B757300 From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 4114 posts, RR: 32 Posted (4 years 10 months 4 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 801 times:
Soldier wins VC for Iraq bravery
A British soldier serving in Iraq who saved 30 members of his unit from an ambush has been awarded the first Victoria Cross for more than 20 years.
Private Johnson Beharry, 25, was struck by enemy fire as he guided a convoy of Warrior fighting vehicles through the town of Al Amarah last May.
A month later he saved more lives in an attack which left him in a coma.
Mr Beharry is one of 140 servicemen and women honoured for Iraq, Afghanistan, the former Yugoslavia and Africa.
Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said: "These honours and awards recognise the outstanding achievements of these extraordinary men and women and their acts of great courage, bravery and determination."
Mr Beharry, still recovering from his injuries, said he was "speechless" when told he was winning the VC.
The award is the first of the medals to be awarded since posthumous VC given to Lieutenant Colonel Herbert Jones and Sergeant Ian John McKay during the Falklands conflict.
MD11Engineer From Germany, joined Oct 2003, 10525 posts, RR: 63 Reply 1, posted (4 years 10 months 4 weeks 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 779 times:
The Victoria Cross is the highest British military award and will only be handed out in very rare cases, regardless of rank, when somebody knowingly risks his life to either achieve an objective or save somebody else. The rules are extremely strict on it.
Banco From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2001, 14752 posts, RR: 61 Reply 2, posted (4 years 10 months 4 weeks 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 773 times:
It is rare indeed. The total number awarded is about 1350 over the last 150 years. Given how many wars this period covers - including two world wars - the value of the decoration is clear.
She's as nervous as a very small nun at a penguin shoot.
ClassicLover From Ireland, joined Mar 2004, 3850 posts, RR: 22 Reply 3, posted (4 years 10 months 4 weeks 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 738 times:
Agree wholeheartedly.
Just read an article about it in the local Sydney newspapers - what he did was pretty amazing. Seems like a well deserved VC indeed! (not that any of them aren't!)
Trent.
I choose to fly oneworld, as a member of Qantas Frequent Flyer.
WhiteHatter From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (4 years 10 months 4 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 702 times:
Bit of trivia...
the Victoria Cross is made from brass. It is manufactured from the metal of Russian cannons (specifically the large ball at the closed end of the barrel) captured during the Crimean War of the 18th century.
Whatever your thoughts on Iraq, the soldier concerned is a credit to his regiment, and also to both Britain and Grenada. He was honoured for two outstanding actions in the conflict which saved many lives. Hopefully he will recover fully from the brain surgery he needed after the second incident and be able to return to duty, as soldiers of his calibre are priceless in any armed force.
ANCFlyer From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (4 years 10 months 4 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 700 times:
Quoting WhiteHatter (Reply 5): Whatever your thoughts on Iraq, the soldier concerned is a credit to his regiment, and also to both Britain and Grenada. He was honoured for two outstanding actions in the conflict which saved many lives. Hopefully he will recover fully from the brain surgery he needed after the second incident and be able to return to duty, as soldiers of his calibre are priceless in any armed force.
Here, here . . . absolutely. This is not an Iraq issue, this is a thread on a great soldier that no matter the location did his duty well above and beyond the call and everyone, regardless of their belief should honor this soldier for his heroism!
Banco From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2001, 14752 posts, RR: 61 Reply 7, posted (4 years 10 months 4 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 688 times:
Here is the full citation:
"Private Beharry carried out two individual acts of great heroism by which he saved the lives of his comrades.
Both were in direct face of the enemy, under intense fire, at great personal risk to himself (one leading to him sustaining very serious injuries).
His valour is worthy of the highest recognition.
In the early hours of the 1st May 2004 Beharry's company was ordered to replenish an isolated Coalition Forces' outpost located in the centre of the troubled city of Al Amarah.
He was the driver of a platoon commander's Warrior armoured fighting vehicle.
His platoon was the company's reserve force and was placed on immediate notice to move.
As the main elements of his company were moving into the city to carry out the replenishment, they were re-tasked to fight through a series of enemy ambushes in order to extract a foot patrol that had become pinned down under sustained small arms and heavy machine-gun fire and improvised explosive device and rocket-propelled grenade attack.
