Cameron Baird, killed in Afghanistan, is awarded the Victoria Cross

The Australian ^ | 13th February 2014 | Jared Owens

[naturalman1975]

THE Victoria Cross has been awarded posthumously to Australian commando Corporal Cameron Baird, killed in Afghanistan in June 2013, Tony Abbott has announced.

The Prime Minister told parliament that Corporal Baird, of the Special Operations Task Group, was the 100th Australian recipient of the highest military honour for bravery in wartime.

He was the 40th - and last - Australian to die in Afghanistan.

He is the fourth Australian VC from the conflict.

Mr Abbott said the Tasmanian-born Corporal Baird, 32, was already an iconic figure in the army, and had also received the Medal of Gallantry.

He was being awarded the Victoria Cross for “most conspicuous acts of valour” and “extreme devotion to duty”, the Prime Minister said.

[naturalman1975]

The Victoria Cross has long been the highest award for valour in the face of the enemy awarded within the Commonwealth of Nations.

In the early 1970s, Australia redesigned its honours system so that Australian medals would be awarded in place of British Imperial Honours. Canada and New Zealand have done the same. Because of the special status of the Victoria Cross, it was retained as the paramount award for valour in the face of the enemy. The Victoria Cross for Australia is identical in all respects to the Imperial honours VC.

On my own page here at Freerepublic I have a tribute to all Australian and New Zealand service personnel who have died during the War on Terror. I hope to never have to add another name to it, but in a moment, I will be amending the last entry in it so far, to reflect the award of the Victoria Cross to Corporal Cameron Baird VC MG.

[naturalman1975]

If there's a trip one way, he said,
Into battle grim for me,
Don't let them say when I am dead:
He died to save democracy;
Nor let them say: He fought to free
Enslaved nations, white or brown;
Just print these simple words for me:

He would not let his cobbers down.

[Dartman]

May God welcome home this warrior. Well done, Corporal Baird, well done.

[ExpatCanuck]

For those who read the article in the link, it says he was survived, among others, by his 'partner'. If that turns out to be a guy, does that change your opinion of him as a hero?

Just curious.

[naturalman1975]

Speaking personally, no, it would make no difference to me at all.

I served alongside gay men during my time in the Navy and if they didn’t make it an issue, and simply got on with their job the same as everybody else, nobody else cared either.

I don’t care what religion somebody is, what their sexuality is, or what their political beliefs are, or a whole host of other issues - as long as they don’t try and ram any of those things down my throat, or expect unreasonable special accommodations because of them.

[ExpatCanuck]

God bless you then. I share all of your sentiments 100%.

[Jet Jaguar]

BTTT

[ExpatCanuck]

Wait though, you said NAVY! Aren't most guys in the navy gay anyway?

I'M KIDDING!!!

Thank you for your service!