Video: Army Medic Saves Life of Sniper Who Tried to Kill Him
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James Joyner | Saturday, July 16, 2005 |
Soldier survives attack; captures, medically treats sniper (Video) (Army Times)
During a routine patrol in Baghdad June 2, Army Pfc. Stephen Tschiderer, a medic, was shot in the chest by an enemy sniper, hiding in a van just 75 yards away. The incident was filmed by the insurgents.
Tschiderer, with E Troop, 101st âSaberâ Cavalry Division, attached to 3rd Battalion, 156th Infantry Regiment, 256th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, was knocked to the ground from the impact, but he popped right back up, took cover and located the enemyâs position.
After tracking down the now-wounded sniper with a team from B Company, 4th Battalion, 1st Iraqi Army Brigade, Tschiderer secured the terrorist with a pair of handcuffs and gave medical aid to the terrorist whoâd tried to kill him just minutes before.
The video of the attack is here.
A detaile account of the incident by the 256th BCT in PDF format is here. An excerpt:
âI knew I was hit, but was uncertain of the damage or location from the hit,â Tschiderer said. âThe only thing that was going through my mind was to take cover and locate the sniperâs position.â The shot came from my 12 oâclock position from a silver van parked across an intersection about 75 meters from my location.â said Tschiderer. After Tschiderer alerted his fellow Soldiers of the enemy location, they immediately began to pursue the terrorists.
Due to his heroic actions and quick decisions, Tschiderer located the enemy while he took cover and alerted the rest of his team on patrol. As the Saber team engaged and disabled the sniperâs position, two terrorists fled on foot, leaving a blood trail that came from the wounds of the enemy sniper. A cordon and search was immediately set up and Tschiderer assisted his team in the search of the two terrorists. The driver of the silver vehicle was detained by a team from B Co. 3-156th Inf. Bn. while Tschiderer and a team from B Company, 4th Battalion, 1st Iraqi Army Brigade, continued to follow the blood trail which led them to the yard where the wounded sniper lay in pain.
As Tschiderer secured the terrorist with a pair of handcuffs, he gave medical aid to the wounded terroristâthe same one whoâd tried to take his life.
Elsewhere:
- Michelle Malkin rightly terms Tschiderer “an American hero.”
- John Cole’s commenters prefer the term “badass.”
- McQ finds it ironic that the would-be killers filming the video were shouting “Allah Akbar” during the entire scene.
About the Author: James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. He lives just outside the Beltway in Alexandria, Virginia.
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Well, "Allah akbar!" means, iirc, "God is great," and it's indeed ironic that the would-be killers were shouting that, since it was the heroism and compassion of our soldier which testified to their statement, and not their own wicked deed.
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