Beharry's platoon was tasked over the radio to come to the assistance of the remainder of the company, who were attempting to extract the isolated foot patrol.
As his platoon passed a roundabout, en route to the pinned-down patrol, they became aware that the road to the front was empty of all civilians and traffic - an indicator of a potential ambush ahead.
The platoon commander ordered the vehicle to halt, so that he could assess the situation.
The vehicle was then immediately hit by multiple rocket-propelled grenades.
Eyewitnesses report that the vehicle was engulfed in a number of violent explosions, which physically rocked the 30-tonne Warrior.
As a result of this ferocious initial volley of fire, both the platoon commander and the vehicle's gunner were incapacitated by concussion and other wounds, and a number of the soldiers in the rear of the vehicle were also wounded.
Due to damage sustained in the blast to the vehicle's radio systems, Beharry had no means of communication with either his turret crew or any of the other Warrior vehicles deployed around him.
He did not know if his commander or crewmen were still alive, or how serious their injuries may be.
In this confusing and dangerous situation, on his own initiative, he closed his driver's hatch and moved forward through the ambush position to try to establish some form of communications, halting just short of a barricade placed across the road.
The vehicle was hit again by sustained rocket-propelled grenade attack from insurgent fighters in the alleyways and on rooftops around his vehicle.
Further damage to the Warrior from these explosions caused it to catch fire and fill rapidly with thick, noxious smoke. Beharry opened up his armoured hatch cover to clear his view and orientate himself to the situation.
He still had no radio communications and was now acting on his own initiative, as the lead vehicle of a six Warrior convoy in an enemy-controlled area of the city at night.
He assessed that his best course of action to save the lives of his crew was to push through, out of the ambush.
He drove his Warrior directly through the barricade, not knowing if there were mines or improvised explosive devices placed there to destroy his vehicle.
By doing this he was able to lead the remaining five Warriors behind him towards safety.
As the smoke in his driver's tunnel cleared, he was just able to make out the shape of another rocket-propelled grenade in flight heading directly towards him.
He pulled the heavy armoured hatch down with one hand, whilst still controlling his vehicle with the other.
However, the overpressure from the explosion of the rocket wrenched the hatch out of his grip, and the flames and force of the blast passed directly over him, down the driver's tunnel, further wounding the semi-conscious gunner in the turret.
The impact of this rocket destroyed Beharry's armoured periscope, so he was forced to drive the vehicle through the remainder of the ambushed route, some 1,500 metres long, with his hatch opened up and his head exposed to enemy fire, all the time with no communications with any other vehicle.
During this long surge through the ambushes the vehicle was again struck by rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire.
While his head remained out of the hatch, to enable him to see the route ahead, he was directly exposed to much of this fire, and was himself hit by a 7.62mm bullet, which penetrated his helmet and remained lodged on its inner surface.
Despite this harrowing weight of incoming fire Beharry continued to push through the extended ambush, still leading his platoon until he broke clean.
He then visually identified another Warrior from his company and followed it through the streets of Al Amarah to the outside of the Cimic House outpost, which was receiving small arms fire from the surrounding area.
Once he had brought his vehicle to a halt outside, without thought for his own personal safety, he climbed onto the turret of the still-burning vehicle and, seemingly oblivious to the incoming enemy small arms fire, manhandled his wounded platoon commander out of the turret, off the vehicle and to the safety of a nearby Warrior.
He then returned once again to his vehicle and again mounted the exposed turret to lift out the vehicle's gunner and move him to a position of safety.
Exposing himself yet again to enemy fire he returned to the rear of the burning vehicle to lead the disorientated and shocked dismounts and casualties to safety.
Remounting his burning vehicle for the third time, he drove it through a complex chicane and into the security of the defended perimeter of the outpost, thus denying it to the enemy.
Only at this stage did Beharry pull the fire extinguisher handles, immobilising the engine of the vehicle, dismounted and then moved himself into the relative safety of the back of another Warrior.
Once inside Beharry collapsed from the sheer physical and mental exhaustion of his efforts and was subsequently himself evacuated.
Having returned to duty following medical treatment, on 11 June 2004 Beharry's Warrior was part of a quick reaction force tasked to attempt to cut off a mortar team that had attacked a Coalition Force base in Al Amarah.
