More Gallantry in Afghanistan

[Texas Star]

BBC News - Gurkha who repelled Taliban attack gets bravery medal

Read this and scroll down and play the video, with the captain and the female corporal/medic who received high decorations for bravery in Afghanistan. The corporal was awarded the MBE. (Member of the Order of the British Empire.) The Gurkha on the roof received the medal just beneath the Victoria Cross. (Equivalent to the US Distinguished Service Cross.) Another Ghurka in Iraq did receive the VC for saving about 23 badly wounded men while under intense enemy fire. An Australian SAS man has also received the VC. Wait: found a second VC , also an SAS soldier. Note the tan beret.
http://maynepaddy.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/sasr4.jpg Cpl. Ben Smith, VC, photo

(Only one of these heroes is a Ghurka; the captain and the corporal are European Brits. Play the video.)

One thing that always impresses me about these heroes, whether British or US, is their modesty. Note that the captain calls the corporal by her first name. They don't seem too formal, at least in this TV interview soon after being decorated. I'm surprised that they weren't in dress uniform.

The medic is a Scot, I think. You may have to listen carefully to understand her. She mentioned beng supported by No. 11 platoon of the Scots Guards while in action.

Overall, our troops and close allies in Afghanistan evoke what was said of the US Marines during an island invasion in WWII: "Uncommon valor was a common virtue."

 

[Texas Star]

http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2011/01/24/1225993/354146-ben-roberts-smith-major.jpg


Three Aussie recepients of the Victoria Cross. It is the medal on the maroon ribbon, the first in the row of medals on their chests. The man on the right must have received his in Vietnam; he is much older. Good Lord: look at the medals on him! He must clank when he walks!

I'm glad these guys are on our side!

 

[GatorFarmer]

The story ran a couple of years ago, but a bit of googling will turn it up. Anyway, a Brit Lieutenant won the Military Medal (sort of like a bronze star with V device I think) for using his bayonet. Apparently he'd run his magazine dry, didn't feel that he had time to reload, leapt over a wall and killed two combatants with the bayonet on his SA-80.

The Victoria Cross comes with a lifetime pension of 1000 pounds a month (been a bit since that was adjusted for inflation I think). This stems from an incident years and years ago where a recipient was hanged later (after leaving the military) for stealing a pig. This also caused a split in opinion as to whether a VC could be revoked, though the more popular commentary was that if someone had earned the VC and then were to be hanged a week later for something else, then they had earned the right to climb the gallows wearing it.

The Germans meanwhile have been debating whether to resurrect the Iron Cross (in various grades) as an award for valor. Most public opinion was surprisingly positive last I followed the story.

 

[Texas Star]

Gator-

I saw that about the officer who used the bayonet. And the bit about the Royal Navy medic who opened an airway into the throat of a wounded soldier while under devastating enemy fire. She received the second Military Cross ever awarded to a female, I think. (About like a Silver Star.) The investiture at Buckingham Palace is on YouTube. Able Seaman Kate Nesbitt, MC.

What's this Cross for Conspicious Gallantry, just below the VC? Did that replace the DSO? (Distinguished Service Order. I think it was just for officers.)

BTW, I haven't forgotten your story. I've just been too busy to read it, so far. I'll get to it, I hope this weekend.

Oh: I found that about Kate Nesbitt. Very brave girl.

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4baA5hs3vEY&NR=1

(Simon Cowell at the X Factor Praises Nesbitt)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujLqzUGs8gs&NR=1

(HRH The Prince of Wales personally presents Seaman Nesbitt with the MC in an investiture at Buckingham Palace.)


Watch these all the way through. They tell the story of Able Seaman Kate Nesbitt, MC, the second woman in history to receive the Military Cross for gallantry in battle. Nesbitt is a medic in the Royal Navy, serving in Afghanistan. She was accompanying the First Battalion, The Rifles, a famous Army regiment, on patrol.

Her saving the life of a badly wounded soldier while under very heavy Taliban fire made her a heroine. Unlike Xena and Wonder Woman, Nesbitt is a real life heroine, of the first order. Note how modest she seems while being praised by TV host Simon Cowell and various other figures.

May God bless her. She is only five feet, two inches tall, but she stands high in the annals of courage.

For US readers, her award equals our Silver Star, the 3rd highest award for valor. One US Army military policewoman has received the Silver Star for leading a fierce attack in Iraq that drove back a larger enemy force. Two male colleagues also received that decoration for that battle. It must have been an intense "action"!

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[Texas Star]

Medals 22nd Mar 2011 - YouTube


Here's the Ghurka.