What happens if you dive on a grenade?

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Lots of excellent stories shared in the comment section here about other brave acts of self sacrifice. Please understand I only tried to give a few examples and couldn't possible include everyone's story. So thank you to everyone for sharing these important stories.

[@Snuffy03]

This episode was especially great. One Marine who could have been mentioned was PFC Donald Ruhl. Ruhl was always on the 1st Sgt's crap list in garrison. At Iwo Jima he threw himself on a satchel charge saving his friends. One of the men he saved was Sgt. Henry O. Hansen, one of the raisers of the first flag that went up on Suribachi. Tragically, Hansen himself was KIA a couple of weeks later. As a Marine myself, I am especially proud to have served in a Corps that produced such men.

[@dustin1931]

Do the F8 Crusader next!

[@danhay8933]

just letting you know a telegram scammer is using your name (channel name) some BS about a prize

[@PvtEd]

@@danhay8933 them dang whipper snapper code writers showing off. They're everywhere.

[@danhay8933]

@@PvtEd cast a wide net, catch more fish I guess, dang ankle biters 😆

[@captainmerthin2019]

That footage of Desmond Doss meeting some of the men he saved on Okinawa was incredible, thank you for including it.

[@patricknorton5788]

Tearjerking to be sure. As I understand it, he was a pacifist but chose to serve as a medic in a combat unit. As an atheist, I cannot agree with the idea of not fighting against fascism when it comes knocking on your door (the idea is only supportable if you believe in an afterlife for yourself and the people you fail to defend) but he was an extremely courageous and principleled person. A wonderful example of true humanity.

[@MrArgus11111]

@@patricknorton5788 Roughly 80% of your complimentary post about a man who saved others in combat is about yourself. You might want to stop and think about that.

[@warpartyattheoutpost4987]

@@patricknorton5788, there are no atheists in foxholes. G'night!

[@warpartyattheoutpost4987]

@@MrArgus11111... roughly 80% of Patrick Norton's posts are virtue signaling socialism.

[@lljkgktudjlrsmygilug]

@@warpartyattheoutpost4987 Got any studies on that claim?

[@EnigmaticPenguin]

The ability of these men to chose to sacrifice their lives to save others in literally a split second is the ultimate proof of their character.

[@corey8420]

Can't see a Generation Z person doing the same. (I'm adding this on 01-15-22): Only 16% of Generation Z say they are proud to be American. Additionally for you Generation Z folks who like to discriminate and think age makes someone less credible a "Boomers" is a person born between 1946-1964 and I'm not even close to that age.

[@joneszer1]

@@corey8420 crazy. You must not be in the military. Fuck outta here. Tell a Gen Z grunt this and watch them fuck you up.

[@whenboarsfly9749]

@@corey8420 What a way to disparage our currently serving members who are willing to put life and limb on the line. just so someone can dismiss their character because of an arbitrary year they were born.

[@CatnamedMittens]

That implied those than instinctively ran for cover are cowards. Totally unfair judgement.

[@dashikashi4734]

@@corey8420 Go serve in their stead then.

[@EC-ms1jr]

The first Canadian to receive the Victoria Cross in the Second World War was John Robert Osborn. He threw himself on an enemy grenade during the Battle of Hong Kong.

[@KaiserLandsknecht]

and died

[@eamonnclabby7067]

Yes that Canadian battalion fought bravely by all accounts...

[@nursestoyland]

@@eamonnclabby7067a brave Canadian battalion, do u know that name of it?

[@erikbutterfield8341]

@@nursestoyland Winnipeg Grenadiers

[@nursestoyland]

@@erikbutterfield8341 thx!

[@PatGilliland]

For everyone who was recognized with an award (and rightly so) there were hundreds, if not thousands, more who weren't. No greater love for their fellow man.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Thank you for adding this.

[@abigbutterstick1780]

"History only remembers 1 in a thousand of us and the future will be filled with stories of who we were and what we did. How we lived, how we fought, and how we died."

[@lucifermagne7458]

@@abigbutterstick1780 I know it's a song from a goofy and fun Metal Gear game, but I'll say it anyway. The song Hot Wind Blowing is all about this exact topic, about how soldiers risk life and limb for their country but are forgotten anyway. It's actually pretty deep

[@akivirus7020]

@@lucifermagne7458 the last part hits hard "We fight for justice, in a forgotten place, fulfill our duty then vanish without a trace"

[@seronymus]

Thank you for quoting Christ at the end

[@MaxwellAerialPhotography]

I’d add that modern body armour has enabled a few men who jumped on grenades in Afghanistan and Iraq to survive, with less permanent wounds that those who lucked out and survived in earlier times.

[@shedrackjenkins1941]

How tough is it?

[@shedrackjenkins1941]

@Morgan Null the modern body armor he claims has saved men from frags

[@TheOneWayDown]

@@shedrackjenkins1941 Well, ballistic helmets are mainly meant to protect from frag, most bullets will go right through them except smaller pistol rounds, not talking about lucky ricochets. A ballistic plate on the other hand can be rated to stop armor piercing rifle rounds. So I'd think pretty damn tough

[@shedrackjenkins1941]

@Morgan Null huh,i thought most sniper bullets ricochet off helmets

[@shedrackjenkins1941]

@@TheOneWayDown which means there must be a limited use of ballistic plating for different armours and helmets. which military divisions have access to it?

