I don't know the US military men who pulled me out of the fire that I was in. I do know that they and our Bobtail KBR Contractor Juice pulled me out of the middle of the fire I was trapped in. On our way back from Q-West in Iraq, about 60 to 80 K's from Mosul Iraq. We went up there with 15 empty tanker trucks to get JP8 fuels for the military in LSA Anaconda (now called JBB) On our way back we were all loaded with JP* fuel and the insurgents knew this so they waited for our return thru what we nicknamed The Tinker Box Zone. About 5 k's from the south gate going into LSA Anaconda. I was in the 2nd truck, right behind our CC (Convoy Commander) Big Al. My job was to lead the convoy safely back to LSA Anaconda if the CC's truck with hit and disabled. This did not happen to him, it happened to me, the 2nd truck in the convoy. I remember hearing the load explosion of the IED and seeing nothing but fire in both rear view mirrors. I knew that I had to get out or die. So as my truck was still rolling about 25 mph I jumped out. Did not care where I jumped to as long as I was out of that death trap. Unbeknown to me I jumped right thru a wall of flames. The IED went completely thru the tanker that I was pulling. At a 45 degree angel, it went straight thru the tanker and opened 2 holes, spooning, spilling JB8 fuel all over the road. I remember doing the Jump Drop and Roll that I was thought when I was young, pulling off my PPE gear, it was on drenched in fuel and boost into flames as I went thru the wall of fire.Next thing I remember is the Military and KBR Bobtailer there right at my side and pulling me out of the fire that I landed in.
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Monroe, NC