June 2009
C-Wire and My MRAP
Hello my name is Keily and I'm currently in the Marine Corps stationed in southern California. I have owned a Leatherman most my life. I think I got my first one when I was about ten and had several over the years. I joined the Marines about four years ago and bought a FUSE when I finished my job school because I was sure I was going to need one. I have used it for numerous things from opening MREs (meals ready to eat), working on vehicles, cutting wires, opening crates, and pretty much anything you would need a screwdriver, knife, pliers, scissors, and wire cutters for.
I deployed to Iraq in the beginning of 2008 where I did convoy security. Towards the end of my deployment my unit was sent to a remote area where we would be the main security force of a CLSA (combat logistic support area) where we would perform day and night patrols in trucks and foot patrols.
It was my first night of doing the patrols in my MRAP (mine resistant ambush protective) checking the guard post. We could not drive with the lights on because of the enemy presence, so I was rolling in blackout mode (lights out) with my NVGs (night vision goggles) on when ran something over that sounded like it was caught under my truck.
I got out and looked. Sure enough, I had run over a whole mess of C-wire (barbed wire) and it was wrapped around my axle and strung all over the under carriage of my 20 ton truck and, with no wire cutters other than my Leatherman Fuse, I began to cut away at the mess under my truck. About an hour later and sore hands I was very thankful that I had my Leatherman, because without it Ii have no idea how long I would have been out there or what could have happened..
Thanks,
Keily W., USMC
Oceanside, CA
OK, you voyeur, you. Enough of reading other people's stories. It's time you told your own tale of gripping heroism or even just neat DIY'ism. We know there's a Shakespeare in you somewhere. Don't make us use the Steens to find it.