[@mnguy98]

A park in my hometown is named for a local resident who threw himself onto a grenade, during the landing on Kwajalein Atoll in February 1944. He survived, was awarded the Medal of Honor, and lived to the age of 80.

[@rider4440]

Whats the name? If you can get it

[@dark2023-1lovesoni]

I'm certain it was a hard/difficult life afterwards

[@tuehojbjerg969]

@@rider4440 think it is this guy Richard K. Sorenson guy throw himself on a grenade, Sorenson was awarded the Medal of Honor on July 19, 1944. When on the February 1-2, 1944 he demonstrated extreme bravery and self-sacrifice during the fight at Namur Island, Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands. When he and five fellow Marines were occupying a shellhole a grenade was suddenly tossed in with them and acting quickly Sorenson covered it with his body and thereby saved the lives of his fellow soldiers. Even more astounding was the fact that he survived the blast despite being severely wounded.

[@MavisRecon]

Thanks for sharing. I had no idea. -Combat vet from Park Rapids

[@jacoblarsen252]

I lived on Kwaj for 2 years, and we had 2 men who fought on the island in WWII come and talk to our high school

[@Jay-ln1co]

Lucas was also the youngest recepient of the Medal of Honor, having turned 17 just few days prior to landing on Iwo Jima. He was 14 when he enlisted, forging his mother's signature.

[@Snuffy03]

Lucas was technically UA(the Army calls it AWOL) at the time of his act. A gutsy guy.

[@ladvargleinad7566]

@@Snuffy03 Captain America IRL

[@Snuffy03]

@@ladvargleinad7566 Indeed. I personally have known 3 Medal of Honor recipients in my life. One got his MOH on Iwo Jima with the 3rd MarDiv. One got his in France in the 35th Inf. Div. The third was my commanding officer at one time. He got his MOH in Vietnam when he was a SSgt with a Marine Recon unit. He was a Captain when he was my CO. All these guys were quiet, unassuming individuals who impressed the hell out of me. I was proud to know them. I have the same respect and regard for ANY man who wears that small blue ribbon with the tiny white stars.

[@beetle3088]

He was among the youngest, but wasn't the youngest. Willie Johnston received the MOH at the age of 13 in the Civil War. Though Orion Howe received his later in life, he was 14 when he earned it at the Battle of Vicksburg.

[@dougiequick1]

14 year old clamoring to go to war? definately the type ...At that age not knowing or even caring what a particular war is about just "lets GO!" I remember being so bummed out I was gonna miss going to vietnam cause I was still young when it was politically winding down...I honestly believed if my country said it was good and right then lets go now! At least fighting against nazis and japan made a bit of sense unlike much of what followed

[@LittleGoblinBastard]

idk why but seeing those men thank Doss for saving them gave me a tear.

[@maddyg3208]

I think it's because you realise that judging by their ages (early 40s) he gave them at least another twenty years of life. Edit: it was actually less than 15 extra years at that stage bc the TV show (This is Your Life) was made in the late 1950s)

[@hammiehammie7935]

Same. You can tell the first man wants to hug him.

[@internziko]

It's because you can feel the emotion they're holding back. Back then it was frowned upon for men (especially vets) to show emotion.

[@kavinbala8885]

fr I would never be able to give my friend a big enough of a thanks edit: though I guess his friends being alive and healthy is all he wanted

[@Kitteh.B]

Same, and Doss looked so... I'm not sure what word to use. But you could see his emotion, too.

[@nursestoyland]

Fun fact: Desmond Doss never held a gun in his military career, only holding one to help an injured soldier

[@gabrielpanagsagan9741]

He only needed faith

[@samysilver8917]

gun? you mean streccer support stik

[@NinjaBray]

Broke it down and turned the stock into a handle for a stretcher.

[@nursestoyland]

@@NinjaBray yep

[@nursestoyland]

@@NinjaBray it was an M1 Garand

[@Joze1090]

The story of Desmond doss is incredible. Surprised it took so long for someone to make a movie out of it.

[@Snuffy03]

I have been to Kakazu Ridge where Doss earned his MOH. That is one rough forbidding place.

[@Mecanotech]

And a B movie after all. :::::

[@user-zg5ey5xo9i]

@@Mecanotech Yea i don't think you know what that word means.

[@Mecanotech]

@@user-zg5ey5xo9i OK let's see. I'm not saying I'm a movie critic. B movies are movies made for the sake of making them. Bad actors, meh script, whatever movie. They make B movies so they always have something to play in theaters. The in-between movies. Between the block busters or A movies. The capitan in the Desmond movie is a comedy actor with no range of emotions what so ever, in my opinion. I don't even remember any other known actor besides the main character, Andrew Garfield. The movie, besides it's real life inspiration, was cringe and boring. For me personally.

[@user-zg5ey5xo9i]

@@Mecanotech See you don't know what that word means. Congrats!

[@casualchad627]

If anyone is interested, look up the story of Kyle Carpenter. Jumped on a grenade and survived it, ended up receiving the Medal of Honor. His book is also really good too.

[@RW77777777]

looking at him you'd think everyone came out twice as handsome after a grenade

[@kwharrison6668]

His MoH induction: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aaWYk2qnp855Z7M

[@lazydog223]

Was about to say. He’s a joy to listen to and read about

[@jamalwilburn228]

SP4 Dale Waryraynen jumped on a grenade during Vietnam after pulling a friend to safety. His platoon accidentally ran into an enemy emplacement at night and knew the grenade would've killed all his leadership among others. He decided his platoons safety and lives were more important than his own and pushes others out of the way to jump on it. He survived till morning and posthumously recieved the Medal of Honor accepted by his family and brother, David (Huey Door Gunner), who recieved a ticket home due to Eugene's death.

