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AUSTRALIAN COMMANDOS RECEIVE DECORATIONS FOR GALLANTRY
Australian Defence Force news release, CPA 316/06, 26 Nov 06
News Release/Citations
The Governor-General His Excellency MAJ GEN Michael Jeffery, AC, CVO, MC, joined with Prime Minister of Australia the Hon John Howard, MP, the Hon Dr. Brendan Nelson, MP and the Chief of the Defence Force ACM Angus Houston AO, AFC, to welcome home Eastern Australia-based members of the Afghanistan Special Forces Task Group (SFTG) in a ceremony at Tobruk Lines, Holsworthy Barracks today.
The soldiers, predominantly from the Sydney-based Fourth Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (Commando) (4RAR(Cdo)), formed part of the 200-personnel strong SFTG operating in Southern Afghanistan since late last year.
During the ceremony the Governor-General and Prime Minister praised the professionalism and courage of the SFTG who were involved in some of the most ferocious fighting since the Vietnam War during their 12-month deployment to Afghanistan.
The dangers faced by the SFTG were highlighted by the presentation of Australia’s first Star of Gallantry and a Medal for Gallantry to 4RAR(Cdo) members by the Governor-General.
Commando Sergeant “A” and Commando Corporal “B” were decorated for gallantry in recognition of their outstanding actions, leadership and bravery in Afghanistan.
During the awards presentation the Governor-General praised the actions of the two soldiers and described them as being “in the highest traditions of the Special Operations Command-Australia, the Australian Army and the Australian Defence Force.”
The Governor-General also announced the awarding of a Unit Citation for Gallantry to combat elements of the SFTG, whilst the Task Group as a whole has been awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation. These awards will be formally presented at a later date.
(....)
The identities of the Gallantry award recipients and full details of the actions in which they were awarded will not be publicly released for operational security reasons.
Courage under fire earns commandos top honours
Cynthia Banham, Sydney Morning Herald, 27 Nov 06
Article Link - Star of Gallantry profile
IN FEROCIOUS fighting, Commando Sergeant A, under direct fire from insurgents, led a rescue mission to save Canadian soldiers as they came under siege in southern Afghanistan.
He did it with "absolute disregard for his own safety".
Corporal B helped clear a hostile area of militia to enable another coalition unit to evacuate, killing several insurgents in the process.
He did this despite being wounded in the foot by a fragment from a barrage of rocket-propelled grenades.
Sergeant A was awarded the Star of Gallantry, the first soldier to receive the medal, which was introduced in 1991 and ranks behind only the Victoria Cross in Australian military honours. Corporal B was awarded the Medal for Gallantry.
The two commandos, both with the Sydney-based Fourth Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (Commando), served for 12 months with the Special Forces Task Group in Afghanistan. They were presented with their medals by the Governor-General, Major-General Michael Jeffery, at a ceremony at Holsworthy Barracks yesterday. They cannot be named for security reasons.
Sergeant A led a special forces unit in a four-hour siege in Oruzgan province, coming under intense fire from local militia as they fought to evacuate the cornered Canadians, who had suffered one fatality.
The Australians were surrounded by militia for more than an hour, during which every member of the outnumbered unit was shooting at the enemy as close as 50 metres away.
Sergeant A had rocket-propelled grenades land metres away from him, and took a bullet in his headrest while others landed between his legs and his vehicle was peppered with fire.
"We had to fight our way out to survive," he said. He had a simple explanation for his survival. "I'm a better shot," he said.
After securing the evacuation of the Canadians by air, Sergeant A again led his troops "with distinction and courage" as their vehicles encountered several ambushes on their return to base.
Corporal B was one of six Australian soldiers injured when they came under fire, also in the hostile Oruzgan province.
Despite grenade injuries to his hand, leg and foot, Corporal B fought on and cleared the area of militia to enable another coalition unit to evacuate.
"Adrenaline took over," said Corporal B, who admitted he feared for his life. It was only after the engagement was completed that he told his commander about his wounds.
The Prime Minister, John Howard, who was at the awards ceremony, said he did not think comments by the former SAS officer Peter Tinley in The Australian, that Australia's involvement in Iraq was a strategic and moral blunder, were justified.
"The only comment I would make is that there is a division of opinion in the Australian community about Iraq and you would expect that division of opinion to be reflected through the whole community," Mr Howard said.
