Soldiers Who Survived Schit That Would Kill a Terminator

Biggins

For all those keyboard warriors out there, I dare ya to go back in time and take on one of these dudes!
Good luck with that :pac:

Major Robert Cain Kills Many Tanks, While Blind.

Devastating Wound(s):
At one point during the Battle of Arnhem, Major Robert Cain decided that his days of being pounded into retreat by German tanks had come to an end. Instead, he apparently resolved to deal with any future tanks personally.
At one point, two German tanks came in his direction. Cain found a spot near a house to lie in wait, while his friend went upstairs so he could tell the Major where to fire. Naturally, one of the tanks blasted the house, killing the friend instantly and dumping a stack of rocks on the waiting Major, who didn't flinch. Just like in the movies.

Cain fired on the tank with a PIAT (like an old timey bazooka) and eventually destroyed it, but only after being wounded by machine gun fire. His attempts to take out the second tank were squashed by a defective round. And by "defective," we mean "it exploded in his face leaving him blinded and with chunks of metal in his grill."

The Awesomeness That Followed:
About a half hour later, Cain's sight came back, thus beginning a long, slow, painful road to recovery that would see him out of action for well over four years. Ha! Just joking! He got right the fcuk up and went tank hunting.
Throughout the night Cain roamed the field, taking on any German tanks he found one by one... using only his hands. Well, and a big ass anti-tank gun. By the next day, he had fired the PIAT so many times that his eardrums had burst, thus setting up false ending number two. Rather than seek treatment for his fcuked up ears, Cain stuffed them with bandages and continued hunting for three damn days. This guy really fcuking hated tanks.

By the end of the battle, he'd overcome at least six German tanks and an untold number of self-propelled guns, which look a lot like tanks. Easy mistake.

For those that are currently watching "The Pacific" on Sky - keep this bloke in mind when watching it!

Lachhiman Garung Fights Off 200 Soldiers With One Arm

Devastating Wound(s):
Two hundred Japanese soldiers attacked the trench Lachhiman Garung was defending and, for their opening act, tossed in a few grenades. Seeing the grenades rolling in, one by one, Lachhiman had the bright idea of throwing them back before they exploded--an incredible idea provided you have three hands to throw with.

Garung, unfortunately, only had two hands, so that third grenade did what grenades do in those situations and exploded while he was holding it. His fingers were obliterated, his arm peeled like a banana, and his right leg, face and body in general were all badly injured.
The two soldiers with him at the time were also hit and killed. Lachhiman was alone, one armed and bleeding profusely, and there were still 200 Japanese out there, getting ready to resume the attack. Awkward!

The Awesomeness That Followed:
Realizing he wasn't quite dead yet, Lachhiman drew his gurkha knife and stuck it in the ground in front of him. "No one will pass here today!" he called out before loading his rifle. The enemy soldiers approached, and Lachhiman calmly dealt with the majority of oncoming enemies at point blank range, just waiting for them to arrive.
He did this for four fcuking hours. With only his left arm.

That's pretty amazing and all, but Christ, did none his foes have a gun? How about approaching two at a time? Dude only had one arm, somebody would have to be able to get a decent shot off, right?
Nevertheless, attack after attack was mounted by the Japanese in an attempt to advance, but none were successful. How Lacchiman managed to endure and survive his wounds is anyone's guess, but by the end of the day, when someone finally came to check and see how he was doing, 31 Japanese soldiers lay dead in front of his trench. He is said to have complained then about the flies bothering his stump. That's right. Flies. Not the fact that he had a brand new stump. Flies!

More serious bad-ass dudes here: http://www.cracked.com/article_18429_6-soldiers-who-survived-****-that-would-kill-terminator.html

El Siglo

I heard of him before, he was Jeremy Clarkson's father-in-law. Absolute legend, the film "A Bridge too far" he advised on it and was played by Anthony Hopkins. That Nepalese chap only died there a few years back, again another legend.

