VC hero 'stuff of legends'

[Wandera]

Outstanding. Keeping up a proud tradition. Well done mate.

[Wandera]

Sorry with link.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/vc-hero-stuff-of-legends/2009/01/16/1231608946055.html

[Sapper-RAE]

Yes WELL DONE THAT MAN!

The FIRST recipient of the Victoria Cross for Australia institued in 1991 after the Imperial awards system ceased. Good work Digger.

http://www.defence.gov.au/media/DepartmentalTpl.cfm?CurrentId=8677

[Ace]

Outstanding Digger!

Hopefully Lord Ashcroft will keep his hands off of this one, lol.

[Sharky]

Well done, and well deserved.

[DurkaSixTwo]

Outstanding work mate! Great to see the lads getting recognised for a dangerous and demanding job!

[B 2/75]

Congratulations!

[nofear]

*Stands at attention and salutes Trooper Donaldson*

Good job.

[tboy]

Awesome job well done lad.

However I do not agree with a member of Socom having his name and face splurged across the media, VC or no VC......

[Tracy]

HOOAH!



VC: Either Victoria Cross or "Velvet Coffin". I'm really glad it's the former and not the latter!

I wonder if there will be an 'addition' to our Hall of Heroes at Bragg...

[ASTAC918]

Just read this on another board as well. Out-fucking-standing Trooper! Free beer for life!

[DurkaSixTwo]

However I do not agree with a member of Socom having his name and face splurged across the media, VC or no VC......

Yeah, I was a bit surprised at how they played that out actually. There have been quite a few MG's and other high profile gallantry awards to SOCOM members since Afghanistan started and all of those guys had rear view shots displayed or blurred faces when shown on national media.

[JOTS]

OUTSTANDING! Well done! On a side note, what is a "Digger"?

[nofear]

On a side note, what is a "Digger"?

LOL...An Australian soldier. Dates back to WW I.

[DurkaSixTwo]

Here is the complete citation from open source defence release. Awe inspiring!

TO BE AWARDED TO THE VICTORIA CROSS FOR
AUSTRALIA
8248070 TROOPER MARK GREGOR DONALDSON
For most conspicuous acts of gallantry in action in a
circumstance of great peril in Afghanistan as part of the
Special Operations Task Group during Operation SLIPPER,
Oruzgan Province, Afghanistan.
Trooper Mark Gregor Donaldson enlisted into the Australian
Army on 18 June 2002. After completing Recruit and Initial
and Employment Training he was posted to the 1st Battalion,
The Royal Australian Regiment. Having successfully completed
the Special Air Service Selection Course in April 2004, Trooper
Donaldson was posted to Special Air Service Regiment in May
2004.
On 2 September 2008, during the conduct of a fighting patrol,
Trooper Donaldson was travelling in a combined Afghan, US
and Australian vehicle convoy that was engaged by a
numerically superior, entrenched and coordinated enemy
ambush. The ambush was initiated by a high volume of
sustained machine gun fire coupled with the effective use of
rocket propelled grenades. Such was the effect of the initiation
that the combined patrol suffered numerous casualties,
completely lost the initiative and became immediately
suppressed. It was over two hours before the convoy was able
to establish a clean break and move to an area free of enemy
fire.
In the early stages of the ambush, Trooper Donaldson reacted
spontaneously to regain the initiative. He moved rapidly
between alternate positions of cover engaging the enemy with
66mm and 84mm anti-armour weapons as well as his M4 rifle.
During an early stage of the enemy ambush, he deliberately
exposed himself to enemy fire in order to draw attention to
himself and thus away from wounded soldiers. This selfless act
alone bought enough time for those wounded to be moved to
relative safety.
As the enemy had employed the tactic of a rolling ambush, the
patrol was forced to conduct numerous vehicle manoeuvres,
under intense enemy fire, over a distance of approximately
four kilometres to extract the convoy from the engagement
area. Compounding the extraction was the fact that casualties
had consumed all available space within the vehicles. Those
who had not been wounded, including Trooper Donaldson,
were left with no option but to run beside the vehicles
throughout. During the conduct of this vehicle manoeuvre to
extract the convoy from the engagement area, a severely
wounded coalition force interpreter was inadvertently left
behind. Of his own volition and displaying complete disregard
for his own safety, Trooper Donaldson moved alone, on foot,
across approximately 80 metres of exposed ground to recover
the wounded interpreter. His movement, once identified by the
enemy, drew intense and accurate machine gun fire from
entrenched positions. Upon reaching the wounded coalition
force interpreter, Trooper Donaldson picked him up and
carried him back to the relative safety of the vehicles then
provided immediate first aid before returning to the fight.
On subsequent occasions during the battle, Trooper Donaldson
administered medical care to other wounded soldiers, whilst
continually engaging the enemy. Trooper Donaldson’s acts of
exceptional gallantry in the face of accurate and sustained
enemy fire ultimately saved the life of a coalition force
interpreter and ensured the safety of the other members of
the combined Afghan, US and Australian force. Trooper
Donaldson’s actions on this day displayed exceptional courage
in circumstances of great peril. His actions are of the highest
accord and are in keeping with the finest traditions of the
Special Operations Command, the Australian Army and the
Australian Defence Force
Personal biography of Trooper Mark Gregor Strang