AUSTRALIAN COMMANDOS RECEIVE DECORATIONS FOR GALLANTRY
Australian Defence Force news release, CPA 316/06, 26 Nov 06
News Release/Citations
The Governor-General His Excellency MAJ GEN Michael Jeffery, AC, CVO, MC, joined with Prime Minister of Australia the Hon John Howard, MP, the Hon Dr. Brendan Nelson, MP and the Chief of the Defence Force ACM Angus Houston AO, AFC, to welcome home Eastern Australia-based members of the Afghanistan Special Forces Task Group (SFTG) in a ceremony at Tobruk Lines, Holsworthy Barracks today.
The soldiers, predominantly from the Sydney-based Fourth Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (Commando) (4RAR(Cdo)), formed part of the 200-personnel strong SFTG operating in Southern Afghanistan since late last year.
During the ceremony the Governor-General and Prime Minister praised the professionalism and courage of the SFTG who were involved in some of the most ferocious fighting since the Vietnam War during their 12-month deployment to Afghanistan.
The dangers faced by the SFTG were highlighted by the presentation of Australia’s first Star of Gallantry and a Medal for Gallantry to 4RAR(Cdo) members by the Governor-General.
Commando Sergeant “A” and Commando Corporal “B” were decorated for gallantry in recognition of their outstanding actions, leadership and bravery in Afghanistan.
During the awards presentation the Governor-General praised the actions of the two soldiers and described them as being “in the highest traditions of the Special Operations Command-Australia, the Australian Army and the Australian Defence Force.”
The Governor-General also announced the awarding of a Unit Citation for Gallantry to combat elements of the SFTG, whilst the Task Group as a whole has been awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation. These awards will be formally presented at a later date.
(....)
The identities of the Gallantry award recipients and full details of the actions in which they were awarded will not be publicly released for operational security reasons.
Courage under fire earns commandos top honours
Cynthia Banham, Sydney Morning Herald, 27 Nov 06
Article Link - Star of Gallantry profile
IN FEROCIOUS fighting, Commando Sergeant A, under direct fire from insurgents, led a rescue mission to save Canadian soldiers as they came under siege in southern Afghanistan.
He did it with "absolute disregard for his own safety".
Corporal B helped clear a hostile area of militia to enable another coalition unit to evacuate, killing several insurgents in the process.
He did this despite being wounded in the foot by a fragment from a barrage of rocket-propelled grenades.
Sergeant A was awarded the Star of Gallantry, the first soldier to receive the medal, which was introduced in 1991 and ranks behind only the Victoria Cross in Australian military honours. Corporal B was awarded the Medal for Gallantry.
The two commandos, both with the Sydney-based Fourth Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (Commando), served for 12 months with the Special Forces Task Group in Afghanistan. They were presented with their medals by the Governor-General, Major-General Michael Jeffery, at a ceremony at Holsworthy Barracks yesterday. They cannot be named for security reasons.
Sergeant A led a special forces unit in a four-hour siege in Oruzgan province, coming under intense fire from local militia as they fought to evacuate the cornered Canadians, who had suffered one fatality.
The Australians were surrounded by militia for more than an hour, during which every member of the outnumbered unit was shooting at the enemy as close as 50 metres away.
Sergeant A had rocket-propelled grenades land metres away from him, and took a bullet in his headrest while others landed between his legs and his vehicle was peppered with fire.
"We had to fight our way out to survive," he said. He had a simple explanation for his survival. "I'm a better shot," he said.
After securing the evacuation of the Canadians by air, Sergeant A again led his troops "with distinction and courage" as their vehicles encountered several ambushes on their return to base.
Corporal B was one of six Australian soldiers injured when they came under fire, also in the hostile Oruzgan province.
Despite grenade injuries to his hand, leg and foot, Corporal B fought on and cleared the area of militia to enable another coalition unit to evacuate.
"Adrenaline took over," said Corporal B, who admitted he feared for his life. It was only after the engagement was completed that he told his commander about his wounds.
The Prime Minister, John Howard, who was at the awards ceremony, said he did not think comments by the former SAS officer Peter Tinley in The Australian, that Australia's involvement in Iraq was a strategic and moral blunder, were justified.
"The only comment I would make is that there is a division of opinion in the Australian community about Iraq and you would expect that division of opinion to be reflected through the whole community," Mr Howard said.
