Another badass UK soldier.

[dennilfloss]

When I posted a thread recently about the one going Rambo with the grenade machinegun, someone asked what is needed for a United Kingdom medal for highest military valour (the Victoria Cross). Well, here's one guy who may be considered for it.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_...t_midlands/7321647.stm

All he got was a bloody nose, some shock and enlargement of his brass balls.

 

[xanis]

If there was anything that warranted getting that Victoria Cross, I would have to say this qualifies.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Wow heard about it earlier. Just assumed he was killed.

Thumbs up

 

[pstylesss]

That is amazing. He did something I would only wish I would do in that situation.

 

[darkxshade]

Can you even survive a grenade blast like that? I figure with his proximity(on top of it) to the grenade, the force alone should at least tear off a limb or 2. Maybe it was a weak homemade grenade or I just don't know squat about explosives, prob the latter.

 

[Snapster]

Originally posted by: darkxshade
Can you even survive a grenade blast like that? I figure with his proximity(on top of it) to the grenade, the force alone should at least tear off a limb or 2. Maybe it was a weak homemade grenade or I just don't know squat about explosives, prob the latter.

Well you have to figure in the rucksack and armour as well taking some of the blast. The rucksack was 30ft away but there's no mention of how far he was sent. Props to the squaddie though, he deserves an honour.

 

[TallBill]

Probably wont get the top honor if their system works like the US. Several US servicemen have done similar and lost their lives and not recieved a MoH.

Still absolutely amazing. Not sure what I'd do in the same scenario.

 

[ViviTheMage]

that is a helluva a good job!

 

[destrekor]

He'll get the VC, don't worry.

These cases tend to be far and few between, and each time I've seen it pop up (very rare in this modern time (if any US Soldiers and Marines have thrown themselves onto devices/grenades I don't know), devices always explode before you know its there, unlike thrown grenades and apparently these obvious booby traps), the person, on more than a few occasions, gets the Medal of Honor... and usually death.
Just because this guy lived doesn't mean he doesn't deserve the VC, as he likely expected to die unless he was hoping the pack would absorb most of the impact (?!)... in either case he deserves the VC because he threw himself into a situation he knew had an extremely high chance of dying, in order to save the lives of more around him.

Props to him, and hope he gets the Victoria Cross.

+

 

[Iron Woode]

The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of some Commonwealth countries and previous British Empire territories. It takes precedence over all other orders, decorations, medals and postnominals. It may be awarded to a person of any rank in any service and civilians under military command, and is presented to the recipient by the British monarch during an investiture held at Buckingham Palace. It is the joint highest award for bravery in the United Kingdom with the George Cross, which is the equivalent honour for valour not in the face of the enemy.

this guy was pretty bad assed:

New Zealand Flying Officer Lloyd Trigg, has the distinction of being the only serviceman ever awarded a VC on evidence solely provided by the enemy, for an action in which there were no surviving Allied witnesses. The recommendation was made by the captain of the German U-boat U-468 sunk by Trigg's aircraft.

Its way harder to get a Victoria Cross than it is to get a Congressional Medal of Honor.

 

[Chiller2]

Here is a story of a Navy Seal who did the same thing and got a Medal of Honor unfortunatelyNavy Seal Gets MOH he died.

 

[Snapster]

Originally posted by: TallBill
Probably wont get the top honor if their system works like the US. Several US servicemen have done similar and lost their lives and not recieved a MoH.

Still absolutely amazing. Not sure what I'd do in the same scenario.

Yeh he probably won't get the VC itself. Usually recipiants are under direct face of the enemy, often having taken a hit or two whilst performing one or multiple acts of heroism such as rescuing his fellow injured squaddies. I guess much akin to the US Army/Marine 'Leave no man behind' policy, which one area I greatly respect.

 

[DanTMWTMP]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_A._Monsoor <--- he deservedly will receive the MoH, but will be awarded posthumously.

EDIT:beaten to it...

 

[Saint Michael]

Originally posted by: TallBill
Probably wont get the top honor if their system works like the US. Several US servicemen have done similar and lost their lives and not recieved a MoH.

Still absolutely amazing. Not sure what I'd do in the same scenario.

This makes it look like quite a few have done this and received the Medal of Honor:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L...ts_for_the_Vietnam_War

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L...al_of_Honor_recipients

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: DanTMWTMP
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_A._Monsoor <--- he deservedly will receive the MoH, but will be awarded posthumously.

EDIT:beaten to it...

Yup, I remember that story distinctly.