operatorgator-blog

[operatorgator-blog]

Install Towards Threat (Part 1 of 3)⁣ ⁣ A SOF weapons expert posing next to an enemy bullet lodged in a GMVs armor. He's holding a .50cal Barret rifle.⁣ ⁣ The weapons guy here was in command of our support by fire element that was setting up with 81mm mortars, alongside a GMV w/ a Mk19 & another w/ an M2, atop a ridge above an enemy controlled valley.⁣ ⁣ Apparently, we were a big target up there and after about 5 minutes we began receiving small arms fire. Luckily, the enemy was far enough away that they were aiming for the trucks instead of individuals.⁣ ⁣ I remember scrambling for cover as I got shot at from one side of the truck. I watched "Pete" here jump out and return fire Vietnam Commando style (squatting & hip firing) w/ his m203 slung beneath his m4. Even though I was scared out of my mind that made me laugh and made it easier.⁣ ⁣ Continued in Part 2...⁣ ⁣ #operatorgator #warstories #combat #ucp #gaycu #boonie #barret #50cal #gmv #warfare #sof #specialoperations #barreta #m9 #m82 #762mm (at The Ridge) https://www.instagram.com/p/B4hfW7hAvCa/?igshid=176rqlgs8jbv

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Another masterpiece from my brother, @ramble6 ! He's captured the essence of OG so well in this pic it will be hard to top. (at Operator Gator) https://www.instagram.com/p/B4ev_kCgM1L/?igshid=6c8umrw6cxjd

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*remastered repost* https://www.instagram.com/p/B39e0rvJ86P/?igshid=12k1ti6xhr0dd

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Welcome to the moon...⁣ ⁣ The landings weren't faked.⁣ ⁣ These GMVs were incredibly heavy w/ all their armor upgrades, weapons, & especially ammunition carried.⁣ ⁣ So, true off-road driving could be difficult. Despite the weight, however, these GMVs could be driven almost anywhere & even on steep slopes.⁣ ⁣ A driving technique called brake-throttle modulation allowed us to keep power to the wheels of the trucks & to keep them from slipping & sliding while traversing steep terrain.⁣ ⁣ #operatorgator #sof #specialoperationsforces #gmv #generaldynamics #themoon #warfare #combat #desert #mountains (at The Moon) https://www.instagram.com/p/B374k8gpjPU/?igshid=su7shdh2icxa

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All three occupants of the interior of the GMV were wounded by shrapnel from the RPG.⁣ ⁣ The driver and TC received minor wounds to the face and arms. And even though the rocket did not detonate, the concussion blew the lenses out of their glasses.⁣ ⁣ The gunner took the brunt of the fragments in his legs, and, unfortunately, his left hand, which he had down by his side.⁣ ⁣ Luckily, he was wearing Oakley SI Assualt gloves with carbon fiber knuckles, which we believed stopped the shrapnel from completely severing his tendon.⁣ ⁣ Even still he was out of the fight for a few months, but was eventually able to make a full recovery. The other two wounded were back on mission in a few days.⁣ ⁣ #operatorgator #combat #rpg7 #sof #specialoperationsforces #mountainteam #purpleheart #woundedbywar #oakleyassault (at Sky Top Orchard) https://www.instagram.com/p/B32pSm_JnEI/?igshid=ys1xpiygmox3

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The mountain team of the company got hit by an ambush kicked off w/ a remote RPG launched from some tree branches.⁣ ⁣ From the pix we can see where the RPG round entered the roof on the left, middle of the GMV. Luckily, it did not detonate.⁣ ⁣ The round skipped off the turret ring & roof, showering the GMV occupants with shrapnel before it punched out the right, rear armor plate.⁣ ⁣ Three of the occupants were wounded & one would require surgery for a hand tendon. (I'll post some of those wound pix next post.)⁣ ⁣ The team stopped & fought, found the launcher, & uncovered an IED set in place further up the route for them.⁣ ⁣ This was a bad valley in an infamous Province where many different SOF units would, unfortunately, lose a considerable number of their fighters over the next two years.⁣ ⁣ The mountain team got mini-guns for their GMVs just after this attack. One of the gunners said his gunfire resembled that jungle scene from Predator. He mowed down an entire apple orchard during that next ambush.⁣ ⁣ #operatorgator #mountainteam #sof #specialoperationsforces #warfare #combat #rpg #ambush #cleverhadj #gmv #hmmwv (at Apple Orchard Falls) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3zn5kUhU7R/?igshid=uekke7b6qiaf

