Royal Marine lifts two-ton truck off drowning comrade during gun battle in Afghanistan

Daily Mail ^ | October 4th 2007 | OLINKA KOSTER

[the scotsman]

'Drowning in 3ft of ditch water, his leg trapped under a two - ton truck , Royal Marine Mark Farr must have thought there was no way he would make it out of Afghanistan alive.

But he reckoned without the heroism of his fellow Marine, Colour Sergeant Carl 'Tatts' Tatton, who braved Taliban mortar fire to lift the vehicle by himself, although it was 13 times his body weight.

Marine Farr, 29, dubbed his rescuer 'The Incredible Bulk' after the superhuman feat.

"Without Tatts I'd have drowned," he said. "I owe him my life."

Now back in Britain, Colour Sergeant Tatton has spoken out for the first time about the adrenaline rush that allowed him to move the truck on November 5 last year.

The 38-year- old from Ford, Plymouth, said unassumingly: "When you see one of your mates in danger, you just react."

But his senior commander, Lieutenant Colonel Andy Price of 3 Commando, refused to accept such modesty, saying: "Colour Sergeant Tatton gave no thoughts to his own safety.

"This is typical of the man - he embodies the very highest standards of the Royal Marines." '

[Savage Beast]

Okay, Folks. Tatts is like Todd Beamer! I tell you—the real heroes of this world are people just like you and me—lost in the crowd. Next time you start thinking about all those worthless crazies out there—stop! Think about Tatts and Todd. Either one could have been the guy—or the woman—or the child—standing next to you in the checkout line. There are lots more of us than there are of them!

[alarm rider]

My best salute to Tatts and all the guys.

[pissant]

WOW. Buy that man a beer!

[blam]

Excellent news.

[sweetiepiezer]

When my son was in the Marines they went to England and trained with the Royal Marines, said they are a tough bunch of guys.
I can see why.
Buy that man a beer is right.

[Sunshine Sister]

What can one say to a story like this. Thank you God for men like Tatts!

[Ciexyz]

Most cool!

[dblshot]

We’ll lift up a pint to Tatts in Houston tonight.

[bajabaja]

Great Scotts, Scotsman, 13 times his body weight? I wonder what the record is (in terms of body weight). Adrenaline sure works.

[ASOC]

And of the RM, 3 Commando is a very tough lot indeed. Read the (short) unit history if you have some time.

http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.5305

[ASOC]

And another bit. This Colour Sergeant has certainly lived up the title.....

Colour Sergeant (CSgt or formerly C/Sgt) is a non-commissioned rank in the Royal Marines and infantry regiments of the British Army, ranking above Sergeant and below Warrant Officer Class 2.

Rank Insignia for Colour SergeantIt has a NATO ranking code of OR-7 and is equivalent to Staff Sergeant in other corps of the British Army, Flight Sergeant or Chief Technician in the Royal Air Force, and Chief Petty Officer in the Royal Navy. The insignia is the monarch's crown above three downward pointing chevrons.

The rank was introduced into the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars to reward long-serving sergeants. By World War I it had given way to Company Sergeant Major and Company Quartermaster Sergeant, but it was later reintroduced.

Historically, Colour Sergeants of British line regiments were tasked with protecting Ensigns, the most junior officers who were responsible for carrying their battalions' Colours (flag or insignia) to rally troops in battles.

For this reason the Colour Sergeant rank was considered a prestigious one given normally to courageous Sergeants who had attained accomplishments in battles. This tradition continues today as Colour Sergeants form part of a Colour Party in military parades.

Colour Sergeants are referred to and addressed as "Colour Sergeant" or "Colour" ("Colour Sergeant Bloggs" or "Colour Bloggs", for instance), never as "Sergeant". Unusually, NCOs with the rank of Colour Sergeant who hold the appointment of Company Quartermaster Sergeant are still addressed and referred to by their rank, not their appointment.

[protest1]

Amazing story and great news.

From further down the article;

“At the time of the incident in Gereshk, southernAfghanistan, Colour Sergeant Tatton was a physical training instructor with Marine Farr’s J Company, 42 Commando.”

Looks like all that physical training really paid off !

[britemp]

A couple of Assault Engineer Royal Marines blowing stuff up on exercise at Camp Wilson, Palm Springs in the peoples republic of California! :)

[TASMANIANRED]

Good for them...

Fine job.

[sweetiepiezer]

Very interesting, thank you.

[ASOC]

Some of the officers of 3 Commando came to my unit after the Falklands conflict to allow for “feedback”. Very interesting - due to the loss of most of their air assets, most everyone walked to war. The local were most helpful in spotting and passing OPFOR troop movements to the RM.

I also was left with the impression that these lads were folks to avoid annoying.

[dcwusmc]

Bump to the Marines...

[Lancer_N3502A]

[geopyg]

I read an earlier article (didn’t read this one) where his other mates came running after hearing all the screaming and thought the mate under the truck was half-dead and in pain. It was actually the hero screaming as he lifted the truck! When the others heard this they all started laughing (”gone mad”) while still trying to help their mate and dodging enemy fire!! And the hero said something like “and it was fitting to be acting as such as it was November 5th”. I wonder what is so special about Nov. 5th? (I think that was the date??) Perhaps the premiere of the first Monty Python movie!?