NationStates Jolt Archive

NOTE: This young man displayed great valor and initiative in the highest traditions of the armed forces of all free nations. The citizens of the United Kingdom should be justifiably proud of him, regardless of their feelings about the war. As an American veteran, I salute him!

Read Private Beharry's full citation ( a truly remarkable account ) here (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4360461.stm).


Soldier wins VC for Iraq bravery (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4358921.stm)

A soldier who saved 30 members of his unit in Iraq has been awarded the first Victoria Cross for more than 20 years.

Private Johnson Beharry, 25, from London, twice saved the lives of colleagues while under enemy fire, but insisted he was just "doing his job".

He is still recovering from head injuries caused in one attack by a rocket-propelled grenade round.

He was one of 140 soldiers honoured for their actions on tours in Iraq, Africa, Afghanistan, and the former Yugoslavia.

'Welcome boost'

Pte Beharry, who was born on Grenada, was at the head of a five-vehicle convoy when it came under attack in the town of al-Amarah on 1 May 2004.

He guided the column through a mile of enemy ground to drop off wounded comrades at great risk to his own safety, his citation said.

Weeks later, his vehicle was hit by an rocket-propelled grenade round. Despite a head wound, he managed to reverse his Warrior to safety.

"Maybe I was brave, I don't know. I think anyone else could do the same thing," he said.

Pte Beharry, from 1st Battalion the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, said he was "speechless" when told he was winning the VC.

The award is the first since posthumous VCs given to Lt Col Herbert Jones and Sgt Ian John McKay during the Falklands conflict.

Commending all the soldiers honoured, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said the awards "recognise the outstanding achievements of these extraordinary men and women and their acts of great courage, bravery and determination".

When I was told, I thought it was great to have received the award - I was speechless

BBC correspondent Paul Adams said the news was a much needed boost for the military "at a time when the armed forces have been battered by a succession of bad news stories".

Commenting on Pte Beharry's VC, Chief of Staff General Sir Mike Jackson said: "We all know that the Victoria Cross is held in such high regard in our country and any holder of it is rightly given enormous respect for what he has done."

Grenada's Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell said: "Private Beharry's achievement will inspire the young men and women of Grenada, and should be used as a lesson which demonstrates that the most difficult challenges and trying times can be overcome."

'Doing the job'

Pte Beharry is the first living recipient of the VC - the highest award in the British and Commonwealth military - since 1969.

His citation is an extraordinary story of one man's courage in the way he risked his life for his colleagues, not once, but twice

He is one of only 14 recipients of the award still alive.

His wife Lynthia, 23, a civilian worker for the Ministry of Defence, said she had been told her husband had only a 50-50 chance of survival after he had brain surgery for wounds he received in the second enemy action.

"He deserves everything - he was very brave and courageous and I know he would do it all again if he had to," she said.

The former construction worker, who came to the UK in 1999 and joined the army in 2000, has also served tours in Northern Ireland and in Kosovo.

Royal Marines reservist Col Paul Anthony Jobbins, 56, of Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire, won the George Medal for peacekeeping work in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The retired police fingerprint officer was responsible for control of UN forces in the town of Bukavu, which fell to rebels in June 2004.

The unarmed officer held negotiations with warring factions amid a wave of violence which killed hundreds.

It was the first VC awarded to a living soldier since 1969 - I think the Beeb said that someone got one during the Falklands. But still, well done that man. I might not like war in the slightest, but I will still recognise true selflessness when I see it.

Good Show, Private!

true it was an amazing feat, but i cant help thinking somehow hes just been given it to make the war seem somehow more just.

how many medals of honour have the us soldiers been awarded?

Not just that. He did it twice. Not once. Twice. That, my friends, is true heroism at its greatest. Makes me almost proud to be British.

I believe we need to reward all the soilders. They are all fighting and doing great.

Isn't this a little old now? I mean, 18th of March?

Isn't this a little old now? I mean, 18th of March?

He recieved it from Her Majesty today.

As for the guy who thinks they should all get them - there isn't enough gunmetal left for all the soldiers to recieve a VC. Unfortunately.

