God Bless our Queen on today her 83rd Birthday.
ITN
Monday, 20 April 2009
Lucky Leon's narrow escape
(c) ITN 2009
A soldier has been dubbed the luckiest man in the Army after a bullet went through his helmet but missed his head.
Private Leon Willy Wilson, 32, said he was left without a mark after the round tore through his head protection and missed his head by an estimated 2mm.
The Territorial Army soldier, on attachment with 2nd Battalion of the Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters), was knocked flat on his back by the impact of the shot in Afghanistan.
Defence chiefs pronounced him officially the luckiest man in the British Army.
Pte Wilson had been manning a machine gun during a fierce battle with the Taliban in Helmand Province on April 10 when he was hit by the 7.62mm AK47 bullet.
The father-of-three from Manchester said: I took my finger off the trigger when the shot hit my helmet. I was knocked clean off my position and landed on my back. I had my eyes shut.
He asked another private next to him if he had been shot.
He was just staring at me in amazement and swearing, and said 'Yes', Pte Wilson said.
The medic was looking queasy - I don't think anyone wanted to take my helmet off.
The soldier, who is a self-employed electrician when not on active duty, was back in the thick of the fighting within an hour after finding a new helmet.
He said: My commander wouldn't let me go back up with that helmet. It took an hour to find another one, because they are personal issue, then I went back.
It shook me up but there is not much else you can do but get on with the job you are out here to do.
The gun battle came after British and Afghan soldiers destroyed an insurgent bomb factory in the village of Khowshhal Kalay. They were fired on after sheltering overnight in a compound.
Pte Wilson was wearing a Mark 6a helmet, which is made from several layers of Kevlar armour.
Pte Wilson's commander, Captain Rob Agnew dubbed him the luckiest Private, adding: Willy's a good lad - and a good soldier.
Holocaust Day is remembered Globally today as the worst atrocity man has committed against his fellow man.
This Canadian Link comes from a retired Food Services Officer Bob Towers. Cut and paste if link does not work for you.
http://www.afpp-international.com/1CMBG/index.html
If you have a free moment please say a prayer for our troops whether at Church, Chapel, Synagogue, Temple or Mosque. In your car , at home a simple thought or prayer. Thank You
Nil SIne Labore
Robby
