Posted on 03/05/2010 9:24:20 AM PST by llevrok
Edited on 03/05/2010 3:09:39 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
The Sun reports that Flight Lieutenant Ian Fortune, 28, had flown in to pick up casualties as a firefight raged between American and Afghan forces and heavily-armed rebels near Garmsir in Helmand Province.
Flt-Lt Fortune - who had TV presenter Mike Brewer on the aircraft filming a documentary - was advised to hold off on approach to the battle as it was "too hot" on the ground. He circled until troops reported incoming fire had calmed down.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
He needs the Victoria Cross. The highest England has.
Agreed. Salutes.
OH YA! I like hero’s! Hope we read about it soon.
Ah, another member of the club. And for their sake, I’m not sure I even want to see somebody earn it more impressively than that.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Flight Lieutenant Ian “Mongo” Fortune. Don’t shoot him. You’ll only make him mad.
The obvious choice is the British Distinguished Flying Cross.
Flight Lieutenant Ian Fortune should never have to buy a beer for the rest of his life!
Once again I question the media acting as the sniper’s spotter, albeit quite belatedly.
A thick skull. Obviously, the bullet did not penetrate into the brain.
Wow! That is an incredible story. My guess is a combination of the bullet losing energy as it penetrated or deflected off of metal parts and probably a thick head thanks to the pilot’s parents kept that bullet from fulling penetrating.
He really lives up to his name “Fortune”.
And his ability to maintain control under those circumstances was amazing.
awesome
I’d be surprised and disappointed if he didn’t get the Victoria Cross from Her Majesty for his actions.
As someone else posted on another thread.
WHY do Americans NEVER hear about OUR HEROs?
Obviously, he has an Irish ancestor.:)
God bless him and his family.
Blame the American Left Wing-Nut LameStreamMedia.
I hitched a ride on a Chinook in VietNam.
I had never been in one before.
Whwn it took off, I thought it was going to vibrate itself apart and this was a good one.
He needs the Victoria Cross. The highest England has.
I agree!
The Victoria Cross is for a level of courage in the face of an enemy where the person should have died. Broadly speaking he (or she, although that has not happened yet with the VC - it has with the equivalent decoration for courage not in the face of the enemy) must have expected their actions to kill them and have chosen to do them anyway.
Flt-Lt Fortune certainly would have known there was a risk of death in any combat mission, but every soldier (including sailors and airmen) knows that every time they enter combat. The VC becomes a factor only when the risk greatly increases above that normal level.
In my view, as somebody who was taught the criteria for recommending decorations in the British Honours system (and in the Australian one as well), I'd be recommending him for the DFC - awarded for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy". That's what this fits.
Sometimes when I say things like this, I get accused of claiming the person isn't heroic. On the contrary, my intention is to ensure that the real heroism of those who receive decorations such as the DFC, or the MC, or the DSC, or the CGC, is not understated. Receiving any of those decorations indicates a person has shown an extreme level of courage or devotion to duty above and beyond the call of duty.
I might go to the CGC (Conspicuous Gallantry Cross) in this case in recognition of the fact that as well as displaying great courage, his actions were also instrumental in protecting others and increasing the chance of a successful mission.
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