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I broke two axles...⁣ ⁣ Driving the War Hammer across this creek. Not an uncommon occurrence, unfortunately, for this deployment but this creek crossing was one of the worst.⁣ ⁣ As the driver, the truck & most of everything in it were my responsibility. So when I broke the axles, I had to help the mechanic fix them.⁣ ⁣ Luckily I didn't need to help too much bc our mechanic was awesome. ⁣ ⁣ My next post will cover more about the trucks or GMVs as they're known.⁣ ⁣ #operatorgator #gmv #sof #specialoperationsforces #offroad #warfare #combat #airsoft #badass #m240b #ar15 #50cal #guntrucks (at Schitt's Creek) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3rkqWhJ2X1/?igshid=czgly54jtvgu

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When you've got an uncle, Mike Morris, who is a freelance artist...⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Sometimes he puts your face, & that of a Chris O'Donnell lookalike, on advertising for patriotic companies that support our troops.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ This was quite a few years back. I don't know where the image was used by Smithfield's but I do have a T-shirt from them with the image on the back.⁣⁣ ⁣ Mike also did a piece with an Afghan child in front of an ANA truck. You can check him out here: @morrisimagination⁣ ⁣⁣ #operatorgator #smithfieldsbbq #patriotic #supportourtroops #advertising #3rdsfg #chrisodonnell #topgunmaverick⁣ #morrisimagination #freelanceartist (at Smithfield's Chicken 'N Bar-B-Q) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3p6S0_AXMN/?igshid=1u7nwsolre439

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A SOF medic, carrying the pig (m240b) & ammo, takes a break on a mountain side...⁣ ⁣ Somewhere between friendly & enemy controlled valleys in a war torn province. The team sergeant looks on, motivation emanating from his aura.⁣ ⁣ This was a recon mission to determine if enemy forces were indeed traversing the mountain paths between valleys as was believed.⁣ ⁣ #operatorgator #recon #multicam #mountainwarfare #combat #sof #specialoperationsforces (at The mountains) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3iu2DOANMw/?igshid=sy84sci3xxm5

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The MC & Gramps ready to roll...⁣ ⁣ Comms check w/ higher command & then head out.⁣ ⁣ The Mad Chihuahua was the team sergeant & Grandpa was the senior engineer.⁣ ⁣ Both rode in the War Hammer, aka V3, always the last vic in convoy.⁣ ⁣ Grandpa looks like a thumb here.⁣ ⁣ #operatorgator #gmv #sof #specialoperationsforces #combat #warfare #warhammer #thumbhead #badasses https://www.instagram.com/p/B3dSw7jgy0Y/?igshid=1l38vre0mz263

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A beautiful morning...⁣ ⁣ Ready to head outside the walls.⁣ ⁣ GMV's staged. Weapons & comms checked. Terps notifying local troops & police of the team's activities for the day. ⁣ #operatorgator #gmv #sof #specialoperationsforces #combat #mountainwarfare #machineguns #sunrise #anotherworld (at Sunset Strip) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3U1q3IgFis/?igshid=1ezdi7frbu6ui

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*stewie* here, the original driver of the War Hammer, was the senior medic on the team until he shattered his hand firing the 60mm mortar in an early firefight.⁣ ⁣ I showed up to take his place and he stuck around for two weeks to show me the ropes & do other things. Unfortunately, that two weeks destroyed his hand & career.⁣ ⁣ Unbeknownst to him, his radial nerve was impinged for so long it induced a phenomena called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) or, nowadays, as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS).⁣ ⁣ The pain got so bad for stewie that he would have cut off his hand to save the pain, but even that wouldn't stop it. I went to visit him in hospital almost a year post injury, while he was in a ketamine coma.⁣ ⁣ I don't recall if that resolved the issue, but I do know that he was cured of the RSD eventually. Our nervous systems are incredibly complex & sometimes more important than we give them credit for.⁣ ⁣ #operatorgator #rsd #crps #ivketamine #warhammer #gmv #combat #warfare #sof #specialoperationsforces #specialoperationsmedics (at Ketamine) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3SajFMgSbB/?igshid=1b7vmocncfswz

