iPod Takes Bullet for Soldier

[terpkristin]

Kevin Garrad of the 3rd Infantry Division looks to have gotten a little assistance from an unexpected source while on a street patrol in Iraq recently, when the iPod in his pocket got in the path of a bullet fired at close range, slowing it down enough that it didn't pierce his body armor. As if that wasn't a rare enough occurrence, as you can see above, the iPod in question was an HP iPod (http://www.engadget.com/search/?q=hp+ipod) -- imagine the odds!

Link (http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/05/ipod-takes-bullet-for-soldier/) for picture/article
Link (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tiki/sets/72157600049254981/) to a 3-picture flickr set on it

/tk

[M GO BLUE!!!]

dear mom,

My unit has held up pretty well so far. Thanks for sending the gas, as we did run out again (lol.) The body armor has been pretty good too (thanks again!)

Could you send me an ipod?

[stevew]

This story is probably true, but it just screams "snopes" to me.

[JediKooter]

Very interesting. I think it's perfectly believable that the iPod slowed the bullet down enough to not go all the way through his body armor.

If true, he's a very lucky man.

[Airhog]

then again, the ipod could of had very little effect on the bullet, and the body armour just did its job.

[beargrowlz]

Kevin Garrad of the 3rd Infantry Division looks to have gotten a little assistance from an unexpected source while on a street patrol in Iraq recently, when the iPod in his pocket got in the path of a bullet fired at close range, slowing it down enough that it didn't pierce his body armor. As if that wasn't a rare enough occurrence, as you can see above, the iPod in question was an HP iPod (http://www.engadget.com/search/?q=hp+ipod) -- imagine the odds!

Link (http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/05/ipod-takes-bullet-for-soldier/) for picture/article
Link (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tiki/sets/72157600049254981/) to a 3-picture flickr set on it

/tk

The RIAA has snipers in Iraq?

[terpkristin]

then again, the ipod could of had very little effect on the bullet, and the body armour just did its job.

The engineer in me thought about that, before looking at the amount of deformation of the iPod. It is clear, by the extent of the deformation, that the bullet did expend a bit of energy going through the iPod so there was less of an impact to the body armor. Of course, I have no idea how much force/energy whatever bullet he was struck with at close range imparts, and nor do I have any idea how much force/energy the body armor can withstand, so whether or not it "saved his life" I cannot say. It DID take a bullet for him. ;) And it's still kind of cool to see that kind of deformation on an HP iPod. ;) :p However I do appreciate what the skeptic in you is saying. :)

/tk

[flere-imsaho]

I'm pretty sure the body armor issued by the Army only stops bullets (effectively) up to a certain calibre, so the article may be speaking to that. Also, knowing what I know about the state of much of the body armor in Iraq, it's possible the armor in question was sub-par due to either a) age or b) insufficient repair after being previously compromised.

Plus, do note that a number of units (especially Guard/Reserve) continue to deploy to Iraq without the armor inserts for their body armor vests, though I'm going to hope that wasn't the case in this situation.

[DanGarion]

Truth about story. Ipod just told him he got shot (since it stopped), armor is what saved him.

http://havanalion.com/2007/04/08/ipod-tells-soldier-he-was-shot-the-real-story/

[flere-imsaho]

Thanks for hunting that down - still an interesting story.

[DanGarion]

Thanks for hunting that down - still an interesting story.

Oh yeah it is. Just as usual writers getting a little over zealous in their recounting of it in the news. :)