As the lead vehicle of the platoon he was moving rapidly through the dark city streets towards the suspected firing point, when his vehicle was ambushed by the enemy from a series of rooftop positions.
During this initial heavy weight of enemy fire, a rocket-propelled grenade detonated on the vehicle's frontal armour, just six inches from Beharry's head, resulting in a serious head injury.
Other rockets struck the turret and sides of the vehicle, incapacitating his commander and injuring several of the crew.
With the blood from his head injury obscuring his vision, Beharry managed to continue to control his vehicle, and forcefully reversed the Warrior out of the ambush area.
The vehicle continued to move until it struck the wall of a nearby building and came to rest.
Beharry then lost consciousness as a result of his wounds.
By moving the vehicle out of the enemy's chosen killing area he enabled other Warrior crews to be able to extract his crew from his vehicle, with a greatly reduced risk from incoming fire.
Despite receiving a serious head injury, which later saw him being listed as very seriously injured and in a coma for some time, his level-headed actions in the face of heavy and accurate enemy fire at short range again almost certainly saved the lives of his crew and provided the conditions for their safe evacuation to medical treatment.
Beharry displayed repeated extreme gallantry and unquestioned valour, despite intense direct attacks, personal injury and damage to his vehicle in the face of relentless enemy action."
She's as nervous as a very small nun at a penguin shoot.
CHRISBA777ER From Singapore, joined Mar 2001, 4982 posts, RR: 62 Reply 8, posted (4 years 10 months 4 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 674 times:
Well done that man - he deserves it and more. What a shining example of bravery and training - reflects excellently on the British Army, at a time when it needs some public PR work i think. Well done.
Copper1 From Canada, joined Jun 2000, 437 posts, RR: 2 Reply 9, posted (4 years 10 months 4 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 661 times:
One must keep in mind that this award can be given to any member of an armed service whose country is part of the Commonwealth. When one considers this it makes the awarding of this medal even more rare. 1350 total amongnst all Commonwealth nations makes this the premier bravery award imho.
Banco From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2001, 14752 posts, RR: 61 Reply 13, posted (4 years 10 months 4 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 647 times:
Quoting Copper1 (Reply 9): One must keep in mind that this award can be given to any member of an armed service whose country is part of the Commonwealth.
You're quite right, of course.
Here's a list of the recipients (which will be near enough accurate) by nationality:
Unsure 67 awards
American 5 awards
Australian 97 awards
Belgian 1 award
Canadian 90 awards
Celonese 1 award
Danish 4 awards
English 614 awards
Fijian 1 award
German 2 awards
Indian 29 awards
Irish 190 awards
Kenyan 1 award
Nepalese 11 awards
New Zealander 24 awards
Newfoundlander 1 award
Rhodesian 3 awards
Scottish 158 awards
Sikkimese 1 award
South African 20 awards
Swedish 1 award
Swiss 1 award
Ukrainian 1 award
Welsh 25 awards
West Indian 2 awards
She's as nervous as a very small nun at a penguin shoot.
ANCFlyer From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 14, posted (4 years 10 months 4 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 644 times:
Question Banco: Your list shows 5 Americans. However, as is stated here. . .
Quoting Copper1 (Reply 9): One must keep in mind that this award can be given to any member of an armed service whose country is part of the Commonwealth.
So, how is it 5 Americans have this Decoration? (No offense intended, in the US Army medals are referred to as a Decoration, not to be confused by some as a Christmas ornament).
Banco From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2001, 14752 posts, RR: 61 Reply 15, posted (4 years 10 months 4 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 637 times:
Quoting ANCFlyer (Reply 14): So, how is it 5 Americans have this Decoration? (No offense intended, in the US Army medals are referred to as a Decoration, not to be confused by some as a Christmas ornament).
They are here too! It's a fair question. Here's a link to the US soldiers who did receive VC's.
I would imagine that this is the same as those British soldiers who received the CMH not too long ago. That decision was within the gift of the US government, and for these US soldiers it would be within the gift of the (at the time) UK government. I think the difference would be that Canada, Australia, New Zealand et al can award the medal, whereas the US, obviously cannot.
I don't know how it would work now. I can't see how the UK government could arbitrarily award a medal to a non-Commonwealth nation unless the other Commonwealth countries can do the same. I'm not sure how it works, to be honest.