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We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming to bring you...⁣ ⁣ Happy birthday wishes to this handsome devil! Even though he has been gone for three years, his impact on family, friends & my life has us remembering him fondly & remarking about him on significant days.⁣ ⁣ König was born on this day in 2009, & he lived for seven years of adventure, travel, & love.⁣ ⁣ He was my faithful companion during many significant & stressful transitions in life. Active duty to national guard, private military, deployments, moving, addiction & recovery, divorce, etc.⁣ ⁣ While he unfortunately succumbed to illness due to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), he did survive an alligator attack.⁣ ⁣ The same attack from which I received the nickname Gator & for which makes him relevant to this account.⁣ ⁣ (I'll post that story on Dec 4th)⁣ ⁣ #operatorgator #koenig #animalattacks #happybirthdaybud #rip #family (at heaven) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3QiMhGAvDX/?igshid=1j6um6cl8x76q

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I'd like to thank everyone for following, liking, commenting, & mostly just looking @ my collection of pictures from over the years!⁣ ⁣ Being able to share my images & stories w/ over 5000 people is a big deal & brings me a great deal of joy.⁣ ⁣ As a token of my gratitude to you all I've spent way too much time over-editing these four pictures. Also, trying not to take it too seriously as you can see.⁣ ⁣ I'm certain every deployed service member, & especially those who have conducted combat patrols, have some especially funny or gross stories concerning voiding their bodily waste.⁣ ⁣ I'll spare you the stories for today.⁣ ⁣ #operatorgator #operatorburro #combatdonkey #sof #specialoperationsforces #warfare #5000followers #whenyougottagoyougottago (at Operator Gator) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3NNT9tA2T4/?igshid=ajvyuudslwo6

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Another shot of the team sergeant, junior engineer, tajiman, & medic taking another shot at their enemy.⁣ ⁣ While the partner force pulled security below, & the team worked the 60mm mortar, another element of their unit maneuvered to flank the enemy in the mountains above.⁣ ⁣ However, those enemy were on horseback & were able to escape. No BDA or intel was acquired. Consensus from locals indicated the horsemen were most likely up to no good.⁣ ⁣ ATVs would have been beneficial in this situation, however the team's were old & not up to the task. Neither were their scrawny horses. It would be another month before a CCT would bring a Raven drone to the arsenal.⁣ ⁣ #operatorgator #mountainwarfare #60mm #mortar #combat #sof #specialoperationsforces #tajiman #terp #controlyourself #takeonlywhatyouneed #doingisgreaterthantalking (at Brick & Mortar) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3LRI4pAfsh/?igshid=xxsjiyrly3sw

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Doing some IV training with the boys...⁣ ⁣ If you can't get peripheral access to the veins then give the jug a try.⁣ ⁣ An old school protocol because now there are intraosseous devices that are far more reliable than they used to be.⁣ ⁣ Many SOF medics will forgo IV & jump to IO immediately when the need for fluids & meds presents itself. ⁣ #operatorgator #sofmedics #specialoperationsforces #jugsticks #intravenous #tccc #combatmedicine #ivtherapy #hangoverhelp (at CoolAide) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3ID9P3AxOl/?igshid=azwahnxd1vfg

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Big Bertha...⁣ ⁣ The tall, forgotten sentinel silently watching over our class of zoo keepers, as we battled each other, red vs blue, for PSD dominance.⁣ ⁣ #operatorgator #bigbertha #louisianastatepolice #zookeepers #rubberducks #redvsblue #janitor #511tuxedo (at Louisiana) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3EouRuACso/?igshid=zbwtodx3iz7o