5 CHAPTER ONE The Korengal Valley in Afghanistan is a dangerous place for US soldiers Enemy troops often hide in the area But sometimes the missions take soldiers right through it On October 23 2007 the members of the 173rd Airborne Brigade were on night patrol in the valley They were part of a mission to provide food winter clothes and medicine to people in Afghanistan who lived in remote villages The US military performs important missions in dangerous places around the world Specialized gear helps them do their jobs and stay safe REAL-LIFE HERO
Night-Vision Contacts Night-vision technology is an important part of US military gear Researchers are working on creating night-vision technology that is so small it can be built right into contact lenses To work properly night-vision equipment can’t become overheated The goggles have cooling units built in making them larger and bulky However the new technology in the contacts doesn’t need the cooling units These infrared light sensors are made from a material that is as thin as a single carbon atom 6 Staff Sergeant Salvatore Sal Giunta was part of the patrol Like the other soldiers he carried his gear in a rucksack on his back Inside the rucksack were ammunition grenades night-vision goggles a first-aid kit water climbing gear and cold weather gear Lifesaving Armor Normally Giunta and the other soldiers would be wearing night-vision goggles on a mission like this The goggles allow soldiers to see in almost total darkness But the moon was full that night The soldiers had enough light to see by Suddenly
Body armor is designed to stop bullets Sergeant Victor R o b e r t s s v e s t s a v e d h i s l i f e w h e n h e w a s s h o t i n t h e back in 2005 gunfire broke out They were being ambushed on three sides The two soldiers leading the platoon were hit One of them was Giunta’s best friend A third was also wounded As Giunta was pulling that soldier to safety a bullet shattered the weapon that he carried on his back Another bullet hit Giunta right in the chest But Giunta was wearing Interceptor Body Armor IBA 7
