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TWO SASR soldiers have been awarded the Medal for Gallantry.
The Sgt and WO2 received the medals for their outstanding actions, leadership and bravery during a long and difficult engagement with anti-coalition militia early in the SFTG’s service in Afghanistan.
Governor-General Maj-Gen Michael Jeffery presented the medals during a moving welcome home ceremony for the first SFTG rotation at Campbell Barracks on February 25.
The Sgt, a patrol commander, earned his medal for his actions under intense anti-coalition militia fire. Showing disregard for his own safety, he recovered a machine gun to protect the left flank and neutralise enemy firing positions.
The WO2, also a patrol commander, ignored his own safety when he attempted three times to recover a critically wounded Afghanistan National Army (ANA) soldier.
Commander SOCOMD Maj-Gen Michael Hindmarsh said the patrols were outnumbered.
“It’s difficult to tell in these circumstances but the assessment is [that the enemy numbers] were well over 100,” Maj-Gen Hindmarsh said.
“A quite small force of SASR personnel were operating with the ANA and were engaged by a significant anti-coalition militia force fairly early in their rotation.
“They consolidated their position in the face of intense fire and numerous RPG strikes and air bursts. With the help of coalition air power, which came perhaps an hour or two later to support them, they actually managed to seize control of the situation and essentially rout the enemy.
“It was a very effective, very dangerous operation. The ANA were involved in a sort of combined force approach.
“It’s an honour for these guys [the Gallantry Medal recipients] to be singled out among a bunch of champions, which they all are – the entire group that was involved in that firefight probably deserves something.”
CDF ACM Angus Houston joined Governor-General Maj-Gen Jeffery, Prime Minister John Howard and CA Lt-Gen Peter Leahy in thanking the SFTG soldiers for their courage and commitment. ACM Angus Houston said he was immensely proud of the task group.
“They went into very challenging operational circumstances, a very dangerous environment, and their skills, their commitment to excellence, their commitment to teamwork, saw them prevail,” he said.
“They did a wonderful job while they were over there.
They were involved in seven special reconnaissance and deliberate action missions. They also conducted two ongoing humanitarian operations in and around the area they’re operating in.”
Mr Howard said the SASR had an enviable international reputation.
“There are no better Special Forces anywhere in the world.`
Your reputation, your ability, your courage and your skill has the admiration of all of the Australian people,” he said.
http://www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews/editions/1138/topstories/story02.htm
The Sgt and WO2 received the medals for their outstanding actions, leadership and bravery during a long and difficult engagement with anti-coalition militia early in the SFTG’s service in Afghanistan.
Governor-General Maj-Gen Michael Jeffery presented the medals during a moving welcome home ceremony for the first SFTG rotation at Campbell Barracks on February 25.
The Sgt, a patrol commander, earned his medal for his actions under intense anti-coalition militia fire. Showing disregard for his own safety, he recovered a machine gun to protect the left flank and neutralise enemy firing positions.
The WO2, also a patrol commander, ignored his own safety when he attempted three times to recover a critically wounded Afghanistan National Army (ANA) soldier.
Commander SOCOMD Maj-Gen Michael Hindmarsh said the patrols were outnumbered.
“It’s difficult to tell in these circumstances but the assessment is [that the enemy numbers] were well over 100,” Maj-Gen Hindmarsh said.
“A quite small force of SASR personnel were operating with the ANA and were engaged by a significant anti-coalition militia force fairly early in their rotation.
“They consolidated their position in the face of intense fire and numerous RPG strikes and air bursts. With the help of coalition air power, which came perhaps an hour or two later to support them, they actually managed to seize control of the situation and essentially rout the enemy.
“It was a very effective, very dangerous operation. The ANA were involved in a sort of combined force approach.
“It’s an honour for these guys [the Gallantry Medal recipients] to be singled out among a bunch of champions, which they all are – the entire group that was involved in that firefight probably deserves something.”
CDF ACM Angus Houston joined Governor-General Maj-Gen Jeffery, Prime Minister John Howard and CA Lt-Gen Peter Leahy in thanking the SFTG soldiers for their courage and commitment. ACM Angus Houston said he was immensely proud of the task group.
“They went into very challenging operational circumstances, a very dangerous environment, and their skills, their commitment to excellence, their commitment to teamwork, saw them prevail,” he said.
“They did a wonderful job while they were over there.
They were involved in seven special reconnaissance and deliberate action missions. They also conducted two ongoing humanitarian operations in and around the area they’re operating in.”
Mr Howard said the SASR had an enviable international reputation.
“There are no better Special Forces anywhere in the world.`
Your reputation, your ability, your courage and your skill has the admiration of all of the Australian people,” he said.
http://www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews/editions/1138/topstories/story02.htm
