Matt Garst

Cpl. Matt Garst, from Charlotte, NC, is a member of the United States Marine Corps, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment. He is renowned for having survived an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast and walking away.

On June 23, 2010, Cpl. Garst was a squad leader on a mission to establish a vehicle checkpoint in Southern Shorsurak, Afghanistan, as a part of Operation New Dawn. He and his troops were working to secure an abandoned compound when Cpl. Garst's movements triggered an IED buried underneath his position. The IED, made of three liters of homemade explosives, was buried excessively deep, and also did not fully detonate. The blast threw Cpl Garst over 15 feet from the blast site, and launched him at least 10 feet into the air. Members of his squad who were shielded from the blast by an 8 foot wall witnessed Cpl. Garst being thrown through the air. The blast caused Cpl. Garst to black out momentarily, but he was found alert and standing on his feet, still holding his rifle. He proceeded to finish the mission and led his men the four miles back to their observation post. The following day he experienced soreness and followed orders to take the day off for rest and recuperation. However, two days after the event he resumed patrol efforts with his men.