A Near Death Experience

Although this is true feel free to have a bit of a chuckle about it because honestly I have laughed at it as well...

A couple weeks ago a monday, I was going out with a movement team to go to a range with my paralegal.  He is a Specialist and still getting involved in things.  He often asks me, “how do you know so many people,”  all I can say is that I can pretty much talk to anybody so I do, then we usually just become friends.  He has been asking more about it lately so I decided to talk with a couple of the friends I have made to get him involved in some different things, at least to get him exposed to them so that he can attempt to step out some if he chooses to do so.  I can make friends for him I can only show him opportunities.  So when my friend told me that there was a range and I knew he needed to qualify, she asked if we wanted to go with a group they were taking out there and I said absolutely.

Anyway we were going out to the range, a very short drive from where we are located.  I was riding in a vehicle called an MRAP, at least a version of an MRAP, it has a side opening back door and about 4 people can ride in it.  The door would be similar to that on a jeep liberty (at least like mine, it opens not flipping up in the air but rather like you are opening a side door.  The thing about this door is that it is a hydraulic door with 800 PSI that pushes it open or closed.  there are buttons to push open or closed located in three places; in the back on the hinge side of the door, a set up front with the driver, and a set on the outside of the door under the bumper.  I think the ones on the inside near the back door need to be placed in a different spot, after my experience you will see why.

I got in the vehicle here at camp and their was the driver and the TC (honestly I can’t remember what that stands for, but he is the look out for the driver sitting in the front passenger seat).  Then there was the gunner who stands/seats in the middle of the vehicle kind of a look out with the weapon that is on the top of the vehicle.  Then myself and one other guy who was going to help run the range, we were seating in the back in the seats in the back of the vehicle.  When we got to the range the door was open and the other guy in the back got out and the TC got out (he obviously had a door in the front).  The gunner and I were still in, I moved to get out so that the gunner could get down from her spot and get out as well.  I put my foot outside the door on the ledge (it is about a 3 foot drop to the ground).  Once my foot was on the ledge outside the vehicle the door closed all 800 pounds per square inch of pressure was pushing on my sternum.  

I had all my equipment on, whenever we leave post we have to wear our IOVT (Improved operational Tactical Vest, or the bullet proof vest) and Kevlar (the hard helmet you see worn).  I was lucky I follow the rules because it is definitely what saved my life and my bones.  The pressure of the door was pressing on me and the plates in my vest were I believe dispersing the pressure over the entire front of my body rather than all of it pushing on my ribs or sternum and cracking them all.  I was screaming, (words that were not so good)  The gunner was still in the vehicle, at this time the driver has exited.  He had hit the button with out looking back to see that both of us were still in the vehicle before he closed the door.  

The gunner, was still up in her post she was getting everything locked down and secure, so she could not see me, she first though I was just joking because, for one, who gets stuck in a door and two, I was yelling so she didn’t think I would have been able to if I had been stuck in the door.  She was yelling at me to just push it open.  Trust me this does not work.  You cannot just push open a hydraulic door.  The pressure was really starting to bare down on me, it was hurting and getting harder and harder to breath and there was nothing I could do.  I don’t know how long I was in the door, it wasn’t an extremely long time but it was probably over all a couple of minutes.  The pressure what really starting to get to me.  I could see the red open and close button (two different buttons) but I couldn’t reach them.  Half my body was on the out side of the vehicle and the other half and my head were on the inside of the vehicle.  I what kicking and hitting the door and kicking my feet trying to hit the button, but I couldn’t reach.  I was not going to be able to reach it.  All I could think of what I needed to get this door open.  

Finally, although it probably wasn’t really that long, the gunner came down and saw what was really going on and tried as well to push the door open.  She was pushing and prying and pushing me and I yelled push the door open button push the button.  The door open and I was shaking, all over, I could hardly get my legs under me after it, but I was alright, I was alive.  I was scared out of my mind and didn’t want to think about how close things were to not being alright.  I didn’t take my vest off and I continued on at the range because I didn’t want to make a big deal of things, I think now I was in shock and a bit scared to think their might be something wrong. 

Don’t worry though, we got back to the base about mid day and I went and cleaned up a bit and ate lunch and then we looked at the plates of my IOTV and found the front plate was cracked, that was all I needed to get me to go to the TMC (Troop Medical Clinic).  I went and I filled out the paper work and was seen.  needless to say they were a bit shocked as well by the events and wondered how on earth this could have happened.  The first thought of most people is that I was goofing off or not paying attention, but that was not the case, I was simply appropriately walking out the door behind the other person who had just walked out.    Anyway, they did an initial check and were surprised by the few injuries i had (a lot of bruising and that was pretty much it).  They did X-rays and looked at everything but no broken bones.  The Doctor, could not believe it, neither could I really, I had a very swollen clavicle and bruising across my check and on my shoulders and back, both my knees were bruised from kicking and my left hand from slamming it on the door trying to get someones attention or trying to push it open but that was it.  

The next day I felt like I had been hit by a bus, every part of my body hurt and I had bruises showing up everywhere, but that was about it, the pain and soreness went away  for the most part after a couple of days I was/am almost back to normal.  I still get sore when I have to carry much weight, or put on my IOTV.  The last couple of days I was on my feet a lot in a board hearing and that was trying on my back but all in all I was very lucky, By the grace of GOD!!!

Honestly, while it was going on I was just concerned about getting out of the door and getting back on the ground after wards after looking at the plates with my friend, I realized how close I had come.  How different the situation could have been, and how very blessed I am, prayers were felt that day, (and most days).  I got a little shaken up thinking about it but all in all I think, really what JAG has a real near death experience in a combat zone story, only a few and I am one of them.  So that is how I choose to look at this situation.  How lucky I am!