Navy SEAL Mike Day
This is the harrowing survival story of Mike Day, a Senior Chief of the Navy SEALs. Shot 27 times, Day miraculously lived to recount the incredible tale of his ordeal.
In 2007, amidst the heightened conflict with al-Qaeda, Navy SEAL Mike Day led a team on a raid in the Anbar region of Iraq. Despite his extensive military experience, Day had never before been shot.
April 6, 2007, marked a fateful day for Day. While leading his team, he stormed into a room only to be met with a barrage of gunfire from three al-Qaeda militants. In the ensuing chaos, Day sustained 27 gunshot wounds.
Fortunately, Day’s body armor deflected 11 bullets, but the remaining 16 found their mark, inflicting severe injuries. Despite his wounds, the situation took a dire turn when a grenade exploded nearby, rendering him unconscious and drained of energy.
Summoning every ounce of courage, Day regained consciousness and managed to eliminate two of the assailants with his pistol. Recounting the traumatic experience, Day likened the sensation of being shot to enduring relentless blows from a sledgehammer.
In a desperate plea, Day prayed, ‘God, get me home to my girls,’ marking his first prayer amid the chaos. Miraculously, when the combat subsided, Day found the strength to rise and walk to the awaiting medical aircraft.
Mike’s survival, despite sustaining 16 penetrating wounds in various parts of his body, defied belief. He endured gunshot wounds to both legs, both arms, abdomen, back, and even his scrotum.
Following the intense battle, Mike Day was airlifted to Germany for further treatment, enduring three cardiac arrests during the flight out of Baghdad. Hospitalized for 16 days, he emerged from the ordeal, having lost 55 pounds but ultimately recovered.
In recognition of his valor, Day was awarded the Purple Heart along with bronze and silver stars, among other medals, for his distinguished service in the Navy. After a commendable 21-year career in the Navy, Day retired in 2010, continuing his service as an advocate for wounded soldiers within SOCOM.
Day’s remarkable resilience serves as a testament to the indomitable spirit of soldiers who refuse to surrender, exemplifying true courage in the face of adversity despite enduring unimaginable hardships.
