The debt we owe the Gurkhas(Britain)

Telegraph ^ | 01 Oct 2008 | Thomas Bell

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The debt we owe the Gurkhas

Lance Corporal Ram Bahadur Limbu won his Victoria Cross in a mostly forgotten war, the Indonesian Confrontation, in Borneo in 1965.

First, he charged a machine-gun nest, knocking it out with a hand grenade. Then he made two forays into open ground to rescue wounded comrades, and another to retrieve a Bren gun. He used it to charge down and kill what was left of the enemy.

When I decided to look up Lance Corporal Limbu a few years ago, it was a simple matter to find him – I just went to his hometown in eastern Nepal and asked for "VC".

Naik (the equivalent of "corporal") Agansing Rai won his VC fighting the Japanese near the India-Burma border in 1944. "Under withering fire the naik and his party charged a machine gun, he himself killing three of the crew," his citation reads." The first position having been taken, he then led a dash on a machine-gun firing from the jungle, where he killed three of the crew, his men accounting for the rest. He subsequently tackled an isolated bunker single-handed, killing all four occupants. The enemy were now so demoralised that they fled and the second post was recaptured."

Such tales of valour have spawned a whole genre of military histories, often written by retired British officers. They have also been used as propaganda: during the Falklands War, a photo of Gurkhas queuing at a grindstone to sharpen their khukuris was released to the Chilean media. As hoped, it found its way to Argentina.

[Old Student]

“He lied, and; you retired. You have Tricare. I would agree that retired, even if CAT 7 or 8, should get VA care. I just do not like the 2-4 year types expecting VA care for life without any SC condition. I am sending my DAV life membership back over their sponsoring this plan.”

It's not supposed to be for one hitch, it's career & retired who get it. That is what Tsgt. Angel said, too. Not do a hitch and don't worry. Maybe I should forgive him after all, it could have been worse. ;)

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