It was the first VC awarded to a living soldier since 1969 - I think the Beeb said that someone got one during the Falklands. But still, well done that man. I might not like war in the slightest, but I will still recognise true selflessness when I see it.
Good man! :)

true it was an amazing feat, but i cant help thinking somehow hes just been given it to make the war seem somehow more just.

how many medals of honour have the us soldiers been awarded?
Only one that I can remember just now.

It's actually getting far harder to recieve one in this day and age. Meaning this act is adjudged to be particularly self-less and heroic by the council, with whom I most readily agree.

Isn't this a little old now? I mean, 18th of March?
The higher the award, the longer it takes to approve. This is to insure the highest awards are given only to those who truly deserve them.

i bet if you asked them, the smiles on the faces of free iraqis would be reward enough.

i am pleased that he got it for saving peoples lives, not for massacring loads of iraqi soldiers or something, because then i would not agree with it. what would have been even better is if he got it for saving iraqi refugees by getting them in his tank and driving them to safety.

I wonder if those who found Saddam were rewarded.

It's actually getting far harder to recieve one in this day and age. Meaning this act is adjudged to be particularly self-less and heroic by the council, with whom I most readily agree.
True. During the Civil War, the US handed out a rather large number of Medals of Honor to some who truly hadn't satisfied the stringent critera. It took many years to re-establish the exclusivity of the Award. Conversely, there were many acts of heroism during WWII which were never considered for the MOH due to the stringent requirements, one of which is that there must be at least two witnesses.

Not just that. He did it twice. Not once. Twice. That, my friends, is true heroism at its greatest. Makes me almost proud to be British.
That's why I recommended everyone read the full citation. Even in the rather dry language the military uses for such documents, his valor comes through loud and clear!

Just the sort of guy you want at your side in a fire fight. Less so the other Brit that led a bayonet charge on an Iraqi trench. I'd let him be a few steps in front, personally.

I wonder if those who found Saddam were rewarded.
Although that was an important step in the conflict, it did not involve "bravery and intrepitity above and beyond the call of duty." I imagine they received a Bronze Star or some other Award.

Just the sort of guy you want at your side in a fire fight. Less so the other Brit that led a bayonet charge on an Iraqi trench. I'd let him be a few steps in front, personally.
Heh! If you're in the Infantry and hear your immediate superior order "Fix bayonets," the "pucker factor" goes into orbit! :D

A VC awarded in an unjust war started on the basis of lies and deciet, but still no less deserved!

The last Congressional Medals of Honor awarded were given to the 2 Delta Force soilders who went in to save Clark Durant during the big scrap in Mogadishu.

Durant was the pilot of the second "Black Hawk Down"

Currently there are several citations being reviewed, some going back to the American Civil War.

As an interesting aside, you cannot get the CMH for following orders, ie.: if you are given an order to take out a machine-gun nest, survive, and save others, you just get an "ordinary" medal. If you take out the nest by your own hook, you can (not will, but can) get the CMH.

Heh! If you're in the Infantry and hear your immediate superior order "Fix bayonets," the "pucker factor" goes into orbit! :D

My father served with the REME in Cyprus during the Turkish Invasion, attached to the UN forces there. They were told that if they came under fire, they were to stand up and wave their sky blue UN berets in the air.


Yeah, that's really going to happen isn't it?

*Bang. BOOM. Whizz*

"Alrite lads, just show 'em your berets"

I think not.

The last Congressional Medals of Honor awarded were given to the 2 Delta Force soilders who went in to save Clark Durant during the big scrap in Mogadishu.

Durant was the pilot of the second "Black Hawk Down"

Currently there are several citations being reviewed, some going back to the American Civil War.

As an interesting aside, you cannot get the CMH for following orders, ie.: if you are given an order to take out a machine-gun nest, survive, and save others, you just get an "ordinary" medal. If you take out the nest by your own hook, you can (not will, but can) get the CMH.

Yeah, as with the VC, and I believe the DSM/DSC, actions need to be "above and beyond the call of duty". Going beyond your orders under your own initiative.