Xluna

Thanks,that was incrediable. I find the second story particulary amazing when you consider the mentality of the Japanese army in WW2.

Biggins

All joking aside, they are certainly men that I would be proud to buy a drink for in a bar and shake their hand.

OutlawPete

The great movie 'A Bridge Too Far' was based on Major Robert Cain and his role in the crucial Battle Of Arnhem during WWII.

Jeremy Clarkson married his daughter.

Damn you El Siglo :mad:

It wasn't me!

The Gurkha regiments are a serious bunch of people.

rodgered

Biggins wrote: »

All joking aside, they are certainly men that I would be proud to buy a drink for in a bar and shake their hand.

Might be a problem with the second lad :P

In all seriousness unreal stories. Heros.

pablomakaveli

Cracked kicks ass. There are loads of brilliant articles like that one.

Biggins

rodgered wrote: »

Might be a problem with the second lad :P

:pac:

Was waiting to see would anyone pick up on that!

It wasn't me!

Biggins wrote: »

:pac:

Was waiting to see would anyone pick up on that!

Y'know, I was going to, then I decided I wouldn't lower the tone. There's always someone else with fewer compunctions though!

Grimebox

About a half hour later, Cain's sight came back, thus beginning a long, slow, painful road to recovery that would see him out of action for well over four years. Ha! Just joking! He got right the fcuk up and went tank hunting.

I hate cracked's writing style

The_Minister

One of my favorite Cracked articles of all time.

Wibbs

El Siglo wrote: »

I heard of him before, he was Jeremy Clarkson's father-in-law.

and his daughter only had the vaguest idea of his past and only found out he had won the VC after the chap died. Different type of man altogether. IMHO that type is a lot rarer these days. EDIT AFAIR that anti tank gun was usually used as a mortar braced against the ground. To keep mobile and aim it at close targets he aimed and fired it braced against his body. The germans tried to ask him to give up and seek medical attention as they were equally bowled over by his bravery.

me_right_one

For anyone interested in this type of stuff, buy the book "Hidden soldier", by Pauric O'Keefe. Treu story, modern day times. Pauric O'Keefe, from Cork, joined the French Foreign Legion, and was the only man to survive a massive ambush in Iraq

Manic Moran

EDIT AFAIR that anti tank gun was usually used as a mortar braced against the ground. To keep mobile and aim it at close targets he aimed and fired it braced against his body.

PIAT is officially categorised as a spigot mortar. It's fired from the shoulder as you would imagine a bazooka or other such anti-tank rocket to be, but was reknowned for having a hell of a kick. It would use the recoil to reset the firing pin spring which was so strong that if you didn't hold it right and it didn't recoil, you needed to re-cock it by lying down on the ground, holding one end against your chest, and pushing the far end away with your feet. Advantge was that it had no backblast, which meant there was little firing signature (Once you fired a bazooka or Panzerschreck everyone knew where you were) and it could be fired from withing enclosed spaces, which rocket launched systems of the time could not.

NTM

Seloth

Theres aguy who lived by me who seems to be ..well like a character out of a book.

He was in the French Forgein Legion,A private secuirty in Iraq,Bodyguard in Jamacia ETC...Has abook about it.

minidazzler

Seloth wrote: »

Theres aguy who lived by me who seems to be ..well like a character out of a book.

He was in the French Forgein Legion,A private secuirty in Iraq,Bodyguard in Jamacia ETC...Has abook about it.

Hidden soldier? Cobh? Read that, good read. I really enjoyed it.

me_right_one

^^^ Yep, Pauric O'Keefe

tricky D

me_right_one wrote: »

For anyone interested in this type of stuff, buy the book "Hidden soldier", by Pauric O'Keefe. Treu story, modern day times. Pauric O'Keefe, from Cork, joined the French Foreign Legion, and was the only man to survive a massive ambush in Iraq

Reading that right now. When I read this post during the afternoon, I was at the bit when he shoots past Yves' head to clear a line of fire early in the ambush. I thought the story had been spoiled a bit, but no. While Pádraig was the 'last man standing' Denis and some of his team escaped. Cracking read.

