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Last week, while recovering an Army vehicle in Iraq, Schweigart, 22, was shot by a high-powered rifle and had a bullet pass through his arm and chest. The bullet went through his nipple and into his Bible. Hitting the Bible may have saved his life.

I just read this article in yesterday’s Mideast issue of the Stars and Stripes. The article was written by John Anderson, a reporter for the Wellsville (N.Y.) Daily Reporter. You can read the full article at the Wellsville Daily Reporter.

PFC Schweigart states that he received the Bible in bootcamp and didn’t want to go into combat without it. The bullet, fired by a sniper while Schweigart was recovering another vehicle, went through his left arm, into his side, out his chest and into the Bible. If the Bible had not stopped the bullet, it could have hit the inside of his Interceptor Body Armor (IBA) and then ricocheted back into his chest again. That by itself is pretty amazing. However, what I find even more amazing is his reaction immediately after being shot. Here’s what he had to say about it:

My Lt. Colonel was standing next to me and asked me if I needed anything. I said yea, I need my Bible. He reached in my pocket and saw it, and there was the bullet.

He’s laying there after being shot by a sniper and asks for his Bible.

Luckily Mugs bought me a Bible that fits in my cargo pocket!