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Dutch queen presents commando highest medal (equivalent to MoH or VC)
The Hinud News Update Service ^ | 29th May 2009

Posted on 06/14/2009 5:23:51 PM PDT by naturalman1975

Queen Beatrix awarded a Dutch commando the country's highest military medal on Friday for his heroics leading an elite military unit in Afghanistan.

Beatrix pinned the Willems Order cross and orange ribbon on Capt. Marco Kroon before slapping him on the left shoulder with her right hand to knight him at a ceremony in The Hague.

It was the first time in more than 50 years that the medal has been awarded to an individual soldier. It also can be awarded to entire military units.

Beatrix said Kroon showed "courage, discretion and dedication" in leading a commando unit in the southern Afghanistan province of Uruzgan in 2006.

Kroon's unit was involved in several firefights with Taliban insurgents during its deployment with NATO-led forces in Afghanistan.

In one battle, Kroon's unit advanced and came under fire from the Taliban so that a wounded Australian soldier could be rescued. In another, Kroon's machine gun was hit by enemy fire as he tried to find a way through a village full of insurgents, the Defense Ministry said.

Kroon said in a statement that he received the medal on behalf of his unit. He said he built up friendship and mutual respect with his troops by leading through example.

"You create that by showing you will walk through fire for your men," he said. "I trust them and they trust me."

Defense Minister Eimert van Middelkoop paid tribute to Kroon's bravery, saying the medal "symbolizes a recognition of exceptional acts under extreme and dangerous circumstances."

The Netherlands has some 1,600 troops in Afghanistan, often working together with Australian forces stationed in the south. A total of 19 Dutch soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan since 2006.

(Excerpt) Read more at hindu.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; allies; cross; dutchtroops; heroes; marcokroon; medals; nato; netherlands; queenbeatrix; royals; willingcoalition

I came across this man's story in today's Melbourne Age.

Unfortunately copyright restrictions mean the Age can't be posted here, so I had to find another source.

Afghanistan battle bonds brothers in arms for the Age article.


1 posted on 06/14/2009 5:23:51 PM PDT by naturalman1975
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To: naturalman1975

This is wonderful news.


2 posted on 06/14/2009 5:26:43 PM PDT by lilylangtree (Veni, Vidi, Vici)
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To: naturalman1975

This American thanks you and your unit for your service, Captain Kroon.


3 posted on 06/14/2009 5:27:04 PM PDT by kaehurowing
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To: naturalman1975

Bravo!


4 posted on 06/14/2009 5:46:49 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer (The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.)
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To: naturalman1975

Although the Dutch (and Germans) have buried the fact for over 60 years, quite a few Dutch soldiers received the Knights Cross fighting for Germany against the Soviet Union. Decorations, and the courage that earned it, vanish when you fight for the wrong side.


5 posted on 06/14/2009 5:54:52 PM PDT by Larry381 ("in the final instance civilization is always saved by a platoon of soldiers" Oswald Spengler)
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To: Larry381

How are awards given by Germany to Dutch soldiers sixty years ago remotely relevant to this story?


6 posted on 06/14/2009 6:21:47 PM PDT by PotatoHeadMick
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To: naturalman1975; knighthawk
BTTT. One of the few continental allies fighting along side the Australians, Brits and Canadians. Well done Holland!
7 posted on 06/14/2009 6:24:28 PM PDT by Chgogal (American Mugabe, get your arse out of my bank and get your arse out of my car!)
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To: naturalman1975

BTTT


8 posted on 06/14/2009 6:28:21 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar
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To: PotatoHeadMick
How are awards given by Germany to Dutch soldiers sixty years ago remotely relevant to this story?

they're not, except for possibly the bravery involved by Dutch soldiers-I was only making an observation, I was not denigrating the bravery of the soldier in the story.

9 posted on 06/14/2009 6:34:05 PM PDT by Larry381 ("in the final instance civilization is always saved by a platoon of soldiers" Oswald Spengler)
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To: naturalman1975
Why were these guys constantly getting themselves surrounded?

I think that maybe their governments should send them more resources.

10 posted on 06/14/2009 6:55:43 PM PDT by Lysandru
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To: naturalman1975

Thank you for the post.
Having some Dutch ancestry and having visited the Netherlands I especially appreciate reading of the heroics of our Dutch allies in this war.

Also great they are working with your Australian forces
also great and heoric troops.


11 posted on 06/14/2009 8:22:59 PM PDT by SoCalPol (Reagan Republican for Palin 2012)
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To: naturalman1975

Good man, he and his mates.


12 posted on 06/14/2009 11:52:49 PM PDT by Eagles6 ( Typical White Guy: Christian, Constitutionalist, Heterosexual, Redneck. (Let them eat arugula!))
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To: Chgogal

Thanks for the ping!


13 posted on 06/15/2009 1:18:48 PM PDT by knighthawk (We will always remember We will always be proud We will always be prepared so we may always be free)
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To: AdmSmith; Berosus; bigheadfred; Convert from ECUSA; dervish; Ernest_at_the_Beach; Fred Nerks; ...
Capt. Marco Kroon... showed "courage, discretion and dedication" in leading a commando unit in the southern Afghanistan province of Uruzgan in 2006... Kroon said in a statement that he received the medal on behalf of his unit. He said he built up friendship and mutual respect with his troops by leading through example... The Netherlands has some 1,600 troops in Afghanistan, often working together with Australian forces stationed in the south. A total of 19 Dutch soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan since 2006.

14 posted on 06/19/2009 6:23:55 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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