Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith - photo taken moments after the action for which he was awarded Australia (and the Commonwealth's) highest award for valour in the face of the enemy - the Victoria Cross.
Posted on 04/24/2011 2:43:26 PM PDT by naturalman1975
EVEN heroes have their heroes. For Victoria Cross holder Ben Roberts-Smith, the benchmark for valour was set by his mate Sergeant Locke.
The Special Air Service Regiment corporal says Locke's courage probably saved his life and stopped a heavily outnumbered Australian patrol being overrun on a mountain top in Afghanistan late one afternoon in 2006.
"He was a very, very brave person, Matt, in every sense of the word," Roberts-Smith says.
When Roberts-Smith was awarded the Victoria Cross of Australia for his extraordinary charge into a Taliban machine-gun position in June last year, it brought an unexpected burden: the weight of suddenly being a very public hero while his unit fights on with unsung gallantry.
"They're out there every day doing their job and not seeking any recognition for it," Roberts-Smith says. "I'm just one of these guys and I'm so not special."
(Excerpt) Read more at theaustralian.com.au ...
It is ANZAC Day here in Australia - and New Zealand. The most sacred day in our national calendar. The day we remember those who have fought and died for our country in the course of freedom.
I have to be in England later in the week, but I delayed leaving until today so I could once again attend the Dawn Service at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance. A reminder every year to remain worthy of the sacrifices made to give me the life I have.
Happy ANZAC Day! I, as an American, appreciate the sacrifices of all ANZACs military personnel.
You should do another post of this wonderful soldier’s pic, alongside the one of algore staring down the muzzle of his rifle! What a contrast!
Go Aussies !!!
Winner winner Sheen dinner? No. Winner winner Ben dinner.
Good on ya, mate.
ANZAC always brings to mind the brave effort at Dieppe for me naturalman.
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