[@dark2023-1lovesoni]

Sounds like an example of sole survivor status. I'm guessing that was his ONLY brother.

[@jamalwilburn228]

@1lovesoni He had two other brothers though none were in the service. His brother David had been shot down twice escorting Green Berets. That combined with the heroism of Dale is likley why they sent him home.

[@ihmesekoilua]

I'm gonna go ahead and assume Dale's last name was originally Väyrynen, a Finnish name.

[@onlinecommentator2616]

@@ihmesekoilua Kyllä! He was born at Moose Lake in Minnesota. I thought the spelling was familiar haha

[@Colty045]

My dad was a Marine drill instructor. He saved everyone when during grenade training one of the guys slipped up and dropped it. He ended up with only few scars, but lost all his teeth.

[@train_go_boom2065]

He is a hero

[@fusionrain1791]

Lose his entire teeth? Did your father land the grenade under his his chin?

[@Colty045]

@@fusionrain1791 He quickly grabbed a large metal plate and held the grenade between it and the wall. The force of the blast caused the plate to move and hit him in his jaw, breaking his jaw bone and many teeth along with knocking many out. So while he did dive on the grenade he had a shield between him and it.

[@blushingralseiuwu2222]

@@Colty045 that's probably the most badass thing I ever heard

[@reservoir4798]

@@Colty045 did he ever get replacement teeth? How is he nowadays?

[@Guitar_Guy783]

Desmond Doss's story is incredible. After he was wounded by the grenade, he gave up his stretcher for another, more seriously injured soldier. He then began walking back with help from a friend. While walking, a Japanese sniper shot him in the arm, causing a compound fracture. Using the stock of a rifle, he was able to make a splint. Those were miraculously the only injuries he sustained while on the ridge.

[@TRUMP_WAS_RIGHT_ABOUT_EVRYTHNG]

He's Freaking amazing and he refused to carry agun right? Was he that guy?

[@vinccool96]

It doesn’t always work. During a cadet summer camp in Valcartier, a live grenade was accidentally put with a bunch of dummy ones. One of the staff (15 years old, mind you) realized it was a real one, and dove on it. It still killed 6 people, all between 13 and 15 years old.

[@ADodoBird]

to be fair, a 15 year old probably has a lot less meat, blood, flesh, and bone in their body than a full grown man with physical training

[@atomskthepirateking2776]

@@ADodoBird more like to be fair putting a live grenade with a bunch of fakes means alot more shrapnel and fragmentations flying everywhere

[@onceuponatimeonearth]

did someone actually dive on it? article I read said the grenade exploded in the hand of a boy

[@vinccool96]

@@onceuponatimeonearth I've heard both stories, but what is told nowadays where it happened is that someone jumped on it.

[@onceuponatimeonearth]

@@vinccool96 ah I see, gotcha

[@Aurelius511]

During WW2 in Yugoslavia, the partisans realised that German soldiers throw grenades immediately after activating them, giving them a chance to return them before the time was up, surprising the unsuspecting Germans. On the other hand, the partisans had the opposite tactic. They would do something called "cooking" ("kuvanje") which meant that the thrower would hold on the grenade a second or two before launching it, leaving no time for the enemy to return them. Alas, this also meant that if a thrower miscalculates how much time he has, he would end up like the guy from Simpsons.

[@vornamenachname989]

Cooking a grenade wasn't specific to partisans, there where British and also German soldiers who did it as well, since most grenades back then had a longer fuse. Though it was mostly done by experienced soldiers who knew how long to hold the grenade before throwing it.

[@tommytherunner]

Cooking a grenade was actually invented in the early 2000s in COD. The more you know.

[@amckittrick7951]

If you read the book all quiet on the Western Front or the road back, this tactic is specifically mentioned. (The books are from the pov of a german soldier during ww1. The author was a german ww1 veteran)

[@seronymus]

@@tommytherunner Black Ops vibes

[@amckittrick7951]

@Lilith .J yeah its not in most cases but I was simply pointing out cooking grenades isn't anything new or specific to Yugoslavia.

[@bigblue6917]

I knew about the Royal Marine. He saved the lives of the two men who was with him at the time. Also the actions of Jack Lucas and the Hacksaw Ridge incident. Amazing what you learn when you have a passing interest in the subject. In WW1 a British soldier was helping arm a box of grenades, Mills Bombs, when one which had just been armed with a detonator fell back into the box with the rest of the grenades but minus its pin. He threw himself onto the box and saved the lives of hundreds of men from his regiment. In his case the resultant explosion from many of the grenades meant he died instantly.

[@deanstuart8012]

Private Billy McFazdean, 14th Royal Irish Rifles, 1st July 1916. He received the first, sadly posthumous, Victoria Cross of the first day of the Battle of the Somme.

[@bigblue6917]

@@deanstuart8012 Thanks, Dean. I remember reading about the incident but I could not recall his name.

