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Royal Marines launch dramatic rescue bid to save fallen soldier

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  • Royal Marines launch dramatic rescue bid to save fallen soldier

    Royal Marines launch dramatic rescue bid to save fallen soldier

    Media: The Associated Press
    Byline: By DANICA KIRKA
    Date: 17 January 2007


    LONDON_British Marines strapped themselves to helicopters in a daring dash
    into hostile territory to rescue a fallen comrade in Afghanistan, but it was
    too late to save his life, defense officials said Wednesday.

    The effort to save Lance Cpl. Mathew Ford, 30, followed an attack Monday on
    a fort being used as an insurgent base in Afghanistan's southern Helmand
    province. After falling back to regroup, the forces realized Ford had been
    left behind, according to an account by the Ministry of Defense.

    The forces quickly drafted a plan to rescue Ford using Apaches, an attack
    helicopter which is so crammed with equipment that only two people can be
    seated. Two Marines were strapped on the side wings of each of two Apache
    helicopters. A third Apache provided cover.

    "It was a leap into the unknown," said Lt. Col. Rory Bruce, the spokesman of
    the U.K. task force, which is the British force operating under NATO
    command. "This is believed to be the first time U.K. forces have ever tried
    this type of rescue mission."

    While other units provided cover fire, one Apache landed inside the wall of
    the fort, and one outside. The four Marines got off the wings, together with
    some of the army air corps air crew, to provide cover. Ford's body was
    strapped on an Apache and taken away.

    "With great sadness, they later found that their brother-in-arms had been
    killed in action," Bruce said.

    British troops have faced fierce action since moving into southern
    Afghanistan last year for a mission some have charged was a disaster in the
    making. Critics of Prime Minister Tony Blair have accused politicians of
    failing to anticipate the strength of resurgent Taliban forces and of
    sending forces ill-equipped to do a job involving far more combat than
    anticipated.

    Casualty figures have climbed: 46 military personnel have died in
    Afghanistan, though not all have been killed in combat.

    News of the rescue mission dominated British television newscasts Wednesday,
    leading to speculation that the forces who undertook the rescue mission
    should be awarded military honors. The Marines who undertook the mission
    have not been named.

    "Clearly the prime minister would want to pay tribute to the bravery
    displayed, but it is too early to speculate about awarding of honors," said
    Blair's official spokesman, who speaks on condition of anonymity in line
    with government rules. "Everyone recognizes the bravery involved."
    To sit down with these men and deal with them as the representatives of an enlightened and civilized people is to deride ones own dignity and to invite the disaster of their treachery - General Matthew Ridgway

  • #2
    Hats off to those boys... puts the good guys in a league of their own...
    Cow is the only animal that not only inhales oxygen, but also exhales it.
    -Rekha Arya, Former Minister of Animal Husbandry

    Comment


    • #3
      Good God!Thats incredible bravery indeed!Wish they could have saved the soldier.


      Originally posted by troung View Post

      the strength of resurgent Taliban forces and of
      sending forces ill-equipped to do a job involving far more combat than
      anticipated.
      that we all know whats it about!

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by MarquezRazor View Post
        Good God!Thats incredible bravery indeed!Wish they could have saved the soldier.




        that we all know whats it about!
        It was mentioned on British TV but the Jade Goody story received far more (and still continuing) coverage.
        Semper in excretum. Solum profunda variat.

        Comment


        • #5
          [QUOTE=troung;331802]Royal Marines launch dramatic rescue bid to save fallen soldier

          Media: The Associated Press
          Byline: By DANICA KIRKA
          Date: 17 January 2007



          "It was a leap into the unknown," said Lt. Col. Rory Bruce, the spokesman of
          the U.K. task force, which is the British force operating under NATO
          command. "This is believed to be the first time U.K. forces have ever tried
          this type of rescue mission."

          QUOTE]

          Very commendable to say the least .

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by glyn View Post
            It was mentioned on British TV but the Jade Goody story received far more (and still continuing) coverage.
            Sign of the times!

            Comment


            • #7
              USMC reportedly training to do the same from a Hog
              Attached Files

              Comment


              • #8
                Kudos to the Royal Marines :)

                Comment


                • #9
                  It was on Indian TV too!

                  Excellent work that!

                  Really worth the kudos.

                  Well done!

                  Hope medals come their way!

                  A great morale booster the world over!


                  "Some have learnt many Tricks of sly Evasion, Instead of Truth they use Equivocation, And eke it out with mental Reservation, Which is to good Men an Abomination."

                  I don't have to attend every argument I'm invited to.

                  HAKUNA MATATA

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Footage of Rescue on BBC News :

                    BBC NEWS | UK | Film of marines' daring mission

                    (click on *Watch the Rescue Attempt*, top of page, for the footage)

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Now that's committment to your buddies. I'm surprised though that the got the go ahead to land a chopper inside this compound, let alone agreement from the army aviation pilots!
                      In Iran people belive pepsi stands for pay each penny save israel. -urmomma158
                      The Russian Navy is still a threat, but only to those unlucky enough to be Russian sailors.-highsea

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Stan187 View Post
                        Now that's committment to your buddies. I'm surprised though that the got the go ahead to land a chopper inside this compound, let alone agreement from the army aviation pilots!
                        They seem to have been fairly keen. Some of the Apache aircrew even got out to try and find the guy!
                        Rule 1: Never trust a Frenchman
                        Rule 2: Treat all members of the press as French

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          While its good that it worked out without any casualties on the part of the rescuers, I'm just saying that this time luck was on their side. Executing an op like that is just asking for it, in my opinion. The line between daring and disasterous is drawn by the outcome.
                          In Iran people belive pepsi stands for pay each penny save israel. -urmomma158
                          The Russian Navy is still a threat, but only to those unlucky enough to be Russian sailors.-highsea

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Shipwreck,

                            Thanks for the link.

                            Just saw the rescue operations on the video.

                            Marvellous work by the soldiers and the helicopter pilots.

                            Very daring and great!


                            "Some have learnt many Tricks of sly Evasion, Instead of Truth they use Equivocation, And eke it out with mental Reservation, Which is to good Men an Abomination."

                            I don't have to attend every argument I'm invited to.

                            HAKUNA MATATA

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by Stan187 View Post
                              While its good that it worked out without any casualties on the part of the rescuers, I'm just saying that this time luck was on their side. Executing an op like that is just asking for it, in my opinion. The line between daring and disasterous is drawn by the outcome.
                              It is true it is a thin line between daring and disaster. But then, there are people in uniform who take such gambles even at the risk of their own careers!

                              We had a Colonel (Aviation) who flew into the night in his helicopter in the Siachen where there is a raging battle daily and rescued a trooper who was surely going to die otherwise.

                              It was, and still is, against the rules to fly at night since there are no night navigational instruments on board. He did it. He got sacked. But he is a legend today.

                              His name is Tom Dulat.

                              I sure would love to have him around when I am under fire or ill where there is no medical aid.

                              Such people make the Armed Forces what it is all about and not the penpushers, who only understand how to chalk a successful career!

                              The Apache pilots and the Marines and this Indian Aviation Colonel are the ones that allow the citizens their peaceful night's sleep while they slog it out braving the dangers and the risks.

                              God Bless their types!
                              Last edited by Ray; 23 Jan 07,, 09:45.


                              "Some have learnt many Tricks of sly Evasion, Instead of Truth they use Equivocation, And eke it out with mental Reservation, Which is to good Men an Abomination."

                              I don't have to attend every argument I'm invited to.

                              HAKUNA MATATA

                              Comment

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