Ozzy VC

[Albany Rifles]

As we say in baseball...damn, he could hit to all fields with power!

Well Done, Corporal.

I hope you have a long and fruitful life.

UPDATE: I just read the full story....DAMN!

http://www.defence.gov.au/special_ev...mith/index.htm

[Bigfella]

bigfella, he's even taller than the boss... CDF still has to look up to and salute him, at least with donaldson he got to use the advantage of height even when saluting.... :)

I did think he was sorta big lookin'.

[gf0012-aust]

bigfella, he's even taller than the boss... CDF still has to look up to and salute him, at least with donaldson he got to use the advantage of height even when saluting.... :)

[Bigfella]

...did I mention propaganda ;)

[ArtyEngineer]

Dave,

The previous VC winner was also SAS & he also appeared publically. There appears to have been a relaxation of rules in this respect. I also have a suspicion that other SAS troopers have appeared in media stories on Afghanistan (with ADF blessing). I think a lot of this is to do with good old fashioned propaganda (which is only a dirty word when you don't like the cause it is wedded to ;)). Certainly the broadcasting of the VC ceremony live on national is. Whatever the reason is it good that we get to put a face to this young hero. I believe he has returned or will shortly return to his unit.

The 2 gentlemen in question.



Regards

Arty

[Bigfella]

It's unusual for the SAS to show themselves in public even for a Medal Parade but I suppose this one is an exception to the rule, after all it's not every day the VC is handed out.

Dave,

The previous VC winner was also SAS & he also appeared publically. There appears to have been a relaxation of rules in this respect. I also have a suspicion that other SAS troopers have appeared in media stories on Afghanistan (with ADF blessing). I think a lot of this is to do with good old fashioned propaganda (which is only a dirty word when you don't like the cause it is wedded to ;)). Certainly the broadcasting of the VC ceremony live on national is. Whatever the reason is it good that we get to put a face to this young hero. I believe he has returned or will shortly return to his unit.

[S2]

Outstanding!!

We had a cartoon here in America that used to be part of the "Rocky & Bullwinkel Show" involving a time-machine.

Some nutty professor type would always say"Frizzle-frazzle, frizzle-frome, time for this one to come home!" and, VOILA!!, out of danger and into safety would pop the protagonist.

Well...same here. Time for this hero to come home-alive, and stand to be counted for his selfless act of unparalleled bravery. He'll do just fine back home mentoring young Aussie SAS troopers to follow the considerable swath he's cut through the enemy's hide.

My congratulations to Lance Corporal Ben for an incredible act and my salute to him and the nation from which he came, Australia. I'm proud America serves alongside such wonderful warriors.

Present Arms!!

[T_igger_cs_30]

It's unusual for the SAS to show themselves in public even for a Medal Parade but I suppose this one is an exception to the rule, after all it's not every day the VC is handed out.

And also its open warfare, not the sneaky beaky stuff the Hereford hooligans are normally involved in ............ but I think I know what you are getting at Dave........ our own Hereford Hooligans for sure would not be attending a public medal presentation.

[tankie]

Yes you have a point nuts .

[dave lukins]

It's unusual for the SAS to show themselves in public even for a Medal Parade but I suppose this one is an exception to the rule, after all it's not every day the VC is handed out.

[tankie]

Good post Eric,...................... Lance Corperal Ben 6' 7" quiet retiring type by the sound of it........................... well done the Aussies great show.

Cool guy Wayne or what ,,,,it cud have been me ,,,if the O/C had said them cnuts have vodka hidden in their M/G nest

[T_igger_cs_30]

Good post Eric,...................... Lance Corperal Ben 6' 7" quiet retiring type by the sound of it........................... well done the Aussies great show.

[bigross86]

Well done! Good on ya, mate!

[tankie]

When the UK deports convicts we do it right , he musta wiped em out with his ball n chain But , jokin apart


BLOODY WELL DONE SOLDIER ,SALUTE



An Australian SAS solider is to be awarded the Victoria Cross for single-handedly storming a lethal Taliban machine-gun post in Afghanistan.

His colleagues described his action as the most conspicuous act of bravery by an Australian soldier in a hundred years.

Known only as lance corporal Ben, the specialist sniper rushed into machine-gun fire in Shah Wali Kot in northern Kandahar last October.

The Sydney Daily Telegraph reports that within moments, three weapons were silenced and numerous Taliban fighters had been killed.

The soldier, who is 6 feet 7 tall, and has already earned a Medal of Gallantry on a previous tour of Afghanistan, will be presented with his VC by Australia's Governor General on January 23.

He was part of a 24-strong team of SAS troopers dropped by helicopter after reports that the Taliban were about to launch an assault on a combined unit of Australian and Afghan Army forces.

They immediately came under heavy fire, but the lance corporal's actions impressed his colleagues, who described him as a "warrior" who "just tore into the enemy".

They said it was the most extreme example of conspicuous gallantry since Albert Jacka was awarded a VC after jumping into a trench full of Turkish soldiers at Gallipoli in 1915, killing seven of them.

Lance corporal Ben will become the second Australian to be given a VC for bravery in Afghanistan, in a conflict that has seen 21 Australians die.

Trooper Mark Donaldson received the top award in 2008 for protecting wounded soldiers under heavy enemy fire and rescuing a wounded Afghan interpreter.