From: SFC Dillard Johnson Platoon Sergeant 3rd ID 3-7 Cav

BAGHDAD─ Sgt.1st Class Dillard Johnson, and Staff Sgt. Jared Kennedy of C Troop, 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry

True Story from the field of the Gerber LMF II: “I’m here writing this letter because Gerber’s new LMF II worked just like you said it would. My spotter and I set our position over a section of roard where there had been a great deal of IED’s (improvised explosive devices) placed. There was no moon and it was dark as it could get. This meant I would be able to see the bad guys with my NVG’s (night vision glasses), and they would not be able to see us… which is the way a soldier likes it.

As we began to engage two targets, a larger contingent of bad guys arrived and started looking for us. I decided we should pull back, and I radioed for evacuation. We moved to a bombed-out compound and set up a defensive position to wait for the helicopter. We were then told that the helo had been diverted to a med evac and we would have to wait for our Bradleys, which were about 10 or 15 minutes out… no big deal.

Two of the bad guys moved into the compound. We were waiting for them to come into the open for a clearer shot. As luck would have it, they turned on a generator. Within seconds, the compound was lit up like a Wal-Mart parking lot, and the two men continued their search.

My spotter and I noticed two 220-volt power lines running along the wall to the floodlights. I remembered you telling me that the handle and butt cap of the LMF II knife were insulated and would not conduct electricity.

I have to admit I wasn’t exactly thrilled about the thought of having to cut the “hot lines,” but in battle you do what you have to do.

I moved over to the wall and wedged the knife behind the power lines and used my body weight to cut through the lines. I did turn my head and close my eyes.

I felt the heat from the lines arcing but that was it. I wasn’t electrocuted. Darkness returned and our cover was restored. We were able to re-engage while we waited for our evac. The knife blade had a couple of chunks eaten out of it by the high voltage, but when I got back to the compound I worked most of them out with a honing stone. You can still see where the blade was arced. Thank you and your company for this great knife.”

SPC Dillard Johnson
Platoon Sergeant
3rd ID 3-7 Cav

Gerber LMF II