Australian SAS leader wins US medal

Sunday Times ^ | July 23 2002

[knighthawk]

THE commander of Australian special forces in Afghanistan has been awarded the United States Bronze Star for outstanding contribution to the war on terror.

Lieutenant Colonel Rowan Tink was awarded the medal by US coalition commander Major General Frank Hagenbeck at a farewell ceremony at the main military base at Bagram, north of Kabul.

The award citation recognises Colonel Tink's leadership and tactical proficiency in his command of 150 Australian Special Air Service troops during the past six months.

In particular, the citation recognised his role in commanding Australian troops involved in Operation Anaconda earlier this year, Australian Defence Forces spokesman Brigadier Mike Hannan told a media conference.

Operation Anaconda, conducted in south-eastern Afghanistan, was a key campaign to rid the country of al-Qaeda elements and involved the toughest fighting of the war on terror so far.

Australian troops were responsible for calling in air strikes which killed some 300 enemy fighters during the operation.

[knighthawk]

Ping

[facedown]

BTTT

[Prodigal Son]

Hoo-ah! Now, give that man a Foster's!

[Consort]

[Zeroisanumber]

Fosters! Australian for: "Oh Sh!t, I'm on the floor again!"

[dennisw]

Lieutenant Colonel Rowan Tink was awarded .........

This gives him the instant nickname Twink..... Like a boy named Sue it made him more of a fighter!

[FreedomPoster]

There were some Canadians to whom we wanted to give some medals, and I think it was the Bronze Star as here, and the award was hung up in the Canadian bureaucracy, as they were deciding whether it was OK to accept U.S. medals (sheesh!).

Does anyone know if the Canucks ever got their medals?

[Guillermo]