[Starlight]

Well done that man!

[CASTLE37BRAVO]

Well done mate! You inspire us all.

[Old_Starlight]

Out-farkin-STANDING.

I was a bit suprised he was 'outed' but being a VC and the first of the Australian version to be awarded (if I am not mistaken) then I am sure the PR angle took precendence.

Bloody good show regardless of the subsequent politics.

Tracy, it's usually VC = Victoria Cross and Velvet Coffin.

Cheers,

AJ

[DurkaSixTwo]

A good news story about an EDD that was recovered alive and well yesterday after being MIA for over a year from the contact in which Mark Donaldson was awarded his Victoria Cross! Thankyou to the American soldier who recognised her for more than a local Afghan mutt!

DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE

MSPA 386/09 Thursday, 12 November 2009

AUSTRALIAN DOG RETURNS HOME AFTER A YEAR IN THE AFGHAN WILDERNESS

An Australian Special Forces Explosive Detection Dog has been found alive and well almost fourteen months after going missing in action (MIA) in Afghanistan. “Sabi” was recovered by a US Soldier at an isolated patrol base in north-eastern Oruzgan last week.

The black Labrador was trained to counter the threat posed by improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Oruzgan province.

Sabi was declared MIA in September 2008 during the same battle with the Taliban in which SAS Trooper Mark Donaldson won his Victoria Cross. Sabi was present with her handler when their combined Australian, US and Afghan National Army convoy was ambushed by a numerically superior, well-sited and prepared insurgent force. Nine Australian soldiers, including Sabi’s handler, were wounded during the engagement.

The US soldier who recovered her and who can be identified only by his first name, John, was aware his Australian Special Forces mates were missing one of their explosive detection dogs.

He said it was immediately obvious that Sabi was no ordinary canine. “I took the dog and gave it some commands it understood.”

John thanked the man who was with Sabi and shook his hand.

Sabi spent more than a year in the desolate south of Afghanistan. Repeated attempts were made by the Special Operations Task Group to discover Sabi’s fate. Sabi was flown to Tarin Kowt to be reunited with one of her Australian Special Forces trainers.

The Australian trainer knew instantly it was Sabi.

“I nudged a tennis ball to her with my foot and she took it straight away. It’s a game we used to play over and over during her training,” the trainer said. “It’s amazing, just incredible, to have her back.”

Currently in the United Kingdom after meeting Her Majesty the Queen, Trooper Mark Donaldson said Sabi’s return closed a chapter of their shared history.

“She’s the last piece of the puzzle,” Trooper Donaldson said. “Having Sabi back gives some closure for the handler and the rest of us that served with her in 2008. It’s a fantastic morale booster for the guys.”

At the time of her disappearance Sabi was coming to the end of her second tour of duty in Afghanistan, having previously deployed to Oruzgan in 2007.

Sabi had also deployed with the Incident Response Regiment during the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006.