The last Congressional Medals of Honor awarded were given to the 2 Delta Force soilders who went in to save Clark Durant during the big scrap in Mogadishu.

Durant was the pilot of the second "Black Hawk Down"

Currently there are several citations being reviewed, some going back to the American Civil War.

As an interesting aside, you cannot get the CMH for following orders, ie.: if you are given an order to take out a machine-gun nest, survive, and save others, you just get an "ordinary" medal. If you take out the nest by your own hook, you can (not will, but can) get the CMH.
One MOH has been awarded to an American soldier in Iraq: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4575892&sourceCode=RSS

Citation: http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/mohiraq.htm

Although that was an important step in the conflict, it did not involve "bravery and intrepitity above and beyond the call of duty." I imagine they received a Bronze Star or some other Award.

yah

My father served with the REME in Cyprus during the Turkish Invasion, attached to the UN forces there. They were told that if they came under fire, they were to stand up and wave their sky blue UN berets in the air.

Yeah, that's really going to happen isn't it?

*Bang. BOOM. Whizz*

"Alrite lads, just show 'em your berets"

I think not.
I fear that the UN's concept of "armed response" consists of a stern warning. :rolleyes:

I fear that the UN's concept of "armed response" consists of a stern warning. :rolleyes:

Which doesn't do much to the pilot of an F-4 currently deeply engrossed in strafing your nice flat runway.

I fear that the UN's concept of "armed response" consists of a stern warning. :rolleyes:
The UN need to invent a giant, wagging finger, to be deployed against those naughty people firing at peacekeepers.

Which doesn't do much to the pilot of an F-4 currently deeply engrossed in strafing your nice flat runway.
I see you are a master of the classic understatement. :D

The UN need to invent a giant, wagging finger, to be deployed against those naughty people firing at peacekeepers.
LOL! And if they've been particularly naughty, it could be the middle one! :D

LOL! And if they've been particularly naughty, it could be the middle one! :D
Oh no, the UN isn't that crude. Such a thought! :p

LOL! And if they've been particularly naughty, it could be the middle one! :D
No, no, that would be too offensive. Just a wagging index finger will be fine for the UN.

Pte Beharry certainly is a very brave man, and the VC is a just reward for his selfless acts.

Oh no, the UN isn't that crude. Such a thought! :p
Oh yeah! Sorry about that. You know us old veterans ... crude as hell! :D

I like the fact that he actually lived to get his medal.... a rare distinction for both the winners of the Victoria Cross and US Medal of Honor.

Good for him and his family, and a credit to the British Army.

I like the fact that he actually lived to get his medal.... a rare distinction for both the winners of the Victoria Cross and US Medal of Honor.

Good for him and his family, and a credit to the British Army.
Most assuredly. Just one more reason why there will always be an England. :)

Most assuredly. Just one more reason why there will always be an England. :)

Not if Tony + Cronies get their way.

Respect where it's due.



an interesting aside - he was born on Grenada, makes all this immigration BS the politcal parties are talking about just that little bit more offensive, doesn't it?

He's also contributed something to the country, which I believe most of the parties support. Only Labour, however, support the formation of super-regiments, and the utter destruction of one of the worlds most efficient military forces to free up more money for quangos and immigrants.

No, no, that would be too offensive. Just a wagging index finger will be fine for the UN.

Don't froget the recording of "tsk tsk tsk" on a loop...

Didn't we have a thread on this a while back when it was current news? I thought a second one had been dished out for a second :(

Didn't we have a thread on this a while back when it was current news? I thought a second one had been dished out for a second :(
Perhaps so. Someone else mentioned that. If this is a re-run, I apologize, but the VC was awarded to Deharry today so I just thought it would be appropriate to express my admiration for his valor.

Perhaps so. Someone else mentioned that. If this is a re-run, I apologize, but the VC was awarded to Deharry today so I just thought it would be appropriate to express my admiration for his valor.

found it. (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=405887)

People were waiting for you to turn up in fact ;)

Awww well I guess unless Eutrusca or whispering legs sees this thread then its doomed...

found it. (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=405887)

People were waiting for you to turn up in fact ;)
Ye gods! I'm becoming typecast! Heh!