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September 10, 2005
Major who helped to save a US convoy wins Military Cross
By Fran Yeoman
Times on Line
AN ARMY major who risked his life to help an American convoy under heavy attack in Afghanistan was honoured yesterday with one of the highest medals for bravery. The Military Cross was awarded to Major Colin Risso, 35, for "outstanding courage, decisiveness under fire and leadership" while serving with the Royal Gibraltar Regiment at Bagram in November 2004.
He was one of more than 100 military personnel to receive honours in an announcement by the Ministry of Defence for service in theatres that also included Iraq, Sierra Leone, the Congo, the former Yugoslavia and Northern Ireland.
Major Risso was travelling to an outlying village with a convoy of American Humvees when the vehicles were ambushed in a narrow ravine.
The citation for his award stated: "Despite the hail of small-arms fire, Major Risso identified the main threat and immediately engaged the enemy with an M-16 rifle.
"The Humvees were unable to put down fire, their grenade launchers having jammed, and, putting down a rapid rate of fire, Major Risso could sense the desperate situation.
"Running short of ammunition, he also took the Colonel's M4 rifle. Using both weapons, he . . . allow[ed] the Colonel to gain control of the convoy."
Following an intense, 10-minute firefight Major Risso then assisted in loading casualties onto a medical evacuation helicopter.
Private Michael McLaughlin, of the Black Watch, was awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal for heroism in Iraq. The 19-year-old was caught in the blast from a suicide bomb that killed four of his colleagues in November 2004, but despite being in a state of shock he managed to give first aid to nine injured men.
Medals were also awarded for heroism in non-combat work, including post-tsunami relief and search and rescue. An RAF winchman, Master Aircrew Nick Petch, was awarded the Air Force Cross for his efforts to save a family from the sea near Scarborough.
He was submerged several times by huge waves as he pulled Kim Barrett, 33, and her son Luke Greenwood, 11, from the North Sea in March this year. They later died.
Two of his colleagues from 202 Squadron also received awards for a rescue on the Isle of Skye, as did Leading Seaman Garth Spence, who saved a Canadian seaman from a stricken submarine in the Atlantic.
John Reid, the Secretary of State for Defence, said yesterday: "I am immensely proud of their achievements and congratulate them all."
Major who helped to save a US convoy wins Military Cross
By Fran Yeoman
Times on Line
AN ARMY major who risked his life to help an American convoy under heavy attack in Afghanistan was honoured yesterday with one of the highest medals for bravery. The Military Cross was awarded to Major Colin Risso, 35, for "outstanding courage, decisiveness under fire and leadership" while serving with the Royal Gibraltar Regiment at Bagram in November 2004.
He was one of more than 100 military personnel to receive honours in an announcement by the Ministry of Defence for service in theatres that also included Iraq, Sierra Leone, the Congo, the former Yugoslavia and Northern Ireland.
Major Risso was travelling to an outlying village with a convoy of American Humvees when the vehicles were ambushed in a narrow ravine.
The citation for his award stated: "Despite the hail of small-arms fire, Major Risso identified the main threat and immediately engaged the enemy with an M-16 rifle.
"The Humvees were unable to put down fire, their grenade launchers having jammed, and, putting down a rapid rate of fire, Major Risso could sense the desperate situation.
"Running short of ammunition, he also took the Colonel's M4 rifle. Using both weapons, he . . . allow[ed] the Colonel to gain control of the convoy."
Following an intense, 10-minute firefight Major Risso then assisted in loading casualties onto a medical evacuation helicopter.
Private Michael McLaughlin, of the Black Watch, was awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal for heroism in Iraq. The 19-year-old was caught in the blast from a suicide bomb that killed four of his colleagues in November 2004, but despite being in a state of shock he managed to give first aid to nine injured men.
Medals were also awarded for heroism in non-combat work, including post-tsunami relief and search and rescue. An RAF winchman, Master Aircrew Nick Petch, was awarded the Air Force Cross for his efforts to save a family from the sea near Scarborough.
He was submerged several times by huge waves as he pulled Kim Barrett, 33, and her son Luke Greenwood, 11, from the North Sea in March this year. They later died.
Two of his colleagues from 202 Squadron also received awards for a rescue on the Isle of Skye, as did Leading Seaman Garth Spence, who saved a Canadian seaman from a stricken submarine in the Atlantic.
John Reid, the Secretary of State for Defence, said yesterday: "I am immensely proud of their achievements and congratulate them all."
