Posted on 01/22/2011 2:45:53 PM PST by naturalman1975
An SAS digger who single-handedly took out three Taliban machine gunners will today receive Australia's highest military honour, the Victoria Cross.
The soldier, known only as Corporal Ben, will receive his medal from Governor-General Quentin Bryce at Perth's Campbell Barracks.
Also attending will be Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, Defence Minister Stephen Smith, Defence Force Chief Angus Houston and Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett.
Corporal Ben is reported to have earned the VC by his actions during the intense gun battle in Afghanistan's Shah Wali Kot region last October.
In the fight, Corporal Ben charged the enemy after realising his fellow soldiers were in danger, taking out three Taliban machine gun positions.
He is the second soldier in two years to receive the VC after Trooper Mark Donaldson was awarded the honour in 2009.
Corporal Ben has already won the Medal for Gallantry for outstanding bravery in Afghanistan in 2006.
(Excerpt) Read more at abc.net.au ...
with far fewer troops in theatre, Australia has awarded two VC’s and New Zealand one. Our military is very stingy with the MoH.
Oh yes - there’s a major discrepancy when it comes to the Medal of Honor. It’s meant to be rare, of course, but not that rare.
Down Under Thunder Puts Taliban Down Under
I love Aussie Soldiers. They are fight hard and party hard.
Two peoples separated by a common language ... I thought he was talking about Charlie, the one who doesn’t surf. D’oh, Victoria Cross!
Rank in the SAS doesn’t tend to work the same way it does in other units - Sergeants have voluntarily reverted to Trooper (Private) to join.
Any SAS NCO is a big deal.
Due to copyright reasons, this video can only be viewed by people located in Australia.
:(
Congratulations to Corporal Ben. HAND SALUTE!
That is annoying - part of the promotion for ABC News 24 - a taxpayer funded service - was because it would allow Australian overseas to keep up with what was happening here. I shall be writing some letters
I too had the honor of serving with Aussies in Viet Nam. Truly good soldiers, good guys, and drank me under the table many a time.
jeffDavis1861
25th Inf Div
Div Arty 1968-1969
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