Australian soldier Mark Donaldson awarded Victoria Cross

The Australian ^ | January 16, 2009

[Dundee]

AN Australian soldier has been awarded the first Victoria Cross in 40 years for his "exceptional bravery" in service in Afghanistan.

Trooper Mark Donaldson has been awarded the nation's highest military honour...

Donaldson was serving with the SAS in Oruzgan province in Afghanistan in October last year when his unit was hit by an ambush.

He deliberately drew enemy fire to allow wounded soldiers to escape and be taken to safety.

Then, "with complete disregard for his own safety ' Trooper Donaldson ran back 80m across exposed ground to rescue a wounded coalition force interpreter and take him back to a vehicle...

[Dundee]

This is the first VC to be awarded since the Vietnam war and is big news here in Australia.

A grateful country thanks you for your exceptional bravery Trooper Donaldson.

[SandRat]

Retired Yank Army Major saluting you Trooper Mark Donaldson.

[Dundee]

The last VC awared to an Australian was in 1969 when Warrant Officer Keith Payne received it for rescuing more than forty wounded troops and leading them back to the battalion base despite heavy enemy fire.

[Squantos]

AWESOME !!!

[Old Sarge]

Well done, VC Donaldson, well done.

It’s just a shame that the unofficial policy is for there to be no heroes from “Bush’s War”.

[naturalman1975]

Articles referencing the action for which this Victoria Cross was received.

Australian soldier dodges gunfire to save wounded interpreter
Revealed: How ambushed Diggers turned tables on Taliban
Special forces land crushing blow on Taliban in Afghanistan-(SAS Australia)

[SunkenCiv]

This is the first VC to be awarded since the Vietnam war and is big news here in Australia.

[hiredhand]

Wow! 80m is a LONG way to run in the open under fire. This man was a TRUE friend to those he was with!

[adlucem]

MODS: Vanity thread. Pull it from Breaking News.

[Dundee]

And run 80m back under the same fire while carrying a wounded man on your shoulders. Talk about big brass ones, I’m surprised that he can put his pants on in the morning.

[Dundee]

Vanity thread? What the bloody hell are you smoking?

[2nd Bn, 11th Mar]

I don’t think so.

What’s vanity about this?

Semper Fi,

[alarm rider]

My best USAF salute to Trooper Donaldson. Well done.

[editor-surveyor]

Another Noob that doesn’t know what a vanity thread is?

[naturalman1975]

The Citation

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.

[adlucem]

it got yanked because it IS vanity. you are obviously the ignorant fool who doesn’t know what he’s talking about. you haven’t been here long enough.

[adlucem]

mods took it out of breaking news. talk to them to find out what they are smoking. perhaps they think you are the problem.

[editor-surveyor]

Go to the main page and get educated Noob.

[centurion316]

So, here I am reading an inspiring article about a soldier whom has performed the ultimate act of honor, courage, and devotion to duty, when along comes some complete waste of rations who hasn’t been arond Free Republic or the world long enough to have the slightest clue what he is talking about, and makes a completely asinine comment.

Congratulations, you are such a bottom feeding absolute scum. What contribution to the planet have you ever in your miserable little life made? Please enlighten us. I would really like to know what motivated you to make such a comment. Please include in your response a summary of your record of service to your country. Free Republic has indeed sunk to new lows.

[adlucem]

denial got you where you are. it will get you no further.