Riddle101

I don't know what to say. part of me wants to think it's fake, because I just can't imagine anyone could do what the soldiers in the articles did. But I also want to believe it as well, because they seem to be quite known on this thread. Arrrrrrgggggggghhh, My brain hurts.

All I can say is fairplay if the story is real.

Ulysses Gaze

tricky D wrote: »

Reading that right now. When I read this post during the afternoon, I was at the bit when he shoots past Yves' head to clear a line of fire early in the ambush. I thought the story had been spoiled a bit, but no. While Pádraig was the 'last man standing' Denis and some of his team escaped. Cracking read.

Hidden Soldier is a fantastic read.

I would highly recommend this one:

Jungle Soldier: The True Story of Freddy Spencer Chapman

About an English soldier who survived behind enemy lines in Asia for three years during WWII and cut off from English support, he embarked on a one-man guerilla warfare campaign against the Japanese. Fascinating read

helimachoptor

Marcus luttrell / end thread

Ulysses Gaze

helimachoptor wrote: »

Marcus luttrell / end thread

I'll see you Marcus Luttrell and raise you Audie Murphy

drakshug

Bill Speakman.

Ok, only wounded in the leg but he had to suffer Asahi beer before chucking it back the enemy.

gino85

seige of jadotville is another one

160 irish soldiers held off an attack by upto about 4000 congolese fighters, no fatalities eventually had to surrender after running out of food and water

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Jadotville

my great uncle was there during it. it wasnt untill 2004 that the was finally cleared of being cowereds for surrendering

drakshug

gino85 wrote: »

seige of jadotville is another one

160 irish soldiers held off an attack by upto about 4000 congolese fighters, no fatalities eventually had to surrender after running out of food and water

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Jadotville

my great uncle was there during it. it wasnt untill 2004 that the was finally cleared of being cowereds for surrendering

Cowards?
Not in my book. Didn't know that about W. O'Dea.

Anyway, back to the topic in hand..
The Battle of Camaron.........

Victor

Manic Moran wrote: »

PIAT is officially categorised as a spigot mortar. It's fired from the shoulder as you would imagine a bazooka or other such anti-tank rocket to be, but was reknowned for having a hell of a kick. It would use the recoil to reset the firing pin spring which was so strong that if you didn't hold it right and it didn't recoil, you needed to re-cock it by lying down on the ground, holding one end against your chest, and pushing the far end away with your feet. Advantge was that it had no backblast, which meant there was little firing signature (Once you fired a bazooka or Panzerschreck everyone knew where you were) and it could be fired from withing enclosed spaces, which rocket launched systems of the time could not.

NTM

So it wasn't so much a mortar as the biggest spud gun ever?

cyberwolf77

http://www.badassoftheweek.com/list.html
Now end the thread.

Seloth

What brilliant is the guy who wrote hidden soldier while living by me was training dogs ha:D

nacho libre

these guys have nothing on the Black Knight

but seriously i'll remember these two blokes the next time i'm watching an action film or better yet a war film!

partyatmygaff

Seloth wrote: »

What brilliant is the guy who wrote hidden soldier while living by me was training dogs ha:D

....What?

Seloth

Ya he was a dog trainer :L..might have been as he was writing the book.

Had a whole course in his back garden and everything for training them hah.

Manic Moran

From tomorrow's newspaper... (It's still today where I am)

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/afghanistan/article7113916.ece

A BRITISH Army sniper has set a new sharpshooting distance record by killing two Taliban machinegunners in Afghanistan from more than 1 miles away.

Craig Harrison, a member of the Household Cavalry, killed the insurgents with consecutive shots — even though they were 3,000ft beyond the most effective range of his rifle.

