Posted on 04/25/2007 5:49:14 PM PDT by naturalman1975
TED Kenna's skin hung from his bones and he stank of rotting flesh when Marjorie Rushberry first laid eyes on him in June 1945. For the young nurse, it was not love at first sight, but horror.
The wounded soldier's face was torn apart, with entry and exit holes in the cheek where a bullet had ripped through flesh and then ricocheted off teeth, reversing and entering the young private's chest.
It did not strike Miss Rushberry that this could be exactly the kind of Casanova her father had warned her about.
"Be careful of those boys, you know what hospital romances are like," the nurse's father, also a former serviceman, would say.
He was right. Mr Kenna's nurse is now his wife of 60 years, still by his side in his home town of Hamilton in western Victoria, where Australia's oldest surviving Victoria Cross recipient was greeted as a hero yesterday at the town's Anzac Day service.
In the nine months that the young nurse cared for Mr Kenna at Melbourne's Military Hospital in 1945 and 1946, he never spoke of the single-minded act of bravery in the face of concentrated enemy fire in New Guinea that saw him later awarded the Commonwealth's highest military honour.
The VC, worth as much as $1million to collectors, is kept in a bank vault these days, except for Anzac Day, when Mr Kenna proudly pins it to his chest.
Despite its potential price tag, Mr Kenna, who with Vietnam War hero Keith Payne is one of two surviving Australian VC winners, says there is no way he will ever sell the medal for fear that to do so would dishonour his fallen mates. "I think the boys at the time, it belongs as much to them as it does me," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at theaustralian.news.com.au ...
What an amazing story — thanks!
Great story.
God bless them both.
My very best and sharpest salute to these two heros. God be with them.
ping to the Foxhole for our Digger brothers.
What a beautiful story, and he and his nurse then wife are still together 60 years later. They were the finest generation.
Thanks for lifting me up a bit.
Arioch7
An ANZAC Day hand salute from a grateful and respectful Yank. BTT.
God bless him and all our Australian Friends!!!!
Waht a story!
A hero proved in liberating strife.
A very moving story. I enjoyed reading it. Bless this man.
I believe this is the text of the citation:
In the South West Pacific at Wewak on the 15th May, 1945, during the attack on the Wirui Mission features, Private KENNA’s company had the task of capturing certain enemy positions.
The only position from which observation for supporting fire could be obtained was continuously swept by enemy machine gun fire and it was not possible to bring Artillery or Mortars into action.
Private KENNA’s platoon was ordered forward to deal with the enemy machine gun post, so that the company operation could proceed. His section moved as close as possible to the bunker in order to harass any enemy seen, so that the remainder of the platoon could attack from the flank. When the attacking sections came into view of the enemy they were immediately engaged at very close range by heavy automatic fire from a position not previously disclosed.
Casualties were suffered and the attackers could not move further forward. Private KENNA endeavoured to put his Bren gun into a position where he could engage the bunker, but was unable to do so because of the nature of the ground.
On his own initiative and without orders Private KENNA stood up immediately in full view of the enemy less than fifty yards away and engaged the bunker, firing his Bren gun from his hip. The enemy machine gun immediately returned Private KENNA’s fire with such accuracy that bullets actually passed between his arms and body. Undeterred, he remained completely exposed and continued to fire at the enemy until his magazine was exhausted. Still making a target of himself, Private KENNA discarded his Bren gun and called for a rifle. Despite the intense machine gun fire, he seized the rifle and, with amazing coolness, killed the gunner with his first round. A second automatic opened fire on Private KENNA from a different position and another of the enemy immediately tried to move into position behind the first machine gun, but Private KENNA remained standing and killed him with his next round.
The result of Private KENNA’s magnificent bravery in the face of concentrated fire, was that the bunker was captured without further loss, and the company attack proceeded to a successful conclusion, many enemy being killed and numerous automatic weapons captured.
There is no doubt that the success of the company attack would have been seriously endangered and many casualties sustained but for Private KENNA’s magnificent courage and complete disregard for his own safety. His action was an outstanding example of the highest degree of bravery.
http://www.anzacday.org.au/history/ww2/anecdotes/kenna.html
Here’s a link to a writeup on the other living Australian VC winner:
http://www.aattv.iinet.net.au/payne.htm
Foxhole Digger ping!
Thanks amused spectator.
Great story! Thanks for the ping.
BTTT
Awesome. Thanks for posting this. It’s great to know there are real heroes - that label is tossed around too loosely by all of us - and also that not all such heroes are Americans, either.
Wonderful story of Valor!
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