Marine jumps on grenade to save his comrades...

BBC ^ | BBC

[thundrey]

A Royal Marine who threw himself onto an exploding grenade to save the lives of his patrol has been put forward for the UK's highest military honour.

Lance Corporal Matt Croucher, 24, a reservist from Birmingham, survived because his rucksack and body armour took the force of the blast.

He was part of a reconnaissance troop in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in February, when the incident happened.

The Ministry of Defence said he could be considered for the Victoria Cross.

[NonValueAdded]

HMS Fearless

They sure do know how to name their ships.

[ExSoldier]

Well said! However you now owe me a new keyboard for causing me to laugh so hard I snorted my tea thru my nose and over the KB. 'Tis ruined I fear.

[RDTF]

God bless him

[thundrey]

It’s almost impossible to win the VC without dying. Only 1 person, Johnson Berray, has managed to win it in the last 40 years without being killed in the process...

[Twinkie]

Keep this going. - Brave Man. Brave Man. Brave Man . . .

[naturalman1975]

As a retired officer in Her Majesty's service (in my case, the Royal Australian Navy) who therefore had to be aware of the criteria for awarding various decorations, allow me to answer your question.

The Victoria Cross is awarded for: 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.

It's an incredibly high standard.

And while there is no doubt that this man is a hero, personally I can see why it would take a while to decide whether or not his heroism deserves the Victoria Cross.

To be frank, I believe his heroism, as described, is more deserving of the CGC - the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross - than the Victoria Cross. The CGC is the second highest award for courage in the face of the enemy - and those who receive it are also genuine heroes (as are those who receive the Miltary Cross, or a Mention In Dispatches - the third and fourth highest awards for courage (the MID can also be awarded for other exceptional acts, not necessarily related to heroic behaviour).

Yes, he is a hero - but not all heroes get the VC. Acting as if it is the only suitable award for heroic behaviour denigrates the achievements of those who have received other honours for their heroism.

[Radix]

Google Marine Sargent Peralta, for the story of this hero's spiritual comrade whom you likely did not hear about from the main stream media.

[naturalman1975]

Two, in fact. Corporal Bill Apiata of the New Zealand Special Air Service is also a living recipient for his actions in Afghanistan in 2004.

[LucyJo]

Didn’t know that. Seems this man came as close to dying as most would want to come. However, if it’s dying that wins the honor, I’d imagine his loved ones would just as soon he missed out on this one.

I’m going to google Johnson Berray. Thanks.

[Maigrey]

Talk about vu ja de... I mentioned Sgt. Peralta earlier today....

[george76]

bttt

[LucyJo]

Thank you for the explanation. I should have informed myself about the Victoria Cross. I have the highest regard for all those who fight for the cause of freedom. I meant no disrespect, and would never intentionally denigrate the honors received for heroism.

God bless.

[Dubya]

The young Lance Corporal frantically scanned the ground through his night vision goggles. And there it lay. He and his three comrades had SEVEN SECONDS to live...

What brave Matt did next could make him the first Royal Marine since 1945 to win a VICTORIA CROSS.

In an astonishing act of self sacrifice he FLUNG himself at the grenade, FLIPPED on his side next to it and lay there with only his backpack for protection as he prepared to SAVE his pals by SMOTHERING the blast with his body.

Matt, 24, recalled: “I thought, ‘I’ve set this bloody thing off and I’m going to do whatever it takes to protect the others’.
http://forums.military.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/672198221/m/2430058671001

[grimalkin]

Incredible. This man is very lucky to be alive.

[M203M4]

Related to Beharry, there is an incident with the BBC which makes my blood boil. A 1.5 hour special on his actions was developed, but the BBC refused to finish and air it because there was not enough they could do to spin the story in a negative way (Johnson still wants to go back to Iraq, all members of his unit had nothing negative to add, etc). Seriously - the BBC was afraid that the story of heroism was far too positive, and that viewers opposed to the Iraq war would have been upset.

I don't care what their politics are with regard to Iraq, or their notions of journalistic "balance" - anyone who has a problem with a positive depiction of this man's battlefield bravery is squarely rooting against Britain, not just British involvement in Iraq.

[jazusamo]

LCpl Matt Croucher is one of Britain’s finest!

He deserves the Victoria Cross for this incredible act of bravery.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

.

[TomGuy]

That link is to a MUST READ on the story.

Matt says: “It’s a pretty unusual thing but the lads put me forward for the VC themselves. It’s entirely out of my hands. But if it was to happen it would be a massive honour not just for me but for the regiment and all my comrades.”

[Riptides]

God bless you, Lance Corporal Croucher.

[RepublitarianRoger2]

Wow...That takes courage. Pretty incredible that he made it through with just a nosebleed, too.