<snip>

Harrison killed one machinegunner with his first attempt and felled the other with his next shot. He then let off a final round to knock the enemy weapon out of action

The distance to Harrison’s two targets was measured by a GPS system at 8,120ft, or 1.54 miles. The previous record for a sniper kill is 7,972ft, set by a Canadian soldier who shot dead an Al-Qaeda gunman in March 2002.

<snip>

In a remarkable tour of duty, Harrison cheated death a few weeks later when a Taliban bullet pierced his helmet but was deflected away from his skull. He later broke both arms when his army vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb.

<snip>

In a later incident during the tour, Harrison’s patrol vehicle was hit 36 times during a Taliban ambush. “One round hit my helmet behind the right ear and came out of the top,” he said. “Two more rounds went through the strap across my chest. We were all very, very lucky not to get hurt.”

Of course, such stories are not simply reserved for people. Check out the story of Bravo November, the only aircraft I know to have a monument built to it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bravo_November. She passes her luck onto the pilot, the most recent incident this year saw the pilot shot between the eyes and able to continue flying.

NTM

me_right_one

tricky D wrote: »

Reading that right now. When I read this post during the afternoon, I was at the bit when he shoots past Yves' head to clear a line of fire early in the ambush. I thought the story had been spoiled a bit, but no. While Pádraig was the 'last man standing' Denis and some of his team escaped. Cracking read.

Sh1te, sorry:o I remember it on the news at the time, so I thought it was fair game to talk about

It wasn't me!

Manic Moran wrote: »

From tomorrow's newspaper... (It's still today where I am)

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/afghanistan/article7113916.ece



Of course, such stories are not simply reserved for people. Check out the story of Bravo November, the only aircraft I know to have a monument built to it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bravo_November. She passes her luck onto the pilot, the most recent incident this year saw the pilot shot between the eyes and able to continue flying.

NTM

Rob Furlong's not going to be pleased. Very active tour by the sound of things for the HCR then.

Mr. Incognito

Whenever I hear most of these stories I laugh.

99.99% are bull****, exatterated or completely fabricated and anyone with any experience of propoganda or the military would know this

me_right_one

Mr. Incognito wrote: »

Whenever I hear most of these stories I laugh.

99.99% are bull****, exatterated or completely fabricated and anyone with any experience of propoganda or the military would know this

You're the second person to say that. Why would anyone NOT believe these things? They dont just give out medals for the craic:cool:

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

Mr. Incognito wrote: »

Whenever I hear most of these stories I laugh.

99.99% are bull****, exatterated or completely fabricated and anyone with any experience of propoganda or the military would know this

Typical... :rolleyes:



Plenty of great war stories out there, unbelieveable what some people can do under duress. Simply amazing people.

partyatmygaff

Mr. Incognito wrote: »

Whenever I hear most of these stories I laugh.

99.99% are bull****, exatterated or completely fabricated and anyone with any experience of propoganda or the military would know this

Everything's bull**** when you're a cynical internet addict.

:rolleyes:

Victor

Manic Moran wrote: »

From tomorrow's newspaper... (It's still today where I am)

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/afghanistan/article7113916.ece

Of course, such stories are not simply reserved for people. Check out the story of Bravo November, the only aircraft I know to have a monument built to it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bravo_November. She passes her luck onto the pilot, the most recent incident this year saw the pilot shot between the eyes and able to continue flying.

NTM

Alternatively, it could be considered quite unlucky.

Seloth

Mr. Incognito wrote: »

Whenever I hear most of these stories I laugh.

99.99% are bull****, exatterated or completely fabricated and anyone with any experience of propoganda or the military would know this

Have you ever been to a warzone

random but thought I'd throw it in,I only recently found out my Great granfather was a Captain of a Navy ship during WW1

me_right_one

Just thought I'd throw this in for the craic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lN4CeJd-SfA&feature=related

Manic Moran

Mr. Incognito wrote: »

Whenever I hear most of these stories I laugh.

