Posted on 06/03/2011 2:59:01 PM PDT by James C. Bennett
The story of Dipprasad Pun, a Nepali soldier fighting in Afghanistan with the British Royal Gurkha Rifles, didn't get a lot of press in the United States because, well, he's a Nepali British soldier. But it's amazing. Last September, Pun fought off thirty Taliban attackers by himself, firing 400 rounds of machine gun ammunition, detonating 17 grenades, a landmine, and finally beating the last attackers back with the tripod of his gun. Naturally, he received a high honor yesterday: Britain's Conspicuous Gallantry Cross.
A report from March in the British Forces News explains that Pun was on sentry duty alone at a checkpoint near a remote village when the attack happened. His platoon left him and three other soldiers to man the post while they went on patrol to secure the area for the next day's parliamentary elections.
Pun was on duty when he heard a clinking noise to the south of the checkpoint and had the presence of mind to gather up two radios, which would enable him to both speak to his Commander and to call in artillery support, his personal weapon, and a General Purpose Machine Gun. Realising that he was about to be attacked, he quickly informed his Commander on one of the radios, and fired a weapon launched grenade at the enemy.
Pun single-handedly fought off an enemy attack onto his lightly manned position. In the dark he took the enemy head on as he moved around his position to fend off the attack from three sides, killing three assailants and causing the others to flee. In doing so he saved the lives of his three comrades and prevented the position from being overrun.
According to CNN, he said in a later interview, "I thought they are definitely going to kill me. ... I thought before they kill me I have to kill some of them." It seems to have worked.
“With ten divisions of such men our troubles here would quickly be over” Colonel Kurtz, Apocalypse Now
A platoon of black men were manning a position during the Korean War when the Chinese attempted to overrun them with a human wave. They fought like madmen and repelled the Chinese. The next day when green reinforcements arrived to see them collecting what seemed to be hundreds of bodies when the lieutenant said, “See? That is what happens when you don’t panic.”
Last September, Pun fought off thirty Taliban attackers by himself, firing 400 rounds of machine gun ammunition, detonating 17 grenades, a landmine, and finally beating the last attackers back with the tripod of his gun...What? That's all?
Realising that he was about to be attacked, he quickly informed his Commander on one of the radios, and fired a weapon launched grenade at the enemy... In the dark he took the enemy head on as he moved around his position to fend off the attack from three sides, killing three assailants and causing the others to flee. In doing so he saved the lives of his three comrades and prevented the position from being overrun... "I thought they are definitely going to kill me. ... I thought before they kill me I have to kill some of them."I like this kid.
While I take nothing away from them in terms of fighting prowess, I don’t think their numbers are very high - they really are an elite. It’s odd how they’ve served with the British for so long, yet have an independent state (some kind of “friendship agreement”). I guess it is like the Swiss Guard; I don’t know about today, but they were an all-Swiss unit, serving in another country.
Swiss Guards is the name given to the Swiss soldiers who have served as bodyguards, ceremonial guards, and palace guards at foreign European courts since the late 15th century. They have had a high reputation for discipline, and loyalty to their employers. Apart from household and guard units, regular Swiss mercenary regiments have served as line troops in various armies; notably those of France, Spain and Naples up to the 19th century. In contemporary usage, the name Swiss Guards generally refers to the Pontifical Swiss Guard of Vatican City.
I remember seeing them at the Vatican. Only time I've ever seen an actual guard with a halberd.
Thanks for the info; are they still exclusively Swiss?
Nepal Seals, and no less heroic.....
Recruits to the guards must be Catholic, single males with Swiss citizenship who have completed basic training with the Swiss military and can obtain certificates of good conduct.
Far out! WGAF? Are the Swiss guards to the pope currently engaged in anything more than standing around and scratching nut?.....The thread is about a hero....not the pope.
Great picture.
Looks like one of the men has been fighting and causing trouble again.
>>In true badass fashion, when the battle was over, reinforcements had arrived, and the smoke had finally cleared, Sergeant Pun’s company commander quietly walked up to him, slowly looked the blood-lusted Sergeant over, patted him once on the back, and simply asked, “You OK?” Pun nodded, dazed, but unhurt. The company commander nodded once and walked away without a word. All in a day’s work for the Royal Gurkha Rifles.<<
Only 30 Taliban? He definitely had them outnumbered.
kearnyirish2 made a tangential reference about the Swiss Guard in relation to the Gurkhas.
Pan_Yan provided background information.
kearnyirish2 wanted further elaboration.
Pan_Yan did so.
So ScreamingFist (who apparently doesn’t give a f@$%); was your comment really necessary?
The Gurkha Rifles are a legendary regiment, and this man’s bravery will only enhance their reputation.
An amazing story.
He will be counseled, then decorated and promoted.
He was in a bit of a pickle.
30:1? He clearly had the Taliban outnumbered.
I don't think even Chuck Norris could do that.
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