Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Holden McGroin on March 26, 2003, 08:08:25 PM

Title: Kevlar proves it mettle
Post by: Holden McGroin on March 26, 2003, 08:08:25 PM
wow

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-12276106,00.html (http://)

Can't make the link work... dammit

Story is:

LUCKY MARINE TRICKS DEATH
 
A Royal Marine Commando who was shot in the head four times has lived to tell the tale of his lucky escape.

Eric Walderman's life was saved by his tough Kevlar helmet after he was caught in enemy gun sights during a savage firefight in Umm Qasr.


The four bullets ripped through the outer camouflage of the 25-year-olds' standard-issue helmet but were stopped by the ultra-tough protective Kevlar shell.

Just an inch lower and the father-of-one could have joined the list of British casualties.

His relieved partner Lindsey Robinson, 25, at home with their son Danny, two, said: "I can't believe it. He is so lucky to be alive. He's the luckiest man out there. I'm just so glad he's still alive."

Marine Walderman is part of 40 Commando's Alpha Company.

The former welder accomplished a life-long ambition by joining the Marines three years ago.

After 30 weeks training he passed out on March 27, 2000, receiving the famous green beret.

He was also awarded the Commando Medal, the second highest commendation for new Marines, for being an outstanding new recruit.

He went to the Gulf on January 15.

Kevlar: The Facts

 Kevlaris a polymer plastic fibre and was developed and manufactured by US firm DuPont in the mid 1960s.  
Helmets made of Kevlar are 25%-40% more resistant to projectiles than their steel predecessors of equal weight.  
Under water, Kevlar is 20 times stronger than steel.  
 Kevlarbody vests and helmets have saved the lives of more than 2,700 police and prison officers in the US alone, its manufacturers claim - and they have their own Kevlar Survivors Club.  
 Kevlarmilitary helmets replaced the "steel pot" helmet in the late 1970s.  
Scientists still do not know fully why Kevlar is so strong but believe it is because of its molecular composition.
Title: Kevlar proves it mettle
Post by: Pongo on March 26, 2003, 08:30:52 PM
Wow.
did they say what kind of round?
Some Iraqi that is a very good shot must be amazed.
Title: Kevlar proves it mettle
Post by: Raubvogel on March 26, 2003, 08:33:31 PM
He must have been strafed by an old WW2 surplus C.202
Title: Kevlar proves it mettle
Post by: Mickey1992 on March 26, 2003, 09:38:54 PM
I wonder when we will get the daily declaration that Umm Qasr is secure.  He is very lucky indeed.

(http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030326/capt.1048709571.iraq_britain_military_war_lwd132.jpg)
Title: Kevlar proves it mettle
Post by: Fishu on March 26, 2003, 11:02:02 PM
Lucky..  had that bullet hit an inch lower and his nose would have had a gaping hole into head.

I've figured before that there will be more wounded than dead in this war, due to kevlar, aka lucky escapes...
Title: Kevlar proves it mettle
Post by: Pongo on March 26, 2003, 11:12:16 PM
man does that ever look like a guy I went through basic with..
like exaclty.
Title: Kevlar proves it mettle
Post by: icemaw on March 27, 2003, 12:16:03 AM
Yike bet that still hurt!
Title: Kevlar proves it mettle
Post by: Vermillion on March 27, 2003, 07:03:31 AM
Look at the hits closely and you'll notice that they were grazing shots at a high deflection angle.  If they had been more direct, even kevlar wouldn't have saved him.

One lucky SOB though ! :)
Title: Kevlar proves it mettle
Post by: gatso on March 27, 2003, 07:57:30 AM
DuPont  :)

Shot in the head 4 times and not a scratch. No wonder he looks happy.

Gatso
Title: Kevlar proves it mettle
Post by: OZkansas on March 27, 2003, 08:40:50 AM
Kevlar is light too.  Masts and spars for the America's Cup sailboats are made of Kevlar.
Title: Kevlar proves it mettle
Post by: LePaul on March 27, 2003, 08:46:50 AM
Kevlar...pfft, I think the bad teeth scared the rounds away  :D

J/K!

Nice story...
Title: Kevlar proves it mettle
Post by: BUG_EAF322 on March 27, 2003, 09:49:08 AM
.
Quote

Under water, Kevlar is 20 times stronger than steel

why ?
Title: Kevlar proves it mettle
Post by: BUG_EAF322 on March 27, 2003, 09:51:22 AM
I thought kevlar was an dutch invention by Akzo

not sure
Title: Kevlar proves it mettle
Post by: Curval on March 27, 2003, 09:54:58 AM
I was watching CNN when they showed a firefight during the night between Brits and Iraqis in Umm Quatar (sp?).  One of the guys firing wasn't wearing his helmet and the CNN guys made a point of mentioning it.  My first thought was "Shut up you wanna be" when the CNN said it...but I see now that what he was saying made perfect sense.

Chalk one up for CNN guys.
Title: Kevlar proves it mettle
Post by: BUG_EAF322 on March 27, 2003, 10:02:06 AM
The helmet is one of the 3 life savers

-gasmask

-weapon

-helmet

This one is stilled drilled into my brain :)
Title: Kevlar proves it mettle
Post by: Wlfgng on March 27, 2003, 10:21:13 AM
that a clockwork orange pic there curval ?  :)
Title: Kevlar proves it mettle
Post by: Curval on March 27, 2003, 11:40:31 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Wlfgng
that a clockwork orange pic there curval ?  :)


There was me, that is Alex, and my three droogs, that is Pete, Georgie, and Dim, Dim being really dim, and we sat in a Korova Milkbar making up our rassoodocks what to do with the evening.

:)