Posted on 07/23/2008 4:17:32 PM PDT by traumer
A Royal Marine who threw himself on to an exploding grenade to save the lives of his comrades is to receive the George Cross.
Lance Corporal Matthew Croucher stepped on a trip-wire which triggered the device during a night raid on a Taliban compound in Afghanistan.
Realising that three other members of his patrol would be killed if he did not act, he launched himself forward to smother the explosion, managing to twist on to his back to let his rucksack take the full force of the blast.
Lance Corporal Matthew Croucher with his shredded rucksack. Having stepped on a trip-wire he threw himself on to the device allowing the rucksack to bear the brunt of the explosion and thereby save the lives of three colleagues
The explosion hurled him across the compound leaving him stunned, bleeding profusely from the nose and almost deaf.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Not all the Brits are effete yet!
Why not the VC?
Britain, America and right thinking people around that world have another hero to thank and another reason to defend our civilization. This guy has permanent cool - I hope life treats him well.
Balls and brains!
An hour after that, despite being offered to go to the hospital or something, he shot and killed an insurgent.
A poster on an earlier thread remarked, "The insurgent could hear the clanking when he walked."
Took me a minute to figure that out, but, Yes. Huge, huge brass ones.
Further and wholly unnecessary proof that there are much better men than me. Way to go Marine
When I saw the headline, I assumed the award would be posthumous. I’m glad to see the guy is still alive and kicking. He is a brave man.
Absolutely incredible young man....
L/Cpl Croucher added: “Our captain looked at me with a smile in his eyes and said ‘That was a bit crazy, Croucher’.”
Good question.
The George Cross is intended for civilians, or acts of bravery "not in the face of the enemy". But I would argue a booby trap constitutes the presence of the enemy.
I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above,
Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love;
The love that asks no question, the love that stands the test,
That lays upon the altar the dearest and the best;
The love that never falters, the love that pays the price,
The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.
I heard my country calling, away across the sea,
Across the waste of waters she calls and calls to me.
Her sword is girded at her side, her helmet on her head,
And round her feet are lying the dying and the dead.
I hear the noise of battle, the thunder of her guns,
I haste to thee my mother, a son among thy sons.
And there’s another country, I’ve heard of long ago,
Most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know;
We may not count her armies, we may not see her King;
Her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering;
And soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase,
And her ways are ways of gentleness, and all her paths are peace.
It would make a great National Anthem for the Brits except it’s hard to sing without crying, but then maybe that’s because it is predominantly sung at funerals.
Apparently because they were on patrol, but not actually fighting the Taliban at the time.
He should have "light bulb clusters" added to his award for being quick thinking.
Good question.
The George Cross is intended for civilians, or acts of bravery "not in the face of the enemy". But I would argue a booby trap constitutes the presence of the enemy.
The enemy himself was not present. Only a booby trap. However, a GC is only just below a VC and only because the VC is older. The level of bravery is the same, the only real difference is that for a VC, someone has to shoot at you.
The Medal of Honor, the Victoria Cross and the George Cross are the gold standard for defining bravery. Lance Corporal Croucher is a better man than I'll ever be.
It seems to be a splitting of hairs in some regard, though you are correct, VC's are always won in the face of the enemy.
Though, when you consider some of the Navy recipients, they are often exchanging fire with an enemy that is over the horizon whereas in this instance the enemy could have been much closer at hand.
They are all brave men, though I just feel this act deserved the highest award for gallantry that could be given.
"Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
And that is precisely what he was doing, but got away with it.
I assumed that also....just incredible ....
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