She's as nervous as a very small nun at a penguin shoot.
ANCFlyer From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 16, posted (4 years 10 months 4 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 616 times:
Thanks for the info Banco . . . From what I can read, these men were American Citizens, but were fighting in the Canadian Army . . .
Reviewing US Army Regulation 600-8-22, as it pertains to the award of the CMH, I know it cannot be awarded to non-US military members. The highest US military award (Army) that can be given to a "foreign national" (if you'll excuse the term) is the Distinguished Service Medal, that would be number 3 in order of precedence behind the CMH and the Distringuished Service Cross. See AR 600-8-22, Para 3-8(d).
It's quite a way down, but the relevant part is this:
16th April 2002
Royal Marines from 45 Commando commence Operation Ptarmigan to search and clear a mountain valley where Taliban and al-Qaeda forces are believed to have operated in Afghanistan, support is provided by Chinooks of 27 Squadron, RAF.
5 SBS Commandoes rescue 150 US Army Rangers from a 500-strong Taliban and al-Qaeda force in Afghanistan and are recommended for the US Congressional Medal of Honour. The SBS men respond to a mayday call made by satellite phone and scale a mountain behind the terrorist positions in the Sha-i-Kot region, south of Kabul, where they rain machine gun and mortar fire on the al-Qaeda and Taliban forces.
I don't know what happened thereafter. Maybe you can enlighten me?
She's as nervous as a very small nun at a penguin shoot.
ANCFlyer From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 18, posted (4 years 10 months 4 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 606 times:
Hmm, let me look that up . . . Regulation specifically forbids this - even at the order of Dubya. It's the CMH (Congressional Medal of Honor) awarded by the President on behalf of the Congress. Even foreign military working with and/or assigned to US Military units cannot (supposedly) recieve it.
Unless Congress changes the law, and they could, I suspect these will be awarded as either a) Distinguished Service Medal or b) Presidential Medal of Freedom (unlikely - but it is the highest civilian award in the US).
I'm reading the 600-8-22 (yeah, I know I'm retired, but happen to have a copy on my computer - old habits ya know) as we speak . . .
I'll see what else I can find . . .
DL021 is on line - perhaps he has something of this . . .
11Bravo From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 1543 posts, RR: 15 Reply 19, posted (4 years 10 months 4 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 590 times:
There have been five CMH awarded to foreign soldiers by special order of congress. All of them are posthumous awards made to Unknown Soldiers of the First World War from Belgium, Great Britain, France, Italy, and Rumania.
Jasepl From India, joined Jul 2004, 3582 posts, RR: 52 Reply 20, posted (4 years 10 months 4 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 588 times:
Quoting Banco (Reply 15): I don't know how it would work now. I can't see how the UK government could arbitrarily award a medal to a non-Commonwealth nation unless the other Commonwealth countries can do the same. I'm not sure how it works, to be honest.
Banco, I'm not sure exactly, but technically isn't it the Sovereign (on the 'advice' of the Prime Minister, Cabinet, Privy Council, Ladies-in-Waiting) who awards the Honours? That might have something to do with it.
I know that's how our Honours system works and I suspect the two can't be much different.
Banco From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2001, 14752 posts, RR: 61 Reply 21, posted (4 years 10 months 4 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 588 times:
It could, of course, have just been the press getting it wrong. You know what they're like...
Certainly, I'd have expected to find rather more than what I did had it been accurate.
The other thing that jars a little is that British special forces (the US may be the same) rarely have their decorations publicly awarded. Often they don't get them at all, because their operations are never published. Giving a medal makes it abundantly clear that they were there, something that they avoid if at all possible.
I believe that the UK unknown soldier has the CMH (the US one has the VC) but that's symbolic, obviously.
She's as nervous as a very small nun at a penguin shoot.
Banco From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2001, 14752 posts, RR: 61 Reply 22, posted (4 years 10 months 4 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 586 times:
Quoting 11Bravo (Reply 19): There have been five CMH awarded to foreign soldiers by special order of congress. All of them are posthumous awards made to Unknown Soldiers of the First World War from Belgium, Great Britain, France, Italy, and Rumania.
Beat me to it!