[@unnameduser5647]

At least he didnt have to suffer until his death. When surviving isnt an option, a fast death is the only blessing one can get

[@TheInfectiousCadaver]

my great great grandfather. when i was 6 (im 28) we visited him on his last few days on this earth. he was a vietnam veteran. man was full of smiles and stories to tell and i asked him how he lost his arm. "i tried to throw a grenade back, it exploded in my hand, after thrusting it into the soft soil". took his arm and from what im aware he only got a piece of shrapnel stuck in his eye that was removed later. RIP pawpaw. still havent forgotten.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

RIP to him. Thank you for sharing a family story. 🙏

[@Paelorian]

Was he throwing the grenade or thrusting it into the earth to bury it?

[@duglife2230]

Lucas later rejoined the military when he entered the US Army in the 60s. He volunteered to go to airborne school, and reportedly survived a jump where both his main (static line) and reserve (rip cord) chutes failed... This dude is a legend!

[@medicalmishap1452]

A distant relative of mine, Robert D. Maxwell, was awarded the medal of honor for diving on a grenade in France, he ended up living to 98.

[@666BOOMBOX666]

I actually remember meeting Robert when I was going to Pilot Butte. Super nice guy.

[@ninjireal]

How distant?

[@medicalmishap1452]

@@ninjireal Half brother to one of my grandparents, never met the man.

[@lucius42]

So it was the will of D.?

[@matthewvorwald7169]

I've always wondered if you could shield a grenade blast with your body ever since I saw something like this being done in an episode of Red Dwarf where Rimmer did something similar. Excellent topic for a video.

[@raeknarnorthman3047]

William D Port survived jumping on a grenade in Vietnam, was left for dead and captured by the enemy. He survived for ten months in a POW camp with only the medical aid provided by fellow POWs before he succumbed to his wounds. He was buried in the jungle, but his remains were recovered and returned home in 1985.

[@chris-p6k]

There is a video of a Russian soldier in Ukraine picking up a grenade and throwing it back, it explodes a split second after it leaves his hand, being in winding trenches meant he didn’t get hit with shrapnel. The speed he picked it up and throw it was incredible and scary.

[@naverilllang]

The human body can move quite fast when it has only a second to live

[@wulfheort8021]

Another Russian soldier at some point lay wounded in a trench and a drone was dropping mortar bombs on him. He catched them mid-air and threw them away.

[@kvproductions2581]

@@wulfheort8021 There was also this russian soldier that while missing both legs was fired at by a tank and caught the shell mid-air, throwing it back and destroying the tank

[@wulfheort8021]

@@kvproductions2581 Or the one that jumped out of his tank to catch a Javelin missile before impact.

[@antoniothegunexpert5955]

​@@wulfheort8021at first i tought it was true,then i continued reading

[@jay_mw]

Leroy Petry received the Medal of Honor for throwing a grenade back. The grenade detonated shortly after he released it so he lost his right hand, but his actions saved him and another Ranger who were both already wounded from machine gun fire and another grenade.

[@CKC_Productions]

Thanks for adding the one scene from “We Were Soldiers.” Keep up the awesome uploads!💯👍🏽

[@beauxr.benoit1374]

Thank you to all the Men here mentioned that gave service, their lives and if lived afterwards for still putting the safety of others first. My condolences to their Families, and friends.

[@ricksmith7631]

not sure what i would do in that moment, hope i never have to decide. i loved the part about Desmond Doss, to me the greatest hero alive, never took a life and gave all he could to save others. He is part of the reason why i became a paramedic later in life

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

My wife's a paramedic. Much respect to you.

[@AlexReTard.]

It reminded me a story about Yuri Lalukov, school teacher whom saved whole class of childrens by diving in a corner of a room with grenade firmly grasped by his chest.

[@Cloud_Seeker]

I once talked to a guy whos grandpa had witnessed this in Korea or WW2. It was during training and one of the recruits was so nervous he managed to pull the pin on a grenade and dropped it. The instructor tried to jump on it as fast as possible while the recruit tried to do the same as he messed up. They ended up hitting each other in the head and the whole squad apart from this guys grandpa got hit by the grenade. From what he said, many died.

[@cockoffgewgle4993]

Lmao

[@User_Un_Friendly]

Good ep. Now, what I’m more curious about are the existence of grenade sumps in the trenches of WW1. Those are supposed to be oversized holes dug at the corners, where an alert soldier can kick a landed grenade, so they’ll explode harmlessly, (hopefully) without killing anyone.

[@bretsubotnik1777]

We still dug them when I served,85-90,SemperFi

[@TemmieContingenC]

@@manwithballsonarm6775 what

[@Guest-qo5nl]

@@bretsubotnik1777 Thank you for your service

[@QuestionableObject]

I've heard that in the early years of the grenade, during world war 1 grenade fuses were long enough for soldiers to catch and throw them back. After this was figured out though the fuses were shortened and soldiers attempting to repeat the trick were rewarded with having the hands blown off and a face full of shrapnel.

[@TheOldBlackShuckyDog]

Using your backpack as a shock absorber is a big brain move

[@Jabber-ig3iw]

Especially when there’s a 66mm rocket in it.

[@balyeet6479]

I remember that one time when a 13 year old boy scout from the Philippines who jumped and covered the grenade with his body to protect innocent children who was playing with rubber bands when a hand grenade fell on the innocent children That scout's name was Aris Canoy Espinosa, a 13-year-old Boy Scout.

[@IamgRiefeR7]

John Robert Osborn was a Canadian soldier serving in Hong Kong in 1941 during the Japanese invasion. His company was cut off and surrounded by Japanese troops who got close enough to throw grenades at them, several of which he managed to throw back. One grenade however landed where he couldn't throw it away in time, he threw himself onto the grenade, which killed him instantly. He would be posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.

