NZ soldier awarded highest honour (the Victoria Cross)

news.com.au ^ | 2nd July 2007

[naturalman1975]

A NEW Zealand soldier has become the first person since World War II to be awarded the country's highest honour for bravery, after a daring rescue of a wounded comrade in Afghanistan in 2004.

ACorporal Bill Apiata of the New Zealand Special Air Service (SAS) was given the Victoria Cross for New Zealand.

The medal is based on Britain's Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for British soldiers.

Prime Minister Helen Clark said Cpl Apiata, 35, was awarded the medal for carrying a severely wounded soldier across open ground while coming under heavy fire.

Cpl Apiata's patrol came under attack from machine gun and grenade fire when it had taken cover for the night, setting two vehicles on fire, his citation notice said.

During the fight, Cpl Apiata found himself isolated with two of his comrades, one of whom was badly wounded from shrapnel.

Cpl Apiata carried his wounded comrade 70m to where the rest of his patrol had taken cover, despite being clearly visible by the light of the burning vehicles.

"This brave action saved his comrade's life," Miss Clark said.

[naturalman1975]

Several large countries of the Commonwealth of Nations - notably Australia, Canada, and New Zealand - have established their own honours systems over recent decades to replace the British Imperial system. They have created their own medals to replace British awards.

But the special place the Victoria Cross holds in our military history, ensured that it was retained as the highest award for courage in the face of the enemy, and it is still awarded according to the same criteria.

"... most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy."

[Philistone]

Long live the Anglo-Sphere!

[pissant]

I applaud this man. Standing O!

[naturalman1975]

[RDTF]

[RDTF]

Biography: Corporal Bill Henry Apiata VC NZSAS
Monday, 2 July 2007, 12:06 pm
Press Release: New Zealand Government

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0707/S00014.htm

[narses]

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[RDTF]

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[naturalman1975]

Top row: The Victoria Cross for New Zealand, The New Zealand Operational Service Medal.

Bottom row: The New Zealand East Timor Medal, The United Nations East Timor Medal and The New Zealand General Service Medal for Afghanistan.

On his right breast he wears the emblem of the US Presidential Unit Citation.

[StarCMC]

WOW!! What a hero! Thanks for the ping RDTF! Pinging a few friends!

[StarCMC]

WOW!! What a hero! Thanks for the ping RDTF! Pinging a few friends!

[naturalman1975]

A big man deserves a big photo.

[RDTF]

what a hottie!

[Mrs.Nooseman]

Thanks for the ping.

[Mrs.Nooseman]

I salute this brave hero of new Zealand.

God bless him.

[nicmarlo]

Cpl Apiata, 35, was awarded the medal for carrying a severely wounded soldier across open ground while coming under heavy fire.

ping!

[Mrs.Nooseman]

That is what I was thinking.

[VOA]

well-done bump

[BIGLOOK]

Bravo Zulu to the Kiwi!

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Always proud to know that there are men like this out there.

I read somewhere where one of the major UK awards or titles have a limit ( 200 ? ), once a certain number are given out that’s all. It could be the Victoria Cross but I cant find it again. Anybody know?