What a man!

[Digit]

News Story

 

[Karl]

I know - heard about that on Radio 4 today (seem to remember hearing about it before as well - the act, not the award).

True hero. Hats off.

Cheers

Karl

 

[seaco]

Fantastic a real hero, thoroughly deserves the medal...

 

[Rich]

Yes, he is a hero, sadly in vain, it's so uneccessary, we were there in the early part of this century, and made no difference in the "great game", the russians, with all their manpower, wasted millions and countless soldiers, there is no point imho in trying to do anything in Afghanistan, do you think the Afghans think the Lance corporal is a hero?, I don't think we will make any difference at all, unless we stay there forever, pull out and leave them to their own devices, that's the cheapest and best way, bring our lads home and let them have a rest from the worlds troubles, and let the so called "big" powers deal with it, we have enough troubles of our own, most of them self inflicted, best to concentrate our thoughts on this little Island for the time being.

Just my thoughts,

Regards,
Rich.

 

[Shadowfax]

True hero. Hats off.

Absolutely! That really is a heroic act. Unlike many that are called heroic when they are nothing of the sort.

SF

 

[pren]

Now there's a man who'll never have to buy his own beer ever again!

Awsome. :shock: =D>

Bryn.

 

[woodbloke]

Agreed..he'll not have to stand a round ever again. The article mentions that the GC has equal precedence with the VC, is this the case? I'm not too sure on that one? - Rob

 

[Karl]

Rob - I thought the VC was the highest you could get, and GC slightly "behind". But not 100%.

Cheers

Karl

 

[Paul Chapman]

The article mentions that the GC has equal precedence with the VC, is this the case? I'm not too sure on that one?

I heard on the radio that the VC was for acts of bravery while actually engaged with the enemy and the GC for acts of bravery while not actually engaged with the enemy.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Digit]

That's correct Paul, which in this case I felt was nit picking, after all, there's not much difference between an enemy mine and an enemy bullet!

Roy.

 

[Paul Chapman]

But I think the medals carry equal weight.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Digit]

Yes Paul, they do. But an example I'm aware of, a man went into the local river that had flooded to rescue a mother and baby who had been swept away.
The Fire brigade had tried to rescue them but lost their boat and had themselves to be rescued.
The floods were up to the upper floor windows and had swept away a JCB!
The man rescued the mother and child then walked away.
That's a GC type medal because no enemy was involved, for some Whitehall warrior to decide that the marine was not under fire was IMO nit picking. I note that his CO put him up for the VC.

Roy.

 

[TrimTheKing]

I am pretty sure that they carry the same kind of kudos, but as said the VC is for bravery/gallantry in engagement with enemy and GC is for bravery/gallantry when NOT in engagement with enemy.

As previously stated by someone, I don't see much difference between a ****y trap and a bullet.

The guy is a true hero, more news like this please, I'm sick of reading about Ronaldo leaving Man United and Kerry Katona!

Cheers

Mark

 

[Digit]

There are heroes all around us Mark, mostly unknown and unrecognised.
Take my case.
I was diagnosed with cancer, I wasn't surprised, what did horrify me was the what happened before I saw the consultant.
He had to tell the parents of a child that her case was terminal!
I told him that I wouldn't want his job whatever the pay.
He admitted it was sometimes very hard.

Roy.

 

[TrimTheKing]

He had to tell the parents of a child that her case was terminal!
I told him that I wouldn't want his job whatever the pay.

I was only talking about this exact same thing with my mum in hospital today, it must be a horrible job to have to spend your day giving that kind of news to people day in day out.

Mark

 

[kmcleod]

From what I understand the GC is normally given for acts of heroism when not in combat, hence why civilian services are awarded it, or when the act of herosim isn't witnessed by a senior officer.

If this one had been seen by an officer or senior NCO - he would have been awarded a VC, as it was it was only him and the three other guys on the patrol,,,so apart from the shredded pack, cuts, bruises etc there wasn't enough evidence,

Yes I know its dumb and sucks,,and god knows he deserves a helluva lot more than a medal for doing something that selfless,,,,

As for the Afghan problem,,,depends on how far back u want to look in History,,,Alexander the Great,,,eventually gave up on them, as he relaised the only way to conquer them would be to kill all of em,,,,The british in the 18th and 19th century tried wars, diplomacy, coercion,,,everything,,,eventually we paid the buggers not to make war,,,
The Afghans have been described as the most quarrelsome, peaceful, people in the world,,,,,