---
title: "A gift from his dad saved this Marine’s life in Fallujah"
date: "2025-02-28"
modified: "2025-02-28"
authors:
  - name: "Miguel Ortiz"
    job_title: "Senior Contributor, Army Veteran"
    link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/miguelortiz/"
url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/tactical/a-gift-from-his-dad-saved-this-marines-life-in-fallujah/"
categories:
  - "History"
  - "Iraq War"
  - "Tactical"
  - "War History"
  - "Weapons"
tags:
  - "Guns"
---

# A gift from his dad saved this Marine’s life in Fallujah

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Bowers-Iraq.jpg>)
*(Todd Bowers via Trijicon)*

The [Trijicon ACOG](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-tactical/acog-optic/>) on an [M16 rifle](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/popular/marines-complaints-m16a4/>) is to GWOT Marines what the [M1 Garand](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-tactical/m1-garand-ammo-capacity/>) is to WWII Marines: iconic. In fact, Trijicon has a quote by General James Mattis on the company website that reads, "The ACOG® mounted on the M16 service rifle has proven to be the biggest improvement in lethality for the Marine infantryman since the introduction of the M1 Garand in World War Two."

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Bowers-M16-ACOG.jpg>)
**Bowers with his ACOG-equipped M16A2 (Todd Bowers via Trijicon)**

Having trained to engage targets out to 500 yards with iron sights, Marines equipped with 4x scopes and Bullet Drop Compensator reticles became even more deadly. However, at the outbreak of the Iraq War, Marines were woefully under equipped. Some even had to purchase spare magazines privately because the arms rooms didn't have enough to go around. Luckily for Sgt. Todd B. Bowers, his father gifted him an ACOG two days before he left for Iraq.

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Bowers-ACOG-Impact.jpg>)
**Bowers' ACOG after taking a 7.62x54R bullet (U.S. Marine Corps)**

Bowers, assigned to the 4th Civil Affairs Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, mounted the scope on his issued [M16A2 rifle](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/marine-corps-m16/>). On September 17, 2004, Bowers and his unit conducted a patrol outside of Fallujah. The Marines engaged a force of enemy snipers and a firefight ensued. During the exchange of fire, Bowers' ACOG was struck by an enemy bullet and fragmentation peppered the left side of his face. "It was about a four-hour firefight," Bowers recounted in a Marine Corps new article. "Bullets were flying everywhere, and as I returned fire, it felt like my weapon blew up."

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Bowers-Face-Wound.jpg>)
**Bowers and his lifesaving ACOG in Iraq (Todd Bowers via Tijicon)**

A corpsman attended to Bowers, removing the fragmentation and applying pressure to his face. Although the corpsman began to call for a MEDEVAC, Bowers refused to be evacuated and rejoined the fight. "Luckily, I had my ballistic goggles on to protect my eyes, without them I probably would not be able to see out of my left eye," Bowers said. "I didn’t realize how lucky I was till later that day when I sat down to think about it." The 7.62x54R bullet, likely from a [Dragunov SVD rifle](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-tactical/russias-standard-issue-sniper-rifle-is-over-50-years-old/>), remained lodged in the ACOG that his father gave him.

![Close-up view of a black rifle scope with a red illuminated reticle visible through the lens, mounted on a firearm. The scope shows some wear and dust around the edges.](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Bowers-ACOG-Reticle.jpg>)
**Despite taking a direct hit, the ACOG's reticle is fully functional (Trijicon)**

John, the elder Bowers, served as a sergeant of Marines himself. He gifted his son the ACOG to ensure that Todd went into combat with a useful piece of gear. "The ACOG was the best purchase I have ever made in my life," John later told his son over the phone. In return for his father's lifesaving gift, Todd gave his father the Purple Heart that he was awarded for his wounds in Iraq.

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Bowers-Trijicon-ACOG-Comment.jpg>)
**Bowers' comment on a Trijicon post about his lifesaving ACOG (Facebook)**

"I always told my dad that he essentially gave me the gift of life twice," Bowers said in a Trijicon community post, "and to this day he still carries that Purple Heart in his pocket. It’s been to Hadrian’s Wall, the United Kingdom, New York City, Turkey, Greece, Sicily…all over the world." Bowers remained in the Marine Corps, later deployed to Afghanistan, and is now a father himself. He still keeps the ACOG on his mantel as a reminder of how it saved his life.

## Author
Miguel Ortiz is a Senior Contributor for We Are The Mighty covering primarily military news and history with an emphasis on weapons technology. He is a former active duty Army officer and remains a member of the Army IRR. After commissioning through San Diego State University Army ROTC, Miguel served with the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, NY. He has written for We Are The Mighty since 2020, drawing from his passion for the military community and history. Miguel’s work has also been seen on Business Insider and The Blast. He remains an avid shooter, competing in local USPSA matches. Miguel’s other hobbies are traveling and watch collecting.

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/miguel-ortiz1495>)