Posted on 10/24/2008 1:16:26 AM PDT by naturalman1975
DESPITE being shot twice during an ambush in Afghanistan, an SAS soldier lashed himself to the front of his patrol vehicle so he wouldn't be left behind if he passed out from loss of blood and kept on fighting.
The Digger, suffering from serious upper body wounds, struggled on to the front of his long-range patrol vehicle and, under heavy fire, used a rope to tie himself firmly between the bull bar and radiator.
Once he was secured and there was no chance he would fall off if he fainted, he picked up his M4 assault rifle and resumed firing at the enemy during a two-hour fighting withdrawal.
SAS troops and their special forces comrades from the Commando Regiment are well aware of the slow and painful death that awaits them if they are captured by the Taliban.
As one SAS soldier put it during an earlier campaign: "If the Taliban get you then you are toast."
And that's toast that is grilled on video and flashed around the world.
The Digger, who cannot be identified, faded in and out of consciousness, emptying several magazines as volleys of enemy bullets and rocket-propelled grenades rained down around him.
He was finally evacuated from the battlefield at high speed still lashed to the front of the vehicle like an over-sized water bag.
.....
His heroic deeds will be recognised when he is recommended for a high-level bravery award.
Several others engaged in the do-or-die battle at dusk on September 2 are also in line for top honours.
A total of nine Australians were wounded, including one critically and three seriously, when the patrol was ambushed by Taliban insurgents.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
Now, that's a mounted weapon.
What a man! Some of the Australian soldiers in Vietnam were legendary among American soldiers for their courage and toughness.
Good on you, Digger!!!!
Was there not room inside the vehicle? I guess I’m not clear on why he had to tie himself where he did.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you...Trooper “Mad” Max Rockatansky, SASR.
The will and desire to live and carry on the fight is very important. Never ever give up.
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