The Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant in the picture is Michael Burghard, part of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team that is supporting 2nd Brigade 28th Infantry Division (Pennsylvania Army National Guard). Known as “Iron Mike,” he is on his third tour in Iraq. He had become a legend in the bomb disposal world after winning the Bronze Star for disabling 64 IEDs and destroying 1,548 pieces of ordnance during his second tour. Then, on Sept. 19, he got blown up.

He arrived at a chaotic scene after a bomb had killed four U.S. soldiers. He climbed into the bomb crater and searched below the surface with his knife for secondary devices. When he saw the detonating cord between his legs he knew it was too late and as soon as he shouted “Get back!” an insurgent, probably watching through binoculars, pressed a button on his mobile phone to detonate the secondary device below the sergeant’s feet.

The blast threw him in the air, and when he landed he couldn’t feel anything below his waist. His colleagues cut off his trousers to see how badly he was hurt. None could believe his legs were still there. After his wounds were bandaged, he insisted on standing and walking to the helicopter for a ride to the hospital, and gave his enemy a gesture communicating his thoughts and as a signal he would return soon.

Strength and honor.

The photo and story were published in the Omaha World Herald.