99.99% are bull****, exatterated or completely fabricated and anyone with any experience of propoganda or the military would know this

It's not at all unheard of for the most bizarre, incongruous, ridiculous or plain mathematically incredibly unlikely things to happen in a war. I think they tend to receive a little more fame simply because of the context they're in, I'm sure the same sorts of things happen on the civilian job as well. I'm sure such stories exist in police forces as well.

NTM

Deise Musashi

The White Death

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simo_H%C3%A4yh%C3%A4

White Feather

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Hathcock

my favourite is Tom Crean, but his most heroic achievments weren't in war. He did serve in the Navy during wartime though.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Crean_%28explorer%29

me_right_one

Did anyone ever hear of, or come across an article written Arvin (?) R. Blackburn? I know I read something somewhere on the net about his herioc deeds in Vietnam

Sanjuro

Always loved the story of Jack Churchill. Fought with a bow, arrows and a fuck-off claymore sword... during World War 2. Fought in Europe. When that ended, figured he hadn't had enough war and went to fight in Burma during the Pacific campaign. And when that ended, was quoted as saying 'If it wasn't for those damn Yanks, we could have kept the war going another 10 years!' A true badass.

prinz

Sanjuro wrote: »

Always loved the story of Jack Churchill.

:pac::pac: Badass is not the word. LOL, storming beaches armed with his sword, longbow, arrows and bagpipes. A surfer to boot. I think he qualifies as an out and out adenaline junkie!

Manic Moran

Heh. From one of the links:

Even in retirement his eccentricity continued. He startled train conductors and passengers by throwing his attaché out of the train window each day on the ride home. Before he died in 1996, he explained that he was tossing his case into his own backyard so he wouldn’t have to carry it from the station

Eminently practical man.

I used to go on patrol in Iraq with a whip on my belt, Indiana Jones style. Not sure if there are any pictures of it.

NTM

wobblyknees

Seriously, no-one has mentioned one of the hardest men I've ever heard of? One of the founding members of the SAS, and a rugby international!

It was his further action for which he was recommended for the VC. It took place on April 9, 1945 in Oldenburg in Germany. The SAS had been given the task of clearing a path for the Canadian armoured division. Their advance was stalled along a narrow road. Eight troops, three of them injured, were pinned down in a ditch by heavy machine and mortar fire.
Mayne was made aware of the gravity of the situation. He rushed to the scene. Grabbing a machinegun he single-handedly cleared one of the farm buildings. With a volunteer he drove a jeep up the exposed road three times under withering enemy fire.
Mayne’s jeep, its twin Vickers machineguns each issuing 1,100 rounds a minute, replied and drove back the Germans, killing many. As he passed his men to his left, he shouted: “I will pick you up on the way back.”
With the Germans now retreating but still laying down considerable fire, Mayne stopped to rescue the wounded men.

:D

More here....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paddy_Mayne

Stompbox

Biggins wrote: »

:pac:

Was waiting to see would anyone pick up on that!

Well, he only lost one hand, surely that leaves another hand eligible for shaking?

Manic Moran

Mayne’s jeep, its twin Vickers machineguns each issuing 1,100 rounds a minute

That's not right. That sort of ROF is for German machineguns, a twin Vickers mount would probably about total that ROF.

he passed his men to his left, he shouted: “I will pick you up on the way back.”

A sort of similar thing has been happening with attack helicopters. Things like Apaches aren't known for their passenger seating, so the obvious solution is to just hang on for dear life.

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/9305/apacherescue12rr9.jpg
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/Templates/LargeImageTemplate.aspx?img=/NR/rdonlyres/747E1F3D-B1B6-4412-9D58-79A2F5825C78/0/ApacheRescue06.jpg
The photos above were of four Royal Marines who went into a fight hanging on the sides of two gunships to retrieve the body of another Marine.

Even more extreme was this Apache pilot, who hung onto the side of his own helicopter to allow a wounded comrade to sit in his seat.
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Nov2004/2004110501c.jpg

NTM