U.S. soldier shot in Iraq is mission’s first casualty 2015

Original Post here & here by  March, 2015

If anyone doubts the resolve of the U.S. military fighting isis terrorists, this story is a lesson that our troops are battle-tested and ready at any moment.

Nine months ago, in addition to the authorization of airstrikes against isis targets, theU.S. military began deploying special forces as part of a new mission to take on the rising Islamic State. Among those taking part in the deployment were military advisers and support personnel.

More recently, after an announcement by President Obama, the U.S. has sent troops for limited ground operations against ISIS, including the protection of bases and the defense of key strategic areas.

The first casualty in that renewed battle has taken place, and the soldier’s story is a memorable one.

The soldier’s mission was part of training Iraqi soldiers in Besmaya, a base that was constructed on the outskirts of Baghdad.
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The U.S. soldier was standing at a guard post at a military base in Iraq was apparently shot in the face Wednesday, the first enemy-inflicted wound to an American service member in Iraq since the start of the latest mission there nine months ago. The soldier’s wounds were described as a “laceration,” and he was treated and immediately returned to duty, Army Col. Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman, said Friday.

It is one of three sites that is reported to be the location of such training. The Military Times reports that there are now 2,850 U.S. troops are now in Iraq.

The Long War Journal reports on such training as takes place at Besmaya:

Although the Military Times did not publish the soldier’s name involved in the exchange of gunfire, he has set a tremendous example to never stop fighting.

Army Col. Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman, confirmed the first casualty for groundtroops fighting ISIS, and said the following via the Military Times:

The shooting occurred at a guard post manned by two soldiers at the Besmaya Range Complex south of Baghdad at about 3 a.m. One soldier was in an elevated guard post overlooking the security perimeter and the other was on the ground, Warren said.

The ground-level soldier was “looking over a T-wall, they were trying to identify the source of some light that they’d seen,” Warren said. “They saw a flash, heard a crack and the soldier who was looking over the T-wall barrier … received the laceration.”

In common language, the soldier was shot in the face. And did he drop to his knees, hoping for someone to come to his rescue? Hardly.

The soldier picked up his rifle and returned fire. He was later treated for injuries from the ‘laceration’ to his face, possibly due to a ricochet shot, and went back on duty.

That’s hardcore.

to his face, possibly due to a ricochet shot, and went back on duty.

That’s hardcore.

Besmaya is one of three sites where U.S. military personnel are training Iraqi army soldiers. About 100 U.S. military trainers are at the base along with an undisclosed number of U.S. troops providing support and security for those trainers.

Islamic State militants routinely fire mortars into al-Assad Air Base in western Iraq, but officials say that indirect fire has been ineffective and has caused no injuries.

A total of 2,850 U.S. troops are now in Iraq.