thedrifter
07-28-07, 02:34 PM
Death of nephew propels uncle into helping
By Sheila Gardner - The (Gardnerville) Record-Courier via AP
Posted : Saturday Jul 28, 2007 13:20:05 EDT
MOUND HOUSE, Nev. — Mike McElfish is tortured by images of what the final seconds of his nephew’s life might have been like.
He believes Chief Warrant Officer Joshua Rodgers, 29, and six other crew members who died May 30 when their helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan in a nighttime attack may have seen their attackers.
However, McElfish says, they wouldn’t have been able to fire because the flash from their machine guns would give away their position.
But instead of giving into those feelings of helplessness, the machine shop owner turned them into inspiration.
Working with Smith Enterprise of Tempe, Ariz., McElfish helps manufacture flash suppressors, which are the size of a roll of candy.
So far, he’s shipped 25 to Afghanistan with 100 more on order. The price ranges from $32-$55 depending on the weapon it’s made to fit.
“In a nutshell, the device just hides the flash,” McElfish said. “Anyone who fires their weapon in the dark should have one.”
Had his nephew’s crew been equipped with the devices, McElfish believes they may have been able to defend themselves before their helicopter plunged 200 feet to the ground killing everyone aboard.
“After Josh died, people came up to me and said things like, ’It wasn’t your fault,’ or, ‘There was nothing you could do. Don’t feel bad,”’ McElfish said.
“I say, ‘Don’t take that away from me.’ That’s what drives me. When I wake up, I think about what happened to them and I cry. Then, I get mad. I come flying out of that bed, into that shower and get to work. The sentimentality turns into anger and that is what drives me.
In an e-mail to supporters, McElfish explained his motivation.
“These huge helicopters take on errant ground fire from terrorists on the ground, shooting into the dark sky at the sound of the helicopter, not the sight of it,” McElfish said. “Yet the gunners armed with M240 machine guns and night vision goggles cannot return fire. Why? Because their weapon’s muzzle flash would give their exact position to the enemy. On the ground, it’s the same story.”
McElfish began producing blanks for the flash suppressor in 2002.
“Smith Enterprise does the proprietary end of it, the part that’s patented,” he said.
McElfish is hoping the flash suppressors will be approved by the military for a stock number, which means soldiers would be cleared to purchase the devices. Vortex flash suppressors are $32 for the M16 family of weapons and $55 for M240 machine guns.
“It’s cheaper than a body bag,” McElfish said.
McElfish doesn’t debate whether the suppressor should be standard issue or why soldiers should have to purchase the device on their own.
“That’s not the bandwagon I am on,” he said. “I see an opportunity to help the troops, to help save lives, and I am asking people to send me whatever they can — the whole amount, or $1 or $2, or set out a change jar. I am saying this is how you can really help our soldiers protect themselves and show your support for the troops.”
A tradition was born when McElfish scoured around the machine shop for something to fill up the box containing the first shipment of donated flash suppressors.
“I didn’t want to stuff it with newspapers, so I found a big bag of candy in a cupboard. It fit perfectly and I shipped it off in the box. Only later did I realize it was a bag of Life Savers. From now on, every shipment will include Life Savers because I consider these life savers,” McElfish said.
He needs volunteers to write letters or e-mails to accompany each flash suppressor.
“I want a letter of gratitude and support to each soldier who receives one of these donated units,” he said.
McElfish asked that families of other wounded and killed soldiers contact him so donations can be made in their loved one’s name.
McElfish said he isn’t making any money from the production of the flash suppressors, pledging that all donations will go toward the purchase of the item and the postage. He is absorbing the cost of labor and materials.
More than 600 people attended Rodgers’ funeral June 10 at Douglas High School. He and his wife, Casey Gilder Rodgers, were 1997 Douglas graduates.
In addition to his wife, Rodgers is survived by three young daughters.
McElfish is “Uncle Mike” to Rodgers’ friends and fellow soldiers.
His son, Pvt. Matthew McElfish, is stationed at Camp Casey in Korea.
“My wife, Josh’s mom and their sister were all pregnant at the same time. When the three little boys were born, we lived together for a while. Josh was a little hyperactive and it was always, ’Uncle Mike, Uncle Mike, Uncle Mike,’ until he got my attention,” McElfish said.
