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Iraq
'Rocket Man' Rocks Insurgents in Ramadi
2006-06-16
RAMADI, Iraq, June 14, 2006 — The crack of insurgents firing rounds overhead sends him into action to find his target and neutralize it - fast. The Marine assesses multiple enemy targets approximately 400 meters away. He sights in. His finger steadily squeezes the trigger as a single shot jets from his rocket launcher. The explosion rocks the earth as the perfect hit is rewarded by the now silenced enemy – courtesy of the "Rocket man."

“They are calling me ‘Rocket man’ because of all the rockets I’ve fired since we have been here,” said Lance Cpl. Richard M. Mason II, of Medina, Ohio. “It’s an adrenaline rush to be the guy firing the rocket during a firefight.”

Mason has accurately fired 24 rockets in combat and his teammates have dubbed him appropriately.
Posted by:Bobby

#15  man i watched that vid like 4 times then made my wife watch it too. AWESOME AS SHIT
Posted by: Greamp Elmavinter1163   2006-06-16 20:19  

#14  

Lance Cpl. Richard M. Mason on call Defending America 24/7/365, [have SMAW will travel]

SAEPE EXPERTUS, SEMPER FIDELIS, FRATRES AETERNI

____________________________________________

same enemy but a bit off topic:

Iraq: Army of Ansar al-Sunnah fires rockets at Ramadi? [forgot] and then vacate as fast as their little Jehadi feets can beat before counter battery fire, but they leave video cam on tripod filming the results.

US counter battery fire. Large rounds 155 arty. smaller rounds 81/120? mm mortar. feedback welcome

LINK
Posted by: RD   2006-06-16 16:55  

#13  Good picture of his weapon:

http://tinyurl.com/gbdru
Posted by: Anonymoose   2006-06-16 16:26  

#12  "You wanna know how you do it? Here's how, they pull a knife, you pull a gun. They pull a gun, you put a rocket up his ass. That's the Marine way, and that's how you get jihadis! Now do you want to do that? Are you ready to do that?"
Posted by: Steve   2006-06-16 15:43  

#11  I can't wait for the movie about LCpl Mason.

What ? What's that ?
There will not be a movie ? Why ?
Posted by: wxjames   2006-06-16 13:03  

#10  Good thing is they stull teach em right: Get good with the iron sights, because those are the ONLY ones you can be sure you have all the time. The other stuff is gravy.

Glad to know we still have them in the mold of Alvin York out there in terms of marksmanship.

As long as this nation can continue to produce young men like that and allow them to fight unfettered against our enemies, we will remain free.

Posted by: Oldspook   2006-06-16 12:55  

#9  I don't know the guy or his family, but if I do cross paths with him, the drinks are on me.
Posted by: Mike   2006-06-16 12:08  

#8  Â“It makes me feel good when they specifically call for my name over the radio when they need to send a rocket down range,”

It makes me feel good (really good) that we're still producing warriors of this caliber.

“I feel like a real asset.”

Believe me, you are - more than you probably know.
Posted by: Xbalanke   2006-06-16 11:15  

#7  Rock the house!
Posted by: Thiper Gresh7838   2006-06-16 11:08  

#6  By means of comparison, how much is Roger Clemens getting paid?
Posted by: Captain America   2006-06-16 11:03  

#5  Mewonders if LCpl Mason should have Medina, OH "adopt" Medina, Saudi Arabia as a "sister" city when he gets home. He could have some real fun target practice with his rocket there, I'd imagine. Also, he would be an asset there in shutting down a lot of financing. Just sayin' is all.
Posted by: BA   2006-06-16 10:58  

#4  Sure, the rocket launcher is cool, but I always liked the nail gun or the BFG 9000. Oh, wait! This is Real Life. Never mind.
Posted by: SteveS   2006-06-16 10:17  

#3  Medina, Ohio! That's where I live!

I love it when a local boy makes good.
Posted by: Mike   2006-06-16 09:23  

#2  Â“During almost every engagement he has stopped enemy fire by destroying insurgents held up in a building,” said 1st Lt. Carlos M. Goetz, 2nd platoon commander.

What? No one checked if innocent women or children were in the building? This is cold blooded murder.
Posted by: John Murtha   2006-06-16 09:20  

#1  Impressive and courageous. Rock on Rocketman!
Posted by: Cleting Graque6012   2006-06-16 09:00  

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