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Seasoned Vet
 
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Britain to issue first Victoria Cross in 23 years for Iraq soldier
LONDON (AFP) - A British soldier who braved gunfire to rescue dozens of comrades in southern Iraq (news - web sites) is to receive the first Victoria Cross, the military's top award for bravery. It's the first such medal issued in 23 years, a report said.
Private Johnston Barry, an armoured vehicle driver from the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment, has been approved for the honour by the Ministry of Defence, the Daily Mail newspaper said.
The 24-year-old, who was born in Grenada in the West Indies, was part of a British convoy attacked in Al-Amarah, southern Iraq, in May last year, the paper said.
He smashed his burning vehicle through a barricade to force an escape route and dragged free his unconscious platoon commander before returning under heavy gunfire a number of other times to rescue more wounded.
A few days later, Barry saved more British troops during another ambush, suffering head injuries himself and being flown back home.
If Barry's receipt of the Victoria Cross, or VC, is formally approved it will be the first such bravery award since 1982, when two British soldiers were honoured for their actions in the Falklands War against Argentina.
Both the Falklands medals were awarded posthumously. Historians have estimated that such is the level of bravery necessary to receive a VC that the chances of survival are only around one in 10.
Awarded 1,354 times since 1856 for outstanding gallantry in the face of enemy action, every VC is made by London jewellers Hancocks from the bronze of two cannons captured from the Russian army during the Crimean War.
Make The Voices Stop!
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Seasoned Vet
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I hope he recieves this Award! Hooh!
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Ei Temporis Vita Semper Resumo Sese
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How about those crazy Scots who fixed bayonets and ripped the tangos apart in CQB?
"The degenerative and loony should never be denigrated but, rather, thanked. In their absence, the rest of you would be obliged to fill congressional seats... positions naturally unsavory to the sane and honorable." Thorax
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Kilted Texas Paratrooper & E-7 for LIFE
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OUT
FUCKING
STANDING
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And I agree with Ky,,,
the Scots definately deserve an award, especially as the British is planning on disbanding ALL Scottish Highland Regiments, including the Black Watch.
Tex out, John Holloway.
Diplomacy, subtlety and regard for someones feelings don't seem to blend well with the "Spirit of the Bayonet"!
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Seasoned Vet
Group: Past PNET Supporter
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I imagine those Scots received some form of recognition, if only Mention In Dispatches, but probably nobody put them in for the VC, or if so, somebody somewhere squelched it. But this young Pte saved the life of an Officer, so.... And Tex, as I understand it, they didn't disband the Scottish Regts, they amalgamated them. (Which amounts to the same thing.) I had a thread dedicated to that entire fiasco somewhere on here, lemme go see if I can find it... well, I couldn't find mine, but I found Steve's:
http://www.paratrooper.net/commo/shwmessage.aspx?ForumID=57&MessageID=151989 Either way, it's a direct kick in the nuts for those Scots currently serving, and their predecessors. Shameful.
Make The Voices Stop!
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