school, they get yelled at for the scroll being at the top of the velcro, citing 670-1. At WLC, one of the cadre actually tried ripping SSG Pape's scroll and tab off to reposition it. He didn't get too far with that. I'm just glad they stuck to tradition.

I am slightly dissapointed that they didn't stick with the multi cam with sta-brite badges and full color patches for this, like they have been doing with ceremonies lately. Coulda showed the CoS what a good duty uniform looks like!

 

[policemedic]

At WLC, one of the cadre actually tried ripping SSG Pape's scroll and tab off to reposition it. He didn't get too far with that.

I'd have paid good money to see that.

 

[Centermass]

I am slightly dissapointed that they didn't stick with the multi cam with sta-brite badges and full color patches for this, like they have been doing with ceremonies lately. Coulda showed the CoS what a good duty uniform looks like!

Yup.

 

[Brian1/75]

The repositioning of scrolls isn't the worst part about WLC. It's the freaking high fades and high & tights they make you get.

 

[DA SWO]

I like the AF TACP SSgt on the right edge of the photo.

 

[Red Flag 1]

I like the AF TACP SSgt on the right edge of the photo.

I noticed that too. Good to see him there.

RF 1

 

[Ooh-Rah]

The repositioning of scrolls isn't the worst part about WLC. It's the freaking high fades and high & tights they make you get.

I don't know, I've always been sorta partial to the High-and-Tight!