[@lam1991hahaha]

And Gander, a dog in the Canadian army, also fought in Hong Kong, a grenade landed in his position, he pick it up and ran towards the Japanese, and died saving several wounded soldiers

[@Channel-23s]

Those who did this action and survived or passed away had courage and honor in there hearts Rest In Peace and in glory for you’re valor and bravery

[@banks3388]

Actually throwing grenades back wasn't as historically rare as you'd think, there are Commonwealth soldiers who received the Victoria Cross (the highest medal awardable) for basically playing the world's most dangerous game of hot potato with the enemy i.e. CSM John Robert Osborn who not only threw grenades back at the enemy but would lose his life diving on one to protect his mates (he actually served in both World Wars). You've also got Lieutenant Leonard Maurice Keysor (Lance Corporal at the time) who was awarded the VC for his service at Lone Pine where he not only threw live grenades back into the enemy position but continued to do so despite being injured (we're talking close quarters trench warfare where this kinda stuff was common).

[@TheUKNutter]

Reminds me of that Harvey Andrews song about a British Soldier jumping on a live grenade to save a group of civilians.

[@francisdhomer5910]

One Marine left out was Jason Dunham. He was the first Medal of Honor recipient since the Vietnam war. He was leading his small squad when they got into a firefight. He ended up covering the explosive that landed in their small group with his helmet and body. He lived long enough to be returned to the states and his family said goodbye a week after this incident. The rural communities of Scio, Wellsville, Belmont NY are proud his family got this recognition. There is a ship named after him. I never met him, or at least don't recall. My ex wife may have as she worked the small mini mart next to the school he attended. The men with him that day still thank him for what he did. I don't know if I could do what he did, it's one of those split second decisions you make knowing you will die. Thank you Jason, we here will never forget your service, what you did nor the fact that your family gave the ultimate sacrifice for the rest of us.

[@irafair3015]

Judging by your words, I think you are the type of person that would have done the same thing. God bless our service members.

[@francisdhomer5910]

@@irafair3015 Thank you for the compliment but I can't see myself in the same category as any of these people. I'm just a simple medic who try to put others first, but all of our service members go way farther than I do. I don't think we thank them as well as we should. Not us as the civilian, but our government the politicians.

[@OrangeDragon04]

It must be strange and sad, knowing your friend died like this, but he's a hero. Not many people would do something like this.

[@JohnTavastian]

In training I was surprised how loud the grenade was. It was the m/43 grenade so a bit bigger that the m1 "pineapple". Only a select few got to throw a fragmentation grenade (m/43) and the rest of us got a training nade which only had the ignitor blow up, the case was powder and plastic. It wasn't loud when we threw it because we had ear protection but later when I was waiting to get on the bazooka range, I wasn't wearing ear protection as we didn't need to. This was about 300 meters from the grenade range. The sound of the grenade was terrifying, It sounded more like a bomb than a grenade.

[@koffing2073]

a grenade is a bomb lol

[@JohnTavastian]

@@koffing2073 oh really. I was referring to something bigger

[@koffing2073]

@@JohnTavastian yeah we have a distorted vision because of movies, also they don't give huge fireballs

[@TouThoj07]

"Ultimately it is not fair to judge someone for reacting the way they react" I know it might not have been meant to be profound but it was. And I'm glad you placed the clip of saving private ryan in the video because it illustrates perfectly why most grenades aren't simply thrown back at the enemy, the two soldiers are fighting from a defensive position where there's only one way to attack them, a "literal window of opprotunity" for the enemy whereas the defenders can see everything thrown at them (pun intended).

[@zebradun7407]

Demonstration at Camp Geiger, North Carolina, they took a M-26 Frag placed a Helmet on it and a sandbag on the helmet and command detonated it, the sandbag disintegrated, the helmet flattened out like a garbage can lid, flew up in the air and came down and was penetrated by thousands of holes. The Instructor said, "And this is what happens if you jump on a grenade" and he said, "simply hit the deck feet towards the grenade and wrap your arms around your head, don't jump on it."

[@Erideah]

The whole "why not just throw the grenade back" argument is as old as grenades, but it's such a huge gamble unless you literally see the throw. Even setting aside the possibility of cooking it and assuming you know the standard amount of time on the fuse, there's the throw and travel distance, reaction time and the movement to get to the grenade. Variance of multiple seconds when you don't have many seconds to begin with. It might be the most inutitive thing to try if it lands in your lap, but otherwise, most of the time not

[@SirKnight1096]

My Sergeant Major in the Marine Corps was Allan Jay Kellogg, Jr. USMC. He received the Medal of Honor for diving on a grenade in Vietnam. I believe he was a Staff Sergeant when he covered the grenade and a Gunnery Sergeant when he received the medal. A few years ago when he was one of the MOH recipients to be honored at the Super Bowl was the first time I had seen him in 30 years.

[@MayumiC-chan9377]

i can never imagine what my husband went through during his time in the military. I love my husband and i can see it on his face when he sits in our backyard looking at the sky talking in his native language Zulu. I asked father-in-law what is my husband saying? father-in-law told me he’s talking to men who he lost in central Africa when he was doing peacekeeping.

[@kmorris180]

That was a beautiful video, kuya. No greater love hath any man than to lay down his life for others.

