Marine blown out of vehicle from IED, survives with only bruises

Photo By Staff Sgt. Bruno Bego | Lance Cpl. Matthew J. Messer, from Brownstown, Mich., a motor vehicle operator with...... read more read more

Photo By Staff Sgt. Bruno Bego | Lance Cpl. Matthew J. Messer, from Brownstown, Mich., a motor vehicle operator with Combat Logistics Battalion 8, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), poses for a picture next to the battalion sign, June 26, 2011, aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan. Messer is currently recovering from surprisingly minor injuries after his truck hit an improvised explosive device, which sent the turret flying through the air with him inside, landing a few feet from the truck.  see less | View Image Page

HELMAND PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

06.26.2011

Story by Lance Cpl. Bruno Bego 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

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CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – According to an article released by the Washington Post, improvised explosive devices were responsible for 268 U.S. troops killed and 3,360 other injured during combat operations in Afghanistan in 2010.

Comprised of primarily fertilizer, metal and some electronic parts, and usually invisible to the naked eye, these deadly traps are capable of seriously damaging even the largest armored vehicles.

Lance Cpl. Matthew J. Messer, from Brownstown, Mich., is a motor vehicle operator with Combat Logistics Battalion 8, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), was serving as a gunner during a combat logistics patrol May 23 when his truck hit an improvised explosive device.

“We were on a convoy coming back from [Forward Operating Base Edinburgh],” Messer said. “When the vehicle in front of us, a [Logistical Vehicle System Replacement] towing another LVSR, hit an IED.”

Messer’s truck was directly behind the LVSR when everything happened.

“We sat there and watched as the wrecker team came around and took care of the situation,” he explained. “Then we were directed to pull off to the left of that vehicle.

“I don’t think we even moved two feet when we hit the IED,” Messer explained. “At that time, I didn’t really hear anything, all I saw was a bunch of dust.”

The force of the explosion blew the gun turret, with Messer in it, out of the top of the vehicle, and landed a few feet to the right of his truck.

“When I saw what was happening, I grabbed the gun and closed my eyes … I thought the truck was rolling over,” he said. “Right then I realized I was flying in the air, which kind of felt like forever.” “I couldn’t see anything … so I just screamed for help,” he added. “About eight or nine [fellow troops] came around to help.”

Among the Marines and sailors rushing to Messer’s aide was Sgt. Joshua R. Clark, from Lafayette, Ind., the assistant convoy commander for the mission.

“I saw the turret fly off and flip in the air,” Clark said. “I was close enough to see everything happen, but it took me about ten seconds to register just from the shock of the explosion.”

Clark has been on five deployments, three of them in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II, one for Operation Enduring Freedom and his current deployment in support of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.

“I have never seen anything like that before,” Clark explained. “I have seen many IEDs on other deployments, but being at the site assisting … this was my first time.”

Marines ran to the turret expecting the worse.

“When we arrived to where Messer was, we realized his leg was under the turret,” Clark explained. “It wasn’t as bad as we initially thought it would be.”

Messer’s leg was trapped, but not broken. The group worked together to lift the turret and free his leg.

“As soon as we got him out of there, we immediately checked for any other injuries,” Clark said. “He only had some bruises on his legs and arms. I don’t know how somebody can come out of that with no injuries.”

In the meantime, other Marines in the convoy were attempting to establish a landing zone to evacuate wounded Marines via helicopter.

“We couldn’t clear the helicopters to set down in that area because it was very dangerous,” Clark said. “So they sent a medic down on a rope. They hoisted them to the bird and took them to the medical facility in Camp Bastion.”

“I feel really thankful to be alive,” said Messer. “I consider myself lucky to be here today, talking and walking after what happened.”
Messer is currently recovering from his wounds, and his fellow Marines are eagerly awaiting his return.

“I really think he got lucky, with the weight of the turret, flying through the air like that,” Clark concluded. “We want him to hurry up and recover so he can return to the platoon … we only have a few missions left.”

“He is an outstanding Marine, a great machine gunner and driver,” said 1st Sgt. Steven S. Battista, the company first sergeant. “He is a very important asset to his platoon and the mission.”

Messer, who is expected to make a full recovery, is also anxious to return to his unit.

“I’m getting impatient,” he said. “I hate watching them leave on missions without me.”