Originally posted by Ferrous Wheel
Well, I've saved two people's lives, with the simple heimlich maneuver.
Keith
En Ferro Veritas
Saving people's lives is a wonderful thing. I was on the other side of the equation.
I know that many forum members are military and ex-military, and have had to kill other people but the taking of a human life can be an unforgettable exprience.
In the 1960's I was a pot-smoking hippie, but always hated the hard drugs after seeing so many people with ruined lives. I had some ties with the DEA in helping smoke out the hard drug dealers.
One night a friend was working undercover in a sting operation inside a drug dealer's house. The good guys were outside, waiting. I was also outside but close in the shadows. My companion was a Browning Hi-Power 9mm.
The bust went down, doors broken in and very loud yelling from both sides. I tried to shrink into a tree trunk, wishing I was home studying for college, wishing I was anywhere else. Sometimes "up close and personal" is not so good.
I saw a darkened window open slowly and a shape emerged carrying a shotgun. It was not one of our guys. Fortunately he was facing away from me, less than ten feet from him. He slowly raised the shotgun and pointed it at one of the outside officers who could not see him. I knew the officer well. A good friend.
I knew that he was going to fire. Everything began to move in slow motion. I knew that if I yelled a warning that a he would likley turn and shoot me. My arm came up of it's own accord with the Browning pointed at his head. I remember that somewhere above the ear should stop motor control and he might not be able to fire though reflex.
I am shaking now, just thinking about this, over 35 years later. I yelled something and he began to turn toward me, shotgun still to his shoulder. I saw my bullet impact just above his ear. His head seemed to explode and he dropped.
I sat down on the ground and cried. There was no glory. The officers came running. I had dropped the Browning and held both my hands high. I was afraid that they might shoot me, not knowing in the gloom who I was.
I remember thinking, "He has ordered his last pizza." And then I threw up.
There is a smell associated with death. A smell of gunpowder, of excrement, of blood, and a cloying, sickly sweet smell that can not be defined --- a smell that you will NEVER forget.
I saved a life by taking a life. I sincerely hope that none of you are ever put in my position of having to do so.