[@Diesel3ID315]

Thank you for honoring the memories of those few who dove on a grenade to save their teams.

[@GiveMeYourFACE9089]

I know a similar account of a Marine who suffered a grenade explosion on Iwo Jima. Frank Matthews was a volunteer at the Marine Corps museum who had landed with the 24th Marines, 4th Marine Division on Iwo. He was wounded twice, the second time coming when he tried to pick up a lit Japanese ceramic grenade that went off in his hand. He said the last fragment didn't come out of his arm until the 70's. RIP Frank Matthews

[@kamikazekyre6101]

Babe wake up jj posted again

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Lol this comment makes me laugh everytime

[@davealmighty9638]

My granfather had a mortar explode right above his head when it hit a tree. This was in Vietnam. He had shrapnel wounds all over. Those pieces of shrapnel would work their way out of his body until the day he died. He would have what looked like a pimple or a boil on his back, and it would be a piece of shrapnel that worked its way out of his skin. 2 purple hearts, a silver star with valor, 5 bronze stars, 3 with valor, and countless other awards.

[@fubartotale3389]

Yep, that's what happens.

[@sirnuggetsboi9758]

one of the more recent events of a man jumping on a grenade to save his friend that unfortunately wasnt mentioned in the video was of Marine Lance cpl Kyle Carpenter during the battel of Marjah in Afghanistan.He recalled before the grenade went off he was joking with his friend what would he do if a grenade landed on the roof they were on and joked that he would jump off ASAP which wasnt the case. Kyle later made a recovery and wrote about his service and challenges of overcoming his wounds.

[@hinglemccringleberry9389]

I remember my Uncle telling me a vietnam war story where he jumped on a grenade to save his platoon and it turned out to be a dud. I can't imagine the rollercoaster of emotions in that moment.

[@nurs3826]

uncle before marriage lore

[@MainMite06]

The fact that there are any grenade survivors is just only the first shocker, the second one is that the fact soldiers that the same soldiers performed a suicidal defense move and got to tell the tale afterwards, with various questionable injuries, like amputated body parts..

[@eddthehead123]

It is very rare to throw a grenade back, but has been noted to happen. Lachhiman Gurung threw two of them back before showcasing the risks of such an action when the third blew up in his hand. Took his hand off, shattered his arm, and laced his face and leg with shrapnel. He then went on to kill another 31 of the enemy with one arm and one eye. Died in 2010, aged 92.

[@Jabber-ig3iw]

Lachhiman Gurung VC

[@AH64Gunship]

He also forgot to mention Kyle carpenter, a marine medal of honor recipient who drove on a grenade and lived somewhere in the 2010's

[@Siddingsby]

"What do you do when a member of the IRA throws a grenade at you?" "Pull the pin out and throw it back"

[@TheyWantMeGone69]

Knock it away with a baseball bat

[@xray86delta]

A man I knew who fought in Vietnam through a fragmentation grenade during a jungle ambush which hit a tree, bouncing back and Landing 10 ft from him. He rolled into a ball, expecting the worst, and the grenade exploded. He said most of the explosion went up and out, leaving a little shrapnel in his legs and soles of his boots. Other than that, he was mostly okay!

[@Robert-vk7je]

Some people have guardian angels, other people ARE guardian angels...

[@mbryson2899]

Holy smokes, Johnny, that's some serious content! I've done a couple of things in my life that were in retrospect "ill considered" (to quote one cop) but in the moment you do what needs to be done and only later (if you're lucky) wonder why. Social conditioning and expectations gets people to to illogical things, I believe.

[@HighTher3]

Cheers to these absolute legends! Sacrifice for a fellow human can seem difficult when not in that situation, but often when you are lucky enough to ask "Was it difficult to do?" They often say it was an easy decision, and one they'd make again. Here's to you, lads!

[@remydaitch9815]

“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather, we should thank God that such men lived.” Patton

[@stevencurtis8]

Video games: grenade = automatic death Real life: 90% chance you actually survive

[@TheBenghaziRabbit]

My buddy Ross McGinnis was a Humvee Gunner in Iraq. During one of his patrols, an insurgent tossed a grenade into his humvee and Ross jumped down onto it saving his crew. "Dec. 4, 2006, McGinnis’ platoon was on mounted patrol in Adhamiyah to restrict enemy movement and quell sectarian violence. During the course of the patrol, an unidentified insurgent positioned on a rooftop nearby threw a fragmentation grenade into the Humvee. Without hesitation or regard for his own life, McGinnis threw his back over the grenade, pinning it between his body and the Humvee’s radio mount. McGinnis absorbed all lethal fragments and the concussive effects of the grenade with his own body. McGinnis, who was a private first class at the time, was posthumously promoted to specialist. Spc. McGinnis’s heroic actions and tragic death are detailed in the battlescape section of this website and in his Medal of Honor Citation." -www.army.mil/medalofhonor/mcginnis/profile/

[@fancyultrafresh3264]

I never saw that Doss interview! I need to look into the full thing, thanks Johnny.

[@Rizal96able]

I'm imagining a situation where two soldiers who are both valiant and place others above their own, both try to dive on a grenade to save their friends. But then they bump into each other's heads instead, missed the nade, and everybody perishes.

[@Paelorian]

Somebody in this comment section shared a story from their grandfather about just such an incident. Two men dived for the grenade, but deflected one another and so neither was able to cover it and block the shrapnel. It caused many casualties.