Sabi will now undergo a period of quarantine before a decision can be made about the timing of her return to Australia. A veterinary assessment of Sabi’s exposure to diseases has yet to be completed. It is hoped the tests will prove negative and Sabi can return to Australia.

[Old_Starlight]

Fantastic news.

[OZEbullfighter]

AWSOME. we looked and searched and spotted her twice... Great news absolutely great news..

[Hopeless Civilian]

Congrates to Trooper Donaldson, and great news that the dog was found after so much time. Hopefully the publicity won't keep Donaldson from returning to his unit and serving as he was trained.

[Ranger5280]

Outstanding!

[DurkaSixTwo]

Its about bloody time!! :mad:

http://defence.gov.au/defencenews/stories/2010/Jun/0602.htm

Sarbi takes next steps on her journey home

02 June 2010

Sarbi, the explosive detection dog that went missing in Afghanistan for more than year, has arrived in the United Arab Emirates as part of her final journey back to Australia.

Sarbi completed a final veterinary check in Kandahar before being flown to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday 1 June.

Her Special Operations Task Group handler Sergeant D said it was good to see Sarbi starting her final journey home.

“It’s been a long journey and she has a fair way to go yet – I’ll be glad once it’s all over and she’s back in Australia,” Sergeant D said.

“She has been spending her days eating, sleeping and walking around the Multi-National Base at Tarin Kowt – she’s made herself quite at home here.”

Commander of the Joint Task Force 633 in the Middle East Major General John Cantwell said that Sarbi’s story was a reminder of important work explosive detection dogs carry out in Afghanistan.

“Sarbi is a dog that will be remembered for her actions, but it is important to note that there are a lot of other dogs doing the same dangerous work as her in Afghanistan and we need to continue to support and recognise them as we have Sarbi,” Major General Cantwell said.

Sarbi will now spend six months in the United Arab Emirates, an Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) approved country, to meet residency, vaccination, testing and treatment requirements of the AQIS import conditions.

During this time she will be visited regularly by ADF personnel before re-entering Australia.

[BertF]

You know, you need to be more specific for us old guys. When I saw that header my first thought was "Why are they calling a Communist Viet Cong a hero and a legend."

[agonyea]

That was amazing.

[DurkaSixTwo]

You know, you need to be more specific for us old guys. When I saw that header my first thought was "Why are they calling a Communist Viet Cong a hero and a legend."

Fair point Bert - we often forget that other people cant speak Australian! I guess you've read the other posts but if not, the VC (in this context) stands for Victoria Cross rather than Viet Cong. It is our equivalent of the Medal of Honour. Incidentally, there are Australians that have won the VC for fighting the VC!!

[Old_Starlight]

Fair point Bert - we often forget that other people cant speak Australian! I guess you've read the other posts but if not, the VC (in this context) stands for Victoria Cross rather than Viet Cong. It is our equivalent of the Medal of Honour. Incidentally, there are Australians that have won the VC for fighting the VC!!

Keith Payne VC who also has a Silver Star springs to mind. MAJ Wheatly VC is another...:biggrin:

[BertF]

I am well aware of that. I had Aussie Derrell DeHeer stay with me for a few days in the USA when he was doing research about the Aussies in Vietnam.

http://www.psywarrior.com/AustralianVNPSYOP.html


Fair point Bert - we often forget that other people cant speak Australian! I guess you've read the other posts but if not, the VC (in this context) stands for Victoria Cross rather than Viet Cong. It is our equivalent of the Medal of Honour. Incidentally, there are Australians that have won the VC for fighting the VC!!

[DurkaSixTwo]

I am well aware of that. I had Aussie Derrell DeHeer stay with me for a few days in the USA when he was doing research about the Aussies in Vietnam.

http://www.psywarrior.com/AustralianVNPSYOP.html

After reading all that, I feel a tad foolish for stating the obvious! :o

[BertF]

No, that was nice of you and there was always the chance that I would not know, although after almost 27 years in the Army there is a pretty good chance I heard of the Victoria Cross. :smile:



After reading all that, I feel a tad foolish for stating the obvious! :o

[Corsair]

Well Done Congrats!!!