“According to a picture posted on Flickr, one lucky U.S. Army soldier was saved by his iPod after the music player took a bullet from an AK-47. Kevin Garrad with the 3rd Infantry Division was patrolling the streets of Iraq when he rounded a corner and went face to face with a gun-toting insurgent. Gun fire was exchanged and Garrad was hit in the chest. The insurgent was killed,” Humphrey Cheung reports for TG Daily.
Cheung reports, “At point blank range an AK-47 round is devastating and has a decent chance of passing through the Interceptor body armor vests used by Army soldiers, but the iPod apparently slowed the bullet enough to be stopped completely by Garrad’s vest.”
Full article with link to more and larger versions of photos here.
Related article:
Man lost in deep Oregon woods rescued thanks to his Apple iPod nano’s glow – November 18, 2006
Don’t think I would be listening to an iPod in a combat zone. Maybe he was just carrying it.
Give the man a new iPod!
If I owned a bullshit flag, or knew where I could get one… I would wave it. I would wave it long and hard.
Good news, a Zune would probably have had the same effect but I am happy for the soldier.
ok here we go, me first…
Shoot to Thrill – AC/DC.
He should thank G-d rather than an inanimate object.
I’m glad the guy is OK, but I think that iPod deserves the Medal of Honor, a Purple Heart, and a burial in Arlington.
From the comments I’ve read it looks like Apple will be sending him a new one.
“He should thank G-d rather than an inanimate object.”
yes, he SHOULD thank Steve for creating the iPod.
I guess while the congress screws around and ignores the funding of the soldiers, at least we know they have another line of defense.
Pray for a soldier today.
“Don’t think I would be listening to an iPod in a combat zone. Maybe he was just carrying it.”
“Soldiers often take iPods, MP3 players, portable gaming consoles and other electronic devices to reduce the boredom that often comes from being stationed overseas.”
Apple Care?
The insurgent was carrying a Zune
What is a HP iPod??
His best purchase ever!
How ’bout body armor made out of iPods?
My question is “Does it still work”?
I’d keep that iPod in my pocket the rest of the tour, even if doesn’t play anymore. It’s a matter of luck.
hotinplaya:
HP/Apple-branded iPods were sold for a few months. It provided Apple with HP’s distribution network, but ultimately it didn’t really work out.
In France (and now England) iPods are configured to automatically play “Retreat” and pop up a white surrender flag whenever a gun shot goes off in a war zone…..
@Hmmm.: What, you think God is in Iraq and chooses sides?? Is this a crusade?
WOW! You must be from America. You are sooooo smart and funny. We Europeans are cowards and morons. We don’t even have iPods because noone knows how to use them?
And what is that you are fighting for in Iraq anyway?
Gotta kill all those Nazi Thugs !!!
Good going Soldier Garrad.
” What, you think God is in Iraq and chooses sides?? Is this a crusade?”
Of course not, God is equally on the side of terrorists, insurgents, car bombers. He was probably equally on the side of Saddam Hussein when he was killing thousands of his own people and running rape rooms.
I would like to see the look on the store clerks face when he brings it back and explains why it doesn’t work…”Well you see, it was like this…”
Apple could make hay with this one!
War! huh! What is it good for…absolutely NOTHING!
Great, the ignorants are out spouting politics in the Mac forums again. Please, just say no.