[@metalinyourhead3604]

Sergeant Major John Osborn of the Winnipeg threw himself onto a grenade to save his men during the battle of Hong Kong. He was the first Canadian to receive the Victoria Cross during WW2.

[@ForsakenSamurai87]

My great grand father did this during WW2. He survived but died before I was born in the 80's. They were able to sew him up from waist to his lower jaw. His smiles were all crooked after that from the scars and could be seen in all the pictures after the war. Was a tank mechanic.

[@marscaleb]

You should have included the research that Mythbusters did on this very subject. It's one thing to just say that the body can absorb the blow, it's another thing to show an actual test someone performed to compare the difference.

[@slizeres]

My father told me that when he was on the obligatory military training in Spain, they where doing practices with dud grenades, but one grenade was real. The teacher realized too late and he dived on it. What happened next you can imagine, but he saved people.

[@disney6336]

Words cant even provide those soldiers honor for what they did for their brothers in arms but god damn. Those men will surely be honored one way or another, rest in peace men you guys will live on in those soldiers memories. Cheers boys🍻

[@evill01]

Imagine at the airport security you just casually have 200 fragments in your body

[@enevious_dave]

If you dive on a grenade, it would probably hurt.

[@Deathnotefan97]

I forget the guys name, but there is a recorded case of a solider catching and throwing back multiple grenades before one of them goes off in his hand Granted, this was a long time ago, when grenade fuses were both longer and less consistent in timing, not really something that is possible with modern grenades

[@capellozapellini6074]

These men are absolute hero’s, god bless these men’s souls

[@jonkuh825]

A buddy of mine was a prison guard . He said during a riot , a guard threw a concussion grenade (or something similar) and one of the inmates thought to take one for the team and hug it . Well it went off but it blew off his uh, twig and berries. And a group of men seeing someone lose their sack kinda takes the fight fron you .

[@aidanc6672]

What

[@FalcoMoment]

​@@aidanc6672 The inmate had his genitals blown off by the concussion grenade, it's not that hard to figure out

[@aidanc6672]

Yeah I understand

[@oldcivicdriver]

I am moved by such actions by these heroes. These men have courage which I doubt I possess.

[@RighteousJ]

Alexander Prokhorenko, a senior lieutenant with the Special Operations Forces of the Russian Armed Forces, was killed during the Palmyra Offensive of the Syrian Civil War. During his last moments, he was allegedly surrounded on all sides by ISIS fighters and he decided to order an airstrike at his own position, killing himself and all of the approaching fighters. Another story that should never be forgotten is that of the Delta Force operators who voluntarily dropped into a certain death situation in order to protect the survivors of a Black Hawk crash in Somalia in the 1990s; both operators fought to their last round and successfully protected the pilot, who was later recovered through a prisoner exchange.

[@michaelhoward3916]

My mother was friends with Donald J. Ruhl who dove on a grenade at Iwo Jima. His valor is humbling and an inspiration

[@jimmartin2548]

Hell of a video! Thanks for what you do!

[@husbandsonfollowerleader9133]

It's never sad to learn about bravery. What's really sad is learning about cowardice.

[@urnoob5528]

U r the sad one

[@romanlinnik7441]

Nothing wrong with the fear of death.

[@husbandsonfollowerleader9133]

@@urnoob5528 u r a queer one

[@DieselMcBadass1]

Japanese arisaka rifles used to be issued with anti aircraft sights that could fold into place. At the time, they were most fighting china and other pacific nations that used biplanes. The drill was the unit of troops would fire a volley at an aircraft all at once to try and score a hit. I don't know how much success they had, but auction houses often have these for sale.

[@tomt373]

They might be useful for shooting down a pesky drone...😄

[@N.California]

I've thrown 6-8 grenades in my lifetime and I'm here to tell you, next to straight up explosives, a grenade is one of the most violent things I have ever encountered.

[@Tajealos]

'What happens if you dive on a grenade?' You'd get hurt, probably.

[@rismarck]

If I remember correctly Doss also saved two Japanese soldiers didn’t he?

[@razor6888]

I believe you are correct, and probably gave aid to a few others. I havent served, but worked ambulance for 5 years.... For a medic there is the code to give aid and help to any as you are able to do so. So yes, that applies to a enemy as well. As bizarre as war is.. bottom line is we are all human beings.... for those that give aid, you try to save all that you can.

[@AdamOwenBrowning]

@@razor6888 He objected to firing upon any fellow man. He would not fire on any of God's creation, being a vegetarian his entire life. He helped any wounded that came his way, Japanese, American or otherwise. He refused to even carry a weapon! This meant he was shot and wounded four separate times in Okinawa alone, one shot into his arm left him too disabled to work. The man also contracted TB whilst freeing the Philippines from the Japanese. This TB was so severe they had to remove one whole lung and five of his ribs. Combined with the 17 bits of shrapnel in him from kicking a grenade away from his fellows, the multiple times he was struck by enemy fire incl. the shot that prevented him from returning to work because of his arm, after saving the lives of over one hundred men..... the veteran's department STILL didn't give him full disability!! Only when the military literally made the man 100% deaf by giving him an accidental overdose of antibiotics did he receive full disability. This man is a hero and the nation he served failed him when he got home.

[@HellHunter00]

Excellent video. I'm actually curious how using a ballistic helmet to shield a grenade would turn out, as depicted at 1:06 Practically speaking, the time it would take to unstrap the helmet, reach the grenade and cover it makes it less feasible than just reaching it and covering it with one's body.

