Less we ever start to think that what we are trying to do is just a game. - The Firearms Forum

Bucky Bronco · 02-02-2005, 10:47 PM

Marine 1st Sergeant Brad Kasal (in the middle). This photo is from the most recent major offensive in Fallujah. 1stSgt Kasal sacrificed his own safety to save a room full of fellow Marines. He ended up taking several AK rounds in the leg. Most of his lower leg was blown away but you can't tell it from this pic. He took rounds in the back which his armor saved him from. He took one round through his butt which passed through both cheeks leaving 4 holes in him. And he also took the brunt of a grenade blast. He jumped on top of a younger Marine to cover him from the fire. He killed the enemy who did most of the damage to him and his men, and despite a massive loss of blood he never stopped fighting. Notice that he's still holding his pistol. He has been put in for the Medal of Honor for his actions on that day. He already has several Purple Hearts for previous battles throughout his career and he has turned some down so that he could stay with his unit.

"I took seven rounds from a 'bad guy' firing a fully-automatic AK 47," he said Wednesday during a phone interview from his bed at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. "Five in my right leg, one in my foot and one to the buttocks area. Then a grenade went off about four feet from me and I got 30 to 40 pieces of shrapnel in my back.

Brad described what happened when he was wounded.

"We were moving down the street, clearing buildings," he began. "A Marine came out wounded from a building and said there were three more wounded Marines trapped in there with a bunch of bad guys (insurgents). As we entered, we noticed several dead Iraqis on the floor and one of our wounded.

"An Iraqi pointed an AK47 at me and I shot and killed him, but there was another one on the stairs behind me that began firing at me with a fully-automatic AK. That's when I went down, along with one of my young Marines. Then I noticed the hand grenade."

Brad said his first instinct was to protect his young Marine. He covered the young man with his body and took the full brunt of shrapnel to his back when the grenade exploded.

Brad's injuries were severe. He was in and out of consciousness and lost 60 percent of his blood. He was first taken to a field hospital in Iraq, then flown to Germany, where he was hospitalized for a week before arriving in Bethesda.

Neil · 02-03-2005, 12:19 AM

that's one Brave man. God bless him for his actions and lack of selfishness.

Marlin · 02-03-2005, 07:50 AM

God be with him and all the others over there.

We owe such a big debt to those like him that can never be paid except through prayer and thanksgiving.

He is the true American spirit

satellite66 · 02-03-2005, 02:56 PM

God bless him. God bless all those serving.

SouthernMoss · 02-03-2005, 10:05 PM

A true hero.

Carl S · 02-04-2005, 08:58 PM

War is definitley NOT a game. Thank you, 1st Sergeant Brad Kasal, for your service, courage, and selfless sacrifice.

rosierita · 02-05-2005, 01:41 PM

may God richly bless him & his family in all that his heart, mind & hands touch.

02-02-2005, 10:47 PM	#1
Bucky Bronco Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Madison, AL Posts: 46	Less we ever start to think that what we are trying to do is just a game. Marine 1st Sergeant Brad Kasal (in the middle). This photo is from the most recent major offensive in Fallujah. 1stSgt Kasal sacrificed his own safety to save a room full of fellow Marines. He ended up taking several AK rounds in the leg. Most of his lower leg was blown away but you can't tell it from this pic. He took rounds in the back which his armor saved him from. He took one round through his butt which passed through both cheeks leaving 4 holes in him. And he also took the brunt of a grenade blast. He jumped on top of a younger Marine to cover him from the fire. He killed the enemy who did most of the damage to him and his men, and despite a massive loss of blood he never stopped fighting. Notice that he's still holding his pistol. He has been put in for the Medal of Honor for his actions on that day. He already has several Purple Hearts for previous battles throughout his career and he has turned some down so that he could stay with his unit. "I took seven rounds from a 'bad guy' firing a fully-automatic AK 47," he said Wednesday during a phone interview from his bed at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. "Five in my right leg, one in my foot and one to the buttocks area. Then a grenade went off about four feet from me and I got 30 to 40 pieces of shrapnel in my back. Brad described what happened when he was wounded. "We were moving down the street, clearing buildings," he began. "A Marine came out wounded from a building and said there were three more wounded Marines trapped in there with a bunch of bad guys (insurgents). As we entered, we noticed several dead Iraqis on the floor and one of our wounded. "An Iraqi pointed an AK47 at me and I shot and killed him, but there was another one on the stairs behind me that began firing at me with a fully-automatic AK. That's when I went down, along with one of my young Marines. Then I noticed the hand grenade." Brad said his first instinct was to protect his young Marine. He covered the young man with his body and took the full brunt of shrapnel to his back when the grenade exploded. Brad's injuries were severe. He was in and out of consciousness and lost 60 percent of his blood. He was first taken to a field hospital in Iraq, then flown to Germany, where he was hospitalized for a week before arriving in Bethesda. __________________ Bucky Bronco -->

02-03-2005, 12:19 AM	#2
Neil Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Stanwood washington Posts: 678	Re: Less we ever start to think that what we are trying to do is just a game. that's one Brave man. God bless him for his actions and lack of selfishness. __________________ God Bless America, This Great Land we call HOME.

02-03-2005, 07:50 AM	#3
Marlin TFF Admin Staff Chief Counselor Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: At SouthernMoss' side forever! Contributor Posts: 13,853	Re: Less we ever start to think that what we are trying to do is just a game. God be with him and all the others over there. We owe such a big debt to those like him that can never be paid except through prayer and thanksgiving. He is the true American spirit __________________ *The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing.* *The only criminal class native to the United States is Congress.*

02-03-2005, 02:56 PM	#4
satellite66 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Central NJ Posts: 2,068	Re: Less we ever start to think that what we are trying to do is just a game. God bless him. God bless all those serving. __________________ “Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not” — Thomas Jefferson. "The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But, under the name of 'liberalism,' they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program, until one day America will be a socialist nation, without knowing how it happened." - Norman Thomas, U.S. Socialist Party presidential candidate 1940, 1944 and 1948

02-03-2005, 10:05 PM	#5
SouthernMoss Admin Tech Staff Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: SW MS Contributor Posts: 10,651	Re: Less we ever start to think that what we are trying to do is just a game. A true hero. __________________ My Second protects your First "I declare to you that woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself, and there I take my stand." - Susan B Anthony

02-04-2005, 08:58 PM	#6
Carl S Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bunnell, FL Posts: 1,015	Re: Less we ever start to think that what we are trying to do is just a game. War is definitley NOT a game. Thank you, 1st Sergeant Brad Kasal, for your service, courage, and selfless sacrifice. __________________ Carl S Old Soldier The Bill of Rights - guaranteed by the Second Amendment You can trust the government - just ask any Indian

02-05-2005, 01:41 PM	#7
rosierita Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: South Carolina Posts: 5,218	Re: Less we ever start to think that what we are trying to do is just a game. may God richly bless him & his family in all that his heart, mind & hands touch. __________________