A U.S. soldier who was shot in the head with machine gun fire while serving in Afghanistan has just been given the helmet that saved his life.

Army Staff Sergeant Steven “Bryan” McQueen was nearly killed last September when a group of Afghani terrorists posing as police officers opened fire on him. McQueen was hit in the head with the machine gun fire, hurdling him forward and causing him to land on his face. He later said it felt like a horse had kicked him in the head.

Though McQueen had a minor brain bleed, doctors said that he did not have any permanent injuries. In the months since then, the military has been studying his helmet so that they can design more technology like it to help save the lives of other soldiers.

Now that they have finished studying the helmet, it was mounted on a plaque and given to McQueen earlier this week at a ceremony at Fort Belvoir in Virginia.

McQueen admitted that before the incident, he had complained about having to wear the helmet because it was so bulky. Now, however, he owes his life to it.

“Before this incident, I thought the helmet… was cumbersome and overkill,’ he said during the ceremony. “I was sorely mistaken. This helmet works and I am a living testament to it.”

“There is no doubt that Staff Sgt McQueen would not have survived that impact had he not been wearing that helmet,” added Lt. Col. Ginger Whitehead, a product manager for Soldier Protective Systems.

What an amazing story of survival, thanks to American ingenuity and this American hero who bravely defends our great country!