Posted on 03/30/2008 5:25:35 PM PDT by thundrey
A Royal Marine who threw himself onto an exploding grenade to save the lives of his patrol has been put forward for the UK's highest military honour.
Lance Corporal Matt Croucher, 24, a reservist from Birmingham, survived because his rucksack and body armour took the force of the blast.
He was part of a reconnaissance troop in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in February, when the incident happened.
The Ministry of Defence said he could be considered for the Victoria Cross.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
wow.
That takes courage.
I hope he gets the Victoria Cross. That is amazing Valor.
Bump!
L/Cpl Matt Croucher
Incredible story, incredible man, thank you for posting this.
Stones, Just Stones....
Hillary said he stole this story from her.
Whew. He survived. So glad of it.
This takes much courage to do, jumping on a grenade like that. A large part of the Medal of Honor winners in the states were awarded THE MEDAL because of this action. Most of them posthumously. Kudos to this Royal Marine, hope he pulls through completely.
I am not sure that there exists a finer, more highly-trained military organization in the world than Her Majesty’s Royal Marine Commandos.
I was fortunate enough to spend some time with some from HMS Fearless, an amphibious assault ship, when they came on a series of port calls in the US in 1983.
Britain is not lost so long as she can still produce such men.
I don’t think it takes that long to recover from a nosebleed...
Could be considered??? Good grief! What does a man have to do???
He's a hero. Give it to him already!
Thank God he's ok.
Now, with that honest praise out of the way... ...when I first read:
Matt Croucher (...) survived because his rucksack and body armour took the force of the blast.
...my eyes read that his nutsack took the force of the blast.
Considering the size it must be, I don't think that was too much of a mistaken read....
GOD Bless this Brave Royal Marine.
They sure do know how to name their ships.
God bless him
It’s almost impossible to win the VC without dying. Only 1 person, Johnson Berray, has managed to win it in the last 40 years without being killed in the process...
Keep this going. - Brave Man. Brave Man. Brave Man . . .
The Victoria Cross is awarded for: most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy.
It's an incredibly high standard.
And while there is no doubt that this man is a hero, personally I can see why it would take a while to decide whether or not his heroism deserves the Victoria Cross.
To be frank, I believe his heroism, as described, is more deserving of the CGC - the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross - than the Victoria Cross. The CGC is the second highest award for courage in the face of the enemy - and those who receive it are also genuine heroes (as are those who receive the Miltary Cross, or a Mention In Dispatches - the third and fourth highest awards for courage (the MID can also be awarded for other exceptional acts, not necessarily related to heroic behaviour).
Yes, he is a hero - but not all heroes get the VC. Acting as if it is the only suitable award for heroic behaviour denigrates the achievements of those who have received other honours for their heroism.
Two, in fact. Corporal Bill Apiata of the New Zealand Special Air Service is also a living recipient for his actions in Afghanistan in 2004.
Didn’t know that. Seems this man came as close to dying as most would want to come. However, if it’s dying that wins the honor, I’d imagine his loved ones would just as soon he missed out on this one.
I’m going to google Johnson Berray. Thanks.
Talk about vu ja de... I mentioned Sgt. Peralta earlier today....
bttt
Thank you for the explanation. I should have informed myself about the Victoria Cross. I have the highest regard for all those who fight for the cause of freedom. I meant no disrespect, and would never intentionally denigrate the honors received for heroism.
God bless.
The young Lance Corporal frantically scanned the ground through his night vision goggles. And there it lay. He and his three comrades had SEVEN SECONDS to live...
What brave Matt did next could make him the first Royal Marine since 1945 to win a VICTORIA CROSS.
In an astonishing act of self sacrifice he FLUNG himself at the grenade, FLIPPED on his side next to it and lay there with only his backpack for protection as he prepared to SAVE his pals by SMOTHERING the blast with his body.
Matt, 24, recalled: “I thought, ‘I’ve set this bloody thing off and I’m going to do whatever it takes to protect the others’.
http://forums.military.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/672198221/m/2430058671001
Incredible. This man is very lucky to be alive.
I don't care what their politics are with regard to Iraq, or their notions of journalistic "balance" - anyone who has a problem with a positive depiction of this man's battlefield bravery is squarely rooting against Britain, not just British involvement in Iraq.
LCpl Matt Croucher is one of Britain’s finest!
He deserves the Victoria Cross for this incredible act of bravery.
.
That link is to a MUST READ on the story.
Matt says: “It’s a pretty unusual thing but the lads put me forward for the VC themselves. It’s entirely out of my hands. But if it was to happen it would be a massive honour not just for me but for the regiment and all my comrades.”
God bless you, Lance Corporal Croucher.
Wow...That takes courage. Pretty incredible that he made it through with just a nosebleed, too.
List of British Gallantry Awards for the War in Afghanistan.
List of British Gallantry Awards for the War in Iraq.
It lays out the various medals awarded for bravery - both in the face of the enemy, and not in direct contact with the enemy - and their recipients. Heroes all.
Following the words of the Lord to the letter
He is too good for those motherless politicians back in old Blighty who spend their time pandering to muslim terrorists while men like Lance Corporal Croucher face down injury and death to protect their freedom.
Your sarcasm is not welcome, this was an heroic act and not to be made fun of. I didn’t read what injuries he incurred, but it was not unreasonable of me to assume he was severely injured after jumping on a grenade. Your smart a**ed comment is worthy of the lowest liberal, jerk.
Too bad their politicians lack similar courage to deal with the Muslim threat at home.
Thank you, Lance Corporal Matt Croucher, Royal Marine, for your service to your country.
Greater love hath no man than he who gives his life for others.
> It’s almost impossible to win the VC without dying. Only 1 person, Johnson Berray, has managed to win it in the last 40 years without being killed in the process...
Arrant n nonsense. Willie Apiata VC was awarded his just before Christmas last year. He is very, very much alive.
Charles Upham VC with Bar was awarded the Victoria Cross TWICE in WW-II and lived to tell the tale. He died in the early 1990’s.
Find out who made his rucksack and armor and buy their stock...
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