Ask me again why I support the Troops.....How many people do YOU know that would do this??
| Wednesday May 9 12:47 AEST The Australian army's anonymous new hero in Iraq is a raw, young infantryman who leapt into a blazing armoured vehicle to provide cover for his wounded mates. Australia's commander in southern Iraq says he is humbled by the freshly qualified gunner's "incredible" courage and professionalism. But the brave Digger, whose patrol took fire four times in two days, does not want to be named. He was in a 50-vehicle convoy hit by light arms fire and rocket propelled grenades in two different villages as it returned to base at Tallil two weeks ago. But worse was to come 15km from home when his light armoured vehicle was hit by a remotely controlled roadside bomb. The vehicle's driver suffered a broken ankle and burnt legs and is recovering in Darwin. The commander and another crewman suffered concussion and minor injuries, but have since returned to duty. As the vehicle exploded into flames and careered off the road into a swamp, the gunner helped his wounded mates onto stretchers before leaping back to his turret to provide covering fire. In doing so he faced danger from the flames as well as two further explosions from remotely detonated bombs and the possibility of enemy fire. He returned with his patrol undeterred the following day to recover the damaged vehicle and exchanged shots in a firestorm with insurgents. "The gunner was quite incredible because he had been exposed to that (first) blast, too," said Lieutenant Colonel Tony Rawlins, commander of Australia's 540 troops in southern Iraq, who was also travelling near the head of the column. "He got back in and did what he was expected to do, and just that little bit more. "He was exhibiting symptoms of shock afterwards but he was lucid and being a very professional soldier. "There was no time to give formal orders or appraise the situation. "These guys all acted instinctively in a disciplined manner and knew exactly what to do. "They stepped up to the plate. "They did things that I would have expected from more experienced soldiers. "There was no grandstanding, nothing like that, just thorough, professional behaviour and it humbles me." Captain Tony Copley, commander of the second vehicle who raced out to try to extinguish the fire in the first, said: "It was a very courageous thing for him to jump back into a vehicle which had just been hit and was on fire. I can't say enough about him." He also praised decisive action by his own crew, saying: "I'm very lucky to have the chance to lead such fine young men." Lt Col Rawlins noted the restraint shown by Australian troops who returned to collect the burnt-out vehicle the next day, inflicting an unknown number of casualties among up to 30 insurgents. "They weren't just out there to get revenge," he said. "The criminals hid themselves amongst innocent civilians in order to protect themselves, and we used only the force that was necessary without causing widespread collateral damage." "We could have unleashed hell," said Lance Corporal Nathan Jones, a gunner on the second armoured vehicle who took it upon himself to radio for help after the roadside bombing. His action helped ensure that US helicopters were on the scene quickly to evacuate the wounded. "It was just 18 minutes from flash to dash," said Lt Col Rawlins. "That's phenomenal. "I have nothing but respect for them (the American pilots) because they landed those helicopters on the road next to the vehicle that was cooking and could have taken fire themselves." ©AAP 2007 |
1 comment:
A_C
and you should be, as we would say in the Army, "he brought great credit upon himself, his fellow soldiers, his unit, and his country". That's what they usually put on the awards citations anyway.
Click on my nick for one I found at Blackfive that makes me proud to be an American!!
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