Posted on 02/16/2007 1:55:25 PM PST by naturalman1975
A BRITISH soldier posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery in Afghanistan may have been shot dead by his comrades.
Father of two Corporal Bryan Budd, 29, of the 3rd Battalion the Parachute Regiment, was killed as he stormed a Taliban position single-handedly in Helmand, trying to protect seven of his colleagues from heavy fire.
His widow Lorena, 23, a clerk with the Royal Artillery, is due to collect his posthumous VC from the Queen at Buckingham Palace next month.
She has been told his death may have been caused by "friendly fire", The Sun reported last night. She was said to be devastated at the news.
But his commanding officer said that if Budd's death had been due to a "blue on blue" (fire from his own side), it would in no way detract from the heroism of his actions.
Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Tootle said: "Given the dynamics of close-quarter combat that we experienced in Afghanistan, there is always the possibility of casualties caused by friendly fire. However, this does not in any way detract from the utmost valour of Corporal Budd's actions which led to the winning of his VC."
(Excerpt) Read more at theaustralian.news.com.au ...
I hate to say it but thank God it wasn't American fire.
In a couple of weeks, in some newspapers, it will be.
Gawd! Stonewall Jackson was killed by "friendly fire". If you get men with adrenalin, fear and firearms close to each other this will always happen. Tragic but none the less heroic for the man killed. Sad for the man who killed him.
Friendly Fire? I blew away a latrine in Dong Ha...screwed up coordinates in some wee hours...luckliy no one was taking a dump.
If not not mistaken, the Victoria Cross is cast from bronze of captured Russian cannon in the Crimea...the Charge of the Light Brigade.
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