Gunner’s Mate Keith McGinley prepares singer/actress Jessica Simpson for a .50-caliber gun shoot during a USO and Navy Entertainment sponsored visit aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75).
You can also get a highres photo at the source navy.mil – HERE
Hopefully some pirates got in the way of her shooting. I’m glad to see she is still supporting our troops and doing the USO thing.
While mounting the M2 machine gun onto the turret system of his MATV during pre-combat checks, this soldier experienced difficulty inserting the locking pin on the MOD 93 machine gun mount. The soldier then attempted to force the locking pin into place with a rock. After this failed, he then secured a loose .50 cal. round, using it to hammer at the locking pin, attempting to force the locking pin into place. After several hits with the .50 cal. round, the primer activated, setting the round off in the soldier’s hand. Extensive injuries were suffered to his right hand, middle, ring and pinky finger.
See the official weapons safety message memo – HERE
*Warning Very Graphic*
It’s really unfortunate when Darwin comes for soldiers… but hitting a live round? COME ON.. how does he think his machine gun fires? This incident would have been a bit more understandable if it occurred in the heat of combat, but the memo specifically states the soldier was mounting the M2 onto the turret, pre-combat.
On the bright side, I guess he get a ticket out of Trashcanistan.
Pretty scary considering some points of Nuevo Laredo are less than a mile from houses in Texas! (Google Map)
Unsurprisingly, Google does not have “street view” on their maps in that part of Mexico. Probably something to do with their automated censor program not being able to tell a dead body from a live one. :P
Looks like the M2 would have limited mobility in the back of that suburban because due to the barrel length it would be trapped between the frame on the back right side window.
Hat Tip: Stormbringer
