Posted on 01/17/2009 2:43:56 PM PST by naturalman1975
This really is worth watching at youtube.
Very nice!
It’s reassuring to see this. Heros are harder to find today ... .
BUMP!!!
What a wonderful video. Thanks for posting it. The caliber of these brave men never cease to amaze me. Gives me hope.
Very good - Thanks!
It’s heart warming to see a living hero receive the Victoria Cross or Medal of Honor. All too many are awarded posthumously.
Hand salute to Trooper Mark Donaldson.
Not a scratch...the Victoria Cross. He earned firing and staring down the enemy, courage in caring for ALL of his buddies... “mates and comrades.” What a blessed man God had in the right place at the right time for this, just the beginning of reasons. Mark Donaldson lived what Jesus spoke of, to lay his life down for his friends.
God bless our men and women in the Armed Forces, soldiers, warriors ALL and ALL many of our dwindling allies.
Brave man. It is interesting how Australian and New Zealand SAS troopers can get awarded VCs and get loads of publicity.
It has been reported a few times that there are British SAS troopers who have done actions that are worthy of the VC, but because members are required to be anonymous, and all VC awards are gazetted, its never awarded to people in the British SAS....
That’s not the case. British SAS soldiers can certainly receive the VC. Their identity might not be revealed at the time, but it can still be awarded.
In the case of New Zealand SAS Corporal Bill Apiata VC and Australia SAS Trooper Mark Donaldson VC both of their identities were released specifically when the medal was presented because of the special nature of these awards. Two other SAS soldiers were decorated with Corporal Apiata (receiving other gallantry awards) and their identities remain concealed.
A British SAS soldier could be awarded the VC in the same way. But it’s also possible that they’ve decided to wait for an ‘End of War’ list. The Australian and New Zealand Defence Forces have decided to no longer rely on ‘End of War’ lists to award decorations due to a failure to promulgate such lists at the end of the Vietnam War - Australia didn’t issue an end of war list for Vietnam until 1998, when 81 soldiers were finally recognised for their service.
Great video, on a minor point of protocol I notice Trooper Donaldson wasn’t wearing his cap when he was saluted, presumably he was so unused to being saluted he neglected to put it on beforehand or maybe the convention is that the senior officer is saluting the medal rather than the man, either way a great video about a brave and modest young man (and his missus isn’t half bad looking either).
Under Australian convention, while the person given a salute should be wearing a hat, the person saluted does not have to be. Generally speaking you would not render a salute to a person who is not wearing a hat, because they will be unable to return it.
Incidentally, I heard a story recently coming from a police officer who has received the Cross of Valour (Australia’s replacement in our own honours system for the George Cross, which is equal to that decoration in status, making it also equal to the VC). He got the shock of his life when he pulled over a soldier for speeding, and while he was talking to the soldier, the man’s eyes went to his chest and saw his ribbon and suddenly cracked off a perfect salute.
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