[@DenpaCake]

The sheet of metal also probably helps considerably less against the fragmentation. The human body with its sheer mass and different layers inside surely slows fragments a lot more

[@davidkelly132]

@@DenpaCake well you can still lay on top of the helmet, maybe modern helmets will help enough for you to survive the blast

[@nicholasgerry8247]

"Stuffed one into the ground and the one in his hand didn't go off" my man won the king of all coin flips there damn

[@frankphillips7436]

It should be noted that Jack Lucas went on to join the Airborne division where, during a qualifying jump survived when his primary and reserve shoots failed to open. He fell 3000 feet to the ground and lived. His wife and son then attempted to kill him and then burned down his home. A Metal of Honor winner, he died homeless!

[@lljkgktudjlrsmygilug]

Never worked in CoD for me.

[@Channel-23s]

Diving yes but throwing back has gotten some kills if accurate

[@lljkgktudjlrsmygilug]

@@Channel-23s I'm talking about diving.

[@jamalwilburn228]

Cod should allow a MP feature where jumping on a grenade saves your teammates and gets you 1,000 points

[@Gekquerel]

i remember there being a challenge in the BO2 campaign for proning on a grenade and surviving

[@warpartyattheoutpost4987]

@@lljkgktudjlrsmygilug... doesn't work for you in Call of Doody? Hahahahahahahah! Who cares? Grown ups are talking.

[@Channel-23s]

Contrary to the vid gernades have been thrown back or at least away as every feet away from you is a higher likelihood of survival I saw a drone in Ukraine drop gernades on a solider and he threw them away surprisingly

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Oh it can and has been done. Not saying it hasn't. Just that it's not at all easy.

[@onlythena9927]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq Wait, how about kick the grenade? I mean, at least some people try that, right?

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Absolutely. Desmond Doss tried it. The point is you have maybe a second to try something. Best bet is to jump flat but people don't have much time to think and have tried about anything you can imagine.

[@Channel-23s]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq true true also depends on how close the enemy is or type of gernade great video all in all

[@TheNappalorian]

Let’s not forget the actions of USMC Corporal Jason Dunham who covered a grenade with his own Kevlar helmet in Iraq to protect his fellow Marines

[@francisdhomer5910]

I just posted about him. I'm from the area he grew up with. Unlike others I'm not going to say I knew him. I don't even think I met him. I will say everyone in the community talks about him and they all have nice things to say about him. No one is surprised he did this, they say that is the type of guy he was. The only good thing is he lived long enough to be brought to the states so his family said goodbye to him.

[@jasonsanders5849]

I watched Dunham do it, I picked up his helmet and put them in two 1 gallon zip lock bags. One little piece of gernade made it through and entered under his chin and lodge in his brain, he was alive but unresponsive when I pulled him out of there April 14th 2004 the day that never ends for me.

[@matthewmcmacken6716]

As a 5th or 6th grader, my classmates and I listened to a IDF soldier who dove on a grenated to save the rest of his squad as they were marching along a road.

[@Carson878]

Sad but true fact is, those who would sacrifice themselves dive onto a grenade for others are the best one (in many means) and the one who deserved the most to live...

[@cwis8406]

Ever since I heard my first hand grenade go off, about 300m away. I havent been able to shake the belief that nobody can survive jumping on a modern grenade if it doesnt malfunction. I felt like It legitimately rattled my skeleton from 300m away. The force is just unbelievable and it made me go from “mustve been a tough son of a bitch” to “…Nah”. Idk though

[@saltymain]

Desmond doss was honestly the bravest man on the japanese front willingly not bringing a firearm and saving lives despite of the japanese disregard of protection medics have.

[@eckoratt]

I think you die, Johnny.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Usually

[@MacPNW]

Marine Jason Dunham (Kia) and Marine Kyle Carpenter (wia) both received MOH for diving on or shielding others from grenades. Semper Fidelis

[@illeatthat]

My dad (ex tank commander) says that Americans and British troops have differing opinions. Americans will dive onto the grenade, Brits will tend to kick it as far away as possible, and if that fails - he recommends running and staying low to the ground as a lot of explosives used in war are designed to go up and out, rather than out and wide. Also, cover your trunk and head.

[@quartzskull8772]

Yet the British soldier dove on one to save his team?

[@illeatthat]

@@quartzskull8772 qualitative data doesn't always match

[@The_Zilli]

there is no greater love than laying down ones life for their fellow man

[@T33K3SS3LCH3N]

The footage from Ukraine gave us plenty of references for grenades. The small 30 mm VOG-17M, which are often dropped by drones, weigh 350g with 32g of explosives. Even men standing right next to the impact can get lucky, but there is a significant danger in at least 10 m radius. 600g/60g Russian F1 hand grenades pack a much more sizable punch. It's hard to imagine anyone surviving a dive on that, even with a ballistic vest. It only creates a few hundred pieces of shrapnel so people a few meters away can still get lucky, but those who do suffer hits will suffer badly. More modern designs like the German DM51 (410g/60g) use stronger explosives and produce thousands of pieces of shrapnel (DM51: 6500 pieces of pre-formed shrapnel plus what forms naturally). These pieces may be easier to stop with body armour, but the odds of hitting unprotected areas should be massively increased. In case of a dive, the higher explosive strength could be a problem even with a vest.