GI's Graphic Afghan Firefight Recorded on Family's Voice Mail

Part of me thinks this is a hoax:

Stephen Phillips' mother knew her son was in harm's way.

The Otis, Ore., soldier was stationed halfway around the world in Afghanistan, part of a military police detail.

But technology — in this case, a cell phone — gave Sandie Petee the comfort that her MP son was no more than just a call away.

Until, that is, a simple glitch — the inadvertent redial — sent the family into panic.

Phillips was on patrol when his unit engaged the Taliban. Not only did a firefight ensue, but his cell phone automatically called the Petee home, leaving a three-minute frightening message laced with the sounds of gunfire and panicked soldiers yelling for "more ammo."

"His friend died a year ago in Iraq," Sandie Petee told KPTV, "and I'm thinking, 'Oh my God, this may be the last time I hear my son's voice on the phone.' "

To make matters worse, at the end of the heart-wrenching message, "you could hear a guy saying 'Incoming! RPG!' And then it cut off," Phillip's brother John Petee said.

The Petee's were relieved when they were able contact their son, who is scheduled to return home next month at the completion of his tour.

Phillip's only request?

"Don't let Grandma hear (the recording)."

Can our guys call home on a regular cell phone? I remember reading about soldiers using a satellite phone to call home from Iraq.

The audio is on Youtube. Here's the link (bad language warning!)

And here's the audio: