iPod Stops a Bullet
The Apple iPod. Cultural icon. Technological revolution. Life saver...? Yes, according to Kevin Garrad, an infantryman deployed in Iraq. While on patrol in Iraq, he turned a corner and found himself face to face with an AK-47 wielding insurgent. Both fired and both took hits. The insurgent died, but Kevin was lucky enough to to have a 20 gigabyte iPod in his chest pocket in addition to his body armor. The iPod nobly took the round, its (scratched) metal backing slowing the slug before letting the armor finish the job of stopping it short of causing him any damage. The device is of course ruined now, but here's hoping Apple is good enough to send Kevin a replacement player. We might recommend a matching Kevlar carrying case.
From Flickr (via Engadget | Photo Licensing)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Alison @ Apr 7th 2007 2:16PM
Apple better give him a new iPod!they should offer one to every soldier in Iraq!!!! or at least a discount
The Retaliator @ Apr 7th 2007 2:26PM
That was nothing short of amazing.
Catocam777 @ Apr 7th 2007 6:06PM
LOL nice
Lynn @ Apr 9th 2007 11:30PM
Absolutely awesome!!! God, thank you - whether Christian, Muslim, or Jewish - God, thank you... Apple, this man deserves a boost. I'd say that you should give this man of honor a big heaping reward for his courage - and your free publicity. And, Mr. Garrard, I give you my own thanks for being there in Iraq so that my family doesn't have to endure more of what happened on 9/11 and in other places around the world since then. From my family to yours, I thank you.
Bennett @ Apr 12th 2007 3:55PM
You people are all forgetting that another man died here. You all focus on the man saved by the iPod, but what about the man who was killed?
Loss of human life is a horrid, terrible thing, but nobody ever grasps it unless it happens to them or someone dear to them.
Articles like this should give the life story of everybody who dies in their articles, so we can understand the human life that was taken away.
It's horrible how quickly we all dismiss human life in order to focus on entertainment and keeping ourselves happy.
Try to look at this article as if the man who was shot and died was your father. Would you be laughing at the fact that one life was spared because of an iPod? I think not.
M Lem @ Apr 12th 2007 5:00PM
The other guy should have worn his ipod
Travis @ Apr 12th 2007 5:01PM
We are not forgetting, the man that died attempted to kill a U.S. soldier, so most of us don't really care. Death is a horrible thing, but if you pick up a rifle and shoot at other people with rifles... well, you might end up dead. He probably should of thought about that before he attacked an american. If he was my father I would be sad, but my dad isn't that stupid.
moose @ May 14th 2007 4:16PM
who said braking the rules is always bad, good for you troop. i hope apple does the right thing and good luck,
and remember don't leave base without it.
fellow soldier..............
muslimhater @ May 14th 2007 5:29PM
Bennett is a bleeding heart liberal who should be in Iraq next to the bad guys. It's people like him that make it soooo much harder for our troops to do their job. So unless Bennett wants to something meaningful with his life, shut up and stop crying about these Godless bastards gettin killed over there.
shanmac122 @ May 14th 2007 6:34PM
Not only should Apple give him a replacement IPod (simply for the free PR they're getting from this article) but they should figure out a way to save his playlists from the damaged one.
joey @ May 14th 2007 6:36PM
I think he should be disciplined for having the i pod on him. It is a distraction. If he wants to listen to it. Listen to it in bunk. There are more important things to worry about over there.
Douchebag @ May 14th 2007 6:50PM
Bennett,I Agree with jaybird 6.. You need to think before you speak.. How many people are in the miltary, How many are civilians. Less than 10% of the U.S Population is serving in the Military. 10% drive Tractor Trailers, 20% are members of Law enforcement and other emergency services. 60% are working 9-5 Deadbeat jobs. Which sums up to this simple Equation.. WHAT DO YOU DO TO MAKE THIS COUNTRY A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE? The Miltary is a VOLUNTEER organization. We step up when people like you WON'T, be it cowardice, laziness or whatever. WE have Families too.. Don't try to tug on our heartstrings when a terrorist rolls up and kills your family in cold blood, for no reason other than to ferment discord and animosity toward the rest of their people. THEY DIE FOR NOTHING, THEY GET NOTHING, 90% of BOMBERS are innocent Victims that have had their families lives threatened, Not the actual Terrorist that will murder their children and wives.. There is a Method to the Madness, though the Road is bumpy and dark.. The point of the matter is, Reality Sucks Live with it.
Metzler @ May 14th 2007 6:52PM
We al must remember that this is a war and loss of life will happen. So please suck it up tou hippies i'm hoping that you all realise that this is normal and that other wars are worse and lasted longer. Years ago it was normal for hundreds of people would die every battle/firefight. I think that less than one hundred thousand since '03 is the best war we have had in a long time for us. but no matter what remember, "He who lives by the sword dies by it."
Jaybird 6 @ May 14th 2007 6:52PM
Bennett, We all have the freedom of speech.. yeah, the other guy was an INSURGENT, A BAD GUY. You are not Dr.Phil and this is not OPRAH, You are not going to make a Difference in anyone's Life. I am a 3-ID Dogface Soldier In Ramadi, Iraq. I Defend Your "Right" to make Ignor-anus'sly Retarded opinions such as that one.
How about you do this.. Join the military, Get sent to iraq, Get on the opposite end of a 7.62mm Ak-47 and see if the iraqi feels as "Humane" for you, as you do for them.
They will be humane.. Chop your head off with a Rusty butterknife. *Think* before you speak next time. Otherwise have a nice hot cup of Shut the F*%k Up.
Aalstair Parker @ May 14th 2007 6:54PM
hooah soldiers... hooah iPod... Fuck you Bennett
Martha @ May 14th 2007 7:03PM
Thank you kevin for the work you are doing. I am so happy that you survived this attack. We are so lucky in America to have such fine men and women to protect our country. God Bless You and God Bless America.
Angel @ May 15th 2007 8:26AM
I say... if it's a bullet protector in the army, its a bullet protector in the ghetto. hahaha. I always had thought that an iPod could possibily save your life... but why did he have his iPod with him on patrol... arent u supposed to be focusing on the work lol
bjsanj @ May 15th 2007 9:09AM
On Bennett's comment, "..other man who died?" Killing is horrible, but what if he survived & killed our soldier & many more? Good riddance.
Ron @ Jun 3rd 2007 1:16PM
About the comment "You people are all forgetting that another man died here". This guy did his job by getting rid of a piece of scum trying to kill him. You know the insurgent!! If it wearn't for the military he'd be on the streets of the USA trying to kill you instead. Think before putting that kind of garbage out.
_charmed1623_ @ Jul 27th 2007 3:31PM
Who cares if they other guy died.. The iPod saved the soliders' life...Who cares if he shouldn't have an iPod..if he didn't he wouldn't be alive today.
GO iPOD!!! Apple better give him a new one.