User blog comment:Griever0311/Ask A Marine Part Cinq/@comment-1260687-20100331221352

@Dolton: In a related incident, I was non-recced for promotion and nearly NJP'd for "abandoning my gun." Here's what happened: Our convoy was pulling back into base, and had blocking positions and a full defensive perimeter set up, when one of the HMMWVs nails a small IED. At the time, we kept our Jerry cans on the outside, so this HMMWV instantly bursts into flames. Four of the Marines make it out okay, but the blast had broken a mech's ankle who was riding in the back. The gunner tried to get him out but couldn't, so I (wearing a full gunsuit) climbed out of my turret, sprinted to the burning HMMWV and helped him pull his guy out. Keep in mind that my truck was safely inside the perimeter and blocking positions when this happened, so I wouldn't have been able to engage any possible targets with the turret without possibly hitting other vehicles or Marines. Anywho, still wearing the gunsuit, I carry this guy to the medivac HMMWV and ride back into base with him. After the debrief, this Motor T Master Sergeant jumps my ass for "abandoning my weapon" because we could have been ambushed after the IED detonation. I explained, to no avail, that I was still heavily armed and able to direct fire, as well as still being obviously capable of doing my job, but it fell on deaf ears.