“This is my tribute to him.”
Ellie
By Sheila Gardner - The (Gardnerville) Record-Courier via AP
Posted : Saturday Jul 28, 2007 13:20:05 EDT
MOUND HOUSE, Nev. — Mike McElfish is tortured by images of what the final seconds of his nephew’s life might have been like.
He believes Chief Warrant Officer Joshua Rodgers, 29, and six other crew members who died May 30 when their helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan in a nighttime attack may have seen their attackers.
However, McElfish says, they wouldn’t have been able to fire because the flash from their machine guns would give away their position.
But instead of giving into those feelings of helplessness, the machine shop owner turned them into inspiration.
Working with Smith Enterprise of Tempe, Ariz., McElfish helps manufacture flash suppressors, which are the size of a roll of candy.
So far, he’s shipped 25 to Afghanistan with 100 more on order. The price ranges from $32-$55 depending on the weapon it’s made to fit.
“In a nutshell, the device just hides the flash,” McElfish said. “Anyone who fires their weapon in the dark should have one.”
Had his nephew’s crew been equipped with the devices, McElfish believes they may have been able to defend themselves before their helicopter plunged 200 feet to the ground killing everyone aboard.
“After Josh died, people came up to me and said things like, ’It wasn’t your fault,’ or, ‘There was nothing you could do. Don’t feel bad,”’ McElfish said.
“I say, ‘Don’t take that away from me.’ That’s what drives me. When I wake up, I think about what happened to them and I cry. Then, I get mad. I come flying out of that bed, into that shower and get to work. The sentimentality turns into anger and that is what drives me.
In an e-mail to supporters, McElfish explained his motivation.
“These huge helicopters take on errant ground fire from terrorists on the ground, shooting into the dark sky at the sound of the helicopter, not the sight of it,” McElfish said. “Yet the gunners armed with M240 machine guns and night vision goggles cannot return fire. Why? Because their weapon’s muzzle flash would give their exact position to the enemy. On the ground, it’s the same story.”
McElfish began producing blanks for the flash suppressor in 2002.
“Smith Enterprise does the proprietary end of it, the part that’s patented,” he said.
McElfish is hoping the flash suppressors will be approved by the military for a stock number, which means soldiers would be cleared to purchase the devices. Vortex flash suppressors are $32 for the M16 family of weapons and $55 for M240 machine guns.
“It’s cheaper than a body bag,” McElfish said.
McElfish doesn’t debate whether the suppressor should be standard issue or why soldiers should have to purchase the device on their own.
“That’s not the bandwagon I am on,” he said. “I see an opportunity to help the troops, to help save lives, and I am asking people to send me whatever they can — the whole amount, or $1 or $2, or set out a change jar. I am saying this is how you can really help our soldiers protect themselves and show your support for the troops.”
A tradition was born when McElfish scoured around the machine shop for something to fill up the box containing the first shipment of donated flash suppressors.
“I didn’t want to stuff it with newspapers, so I found a big bag of candy in a cupboard. It fit perfectly and I shipped it off in the box. Only later did I realize it was a bag of Life Savers. From now on, every shipment will include Life Savers because I consider these life savers,” McElfish said.
He needs volunteers to write letters or e-mails to accompany each flash suppressor.
“I want a letter of gratitude and support to each soldier who receives one of these donated units,” he said.
McElfish asked that families of other wounded and killed soldiers contact him so donations can be made in their loved one’s name.
McElfish said he isn’t making any money from the production of the flash suppressors, pledging that all donations will go toward the purchase of the item and the postage. He is absorbing the cost of labor and materials.
More than 600 people attended Rodgers’ funeral June 10 at Douglas High School. He and his wife, Casey Gilder Rodgers, were 1997 Douglas graduates.
In addition to his wife, Rodgers is survived by three young daughters.
McElfish is “Uncle Mike” to Rodgers’ friends and fellow soldiers.
His son, Pvt. Matthew McElfish, is stationed at Camp Casey in Korea.
“My wife, Josh’s mom and their sister were all pregnant at the same time. When the three little boys were born, we lived together for a while. Josh was a little hyperactive and it was always, ’Uncle Mike, Uncle Mike, Uncle Mike,’ until he got my attention,” McElfish said.
“This is my tribute to him.”
Ellie