Quoting Jasepl (Reply 20): Banco, I'm not sure exactly, but technically isn't it the Sovereign (on the 'advice' of the Prime Minister, Cabinet, Privy Council, Ladies-in-Waiting) who awards the Honours? That might have something to do with it.
I know that's how our Honours system works and I suspect the two can't be much different.
I'm not sure whether that's the case with military honours or not. Certainly it is with civilian ones. Where's our military experts when we need them?
She's as nervous as a very small nun at a penguin shoot.
ANCFlyer From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 23, posted (4 years 10 months 4 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 582 times:
Quoting 11Bravo (Reply 19): There have been five CMH awarded to foreign soldiers by special order of congress. All of them are posthumous awards made to Unknown Soldiers of the First World War from Belgium, Great Britain, France, Italy, and Rumania.
As I said, pretty much, Congress would have to do it - Dubya can't. And there is no provision in the regulation for it. Fortunately, as is outlined in another good ole Army Regulations 600-20, it says, Regulations are Guidelines - essentially saying, open for interpretation.
Regardless - Congratulations again to Private Beharry, and to his fellow UK Soldiers nominated for the US CMH. They have, without question, more gut than most . . . .
Jasepl From India, joined Jul 2004, 3582 posts, RR: 52 Reply 24, posted (4 years 10 months 4 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 581 times:
Here's what victoriacross.net says: "The Victoria Cross is still awarded only by Royal assent and is presented by the monarch."
Seems like it's not meant to be a political honour because it's not awarded by Government or Parliament.
[Edited 2005-03-18 15:49:29]
25 DL021: I believe that the situation has yet to arise, and if a deserving serviceman or woman is recommended for the Medal of Honor the law can easily be amen
26 Banco: Trouble is, there are a million and one things theoretically within the gift of the monarch but that are in reality a ministerial or Prime Ministeria
27 ANCFlyer: DL021 - if they are in fact members of the US Military, they need not be a citizen of the US . . . the stipulation is "members of the US Military". I
28 Jasepl: Ha ha! That's exactly how our system 'works' - no surprises there! In theory, Government and Parliament have nothing to do with such matters, but of c
29 Banco: Good post, DL021. Whatever the rights and wrongs of the Iraq campaign, and given the often negative publicity that has arisen with issues such as pris
30 DL021: Here is some basic reading on the Medal of Honor and the Victoria Cross By the way, it is NOT required to be a US citizen to be awarded the Medal of H
31 Banco: One nice little tradition I thought I'd mention, that will doubtless cause this young man lots of embarassment in the years ahead, is that as a holder
32 JGPH1A: Isn't that true of Congressional Medal of Honor (note correct sp. !) winners as well ? I read it in a Tom Clancy novel (ooh, I'm so gung-ho !)[Edited
33 ANCFlyer: Yes, that is true. The MoH (as is correct, not CMH) wearer is saluted by everyone in uniform first - regardless of rank . . . might be a Private, but
34 GDB: An interesting thread, from news of a remarkable act(s) of heroism. VC winners are rare, rarer still to get one that is not awarded after the death in
35 Banco: Jut a minor point, I believe an Australian soldier got one in Vietnam in 1969.
36 DL021: Several were awarded during the Vietnam War to Diggers. Please read their citations. Peter John Badcoe of Australia...KIA in Vietnam, http://en.wikipe
37 DL021: excerpt from Wikipedia source verified by independent news sources on AP and Lexis Nexis. On 1 May 2004, Beharry was driving a Warrior Tracked Armoure
38 MD11Engineer: I´ve got a friend who was in the RAF Regiment for 20 years, most of the time a NCO. He was both in action in the Falklands during the war and in Nort
39 Kolobokman: Since when Ukraine is a part of Commonwealth? How did a Ukranian get this medal?
40 Banco: He was serving with the Canadians, Kolobokman. Here you go: http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery;...wal&gwp=8&curtab=2222_1&sbid=lc01b
41 GDB: DL021's list above reminded me that my late father once mentioned meeting William Speakman, years after Korea, when my Dad was doing his National Serv
42 BMIFlyer: As an ex member of the British Armed Forces, Id sure like to shake the guy by the hand and buy him a pint Congrats to him for a job well done. Lee
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