http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/victoriacross/ en-us Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:15:00 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2281372/posts This page is devoted to the pre-eminent heroes of the War on Terror. The men who have been awarded their nations very highest decorations for bravery in service in this war. This page will be updated to include all people who receive those decorations. The decorations are: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2281372/posts#comment Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:15:00 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2240030/posts Somebody has placed this incredible documentary on youtube and I commend it to anybody interested in the history of heroism, or the history of war in general. Overall, it's about an hour long and it explores in a fair amount of detail the actions that lead to the award of the Victoria Cross, the British Empire's and Commonwealth's highest decoration for bravery in the face of an enemy (thus given in the same place in our heirarchy of bravery awards that the Medal of Honour occupies in the United States), to Australian's since the dawn of the twentieth century. It... History Channel Australia http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2240030/posts#comment Wed, 29 Apr 2009 01:26:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2174030/posts WHEN Trooper Mark Donaldson showed the extraordinary courage, character and inner strength that resulted in him being awarded the Victoria Cross, it was not the first time. Those same qualities had been forged earlier, in the mysterious and tragic circumstances of his family life, circumstances that utterly transformed him. Donaldson and his older brother, Brent, lost both parents between 1995 and 1998, when the boys were 16 and 17 respectively. Friends of the Donaldson family from the small town of Dorrigo, near Coffs Harbour, believe the sudden death by heart attack of their 47-year-old Vietnam veteran father, Greg, in a... Cootamundra Herald http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2174030/posts#comment Thu, 29 Jan 2009 05:47:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2167060/posts VICTORIA Cross recipient Trooper Mark Donaldson is not just a national hero but a young man who has overcome extraordinary tragedy. Residents of Dorrigo in northern NSW are so proud of Australia's latest Victoria Cross recipient that grown men shed tears in the street late last week. Trooper Donaldson, 29, was 19 and his brother Brent 20 when they were orphaned. Their mother Bernadette, widowed after the death of her husband Greg from a heart attack three years earlier, disappeared after planning to fly to the Gold Coast for a holiday. She never made her flight, and her disappearance -... The Daily Telegraph (Sydney) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2167060/posts#comment Sun, 18 Jan 2009 22:13:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2166574/posts Homicide detectives will today search bushland at Bellingen, on the New South Wales mid-north coast, as part of a cold case investigation into the suspicious death of a woman more than 10 years ago. Police say Bernadette Donaldson, 46, had planned to fly to the Gold Coast in April of 1998. But Ms Donaldson never made her flight and has not been seen since. Today, officers will start clearing bushland at Bellingen looking for possible skeletal remains. The search is expected to take about a week, and comes after a coronial investigation in 1999. ABC News (Australia) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2166574/posts#comment Sat, 17 Jan 2009 22:21:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2166587/posts This really is worth watching at youtube. ABC Television Australia http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2166587/posts#comment Sat, 17 Jan 2009 22:43:56 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2166218/posts THE bravery of SAS trooper Mark Donaldson, the first Australian awarded the Victoria Cross in 40 years, has been acclaimed by the Prime Minister as "the stuff of Australian legend". But the man known to mates as "Donno" declared getting the nation's highest military honour in Afghanistan would not change him. "I don't see myself as a hero, honestly. I still see myself as a soldier first and foremost," Trooper Donaldson said after accepting the VC from Governor-General Quentin Bryce in Canberra yesterday. "I'm still Mark Donaldson and we'll keep going from day to day and see how we go."... Herald Sun http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2166218/posts#comment Sat, 17 Jan 2009 04:17:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2166091/posts AUSTRALIA'S latest Victoria Cross winner, SAS Trooper Mark Donaldson, was not born when Keith Payne was awarded his VC for heroism in the jungles of Vietnam 40 years ago. Along with Edward Kenna, who won his VC for service in New Guinea in 1945, the pair are the only surviving Australian winners of the country's highest military honour. "From my own point of view I'm tremendously happy," Mr Payne said. "It takes me out of the youngest VC winner in Australia to one of the oldest." Praising Trooper Donaldson, he said; "He'll remember his little party (gun battle) all his... The Australian http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2166091/posts#comment Sat, 17 Jan 2009 00:18:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2166085/posts SAS trooper Mark Donaldson exposed himself so much to enemy fire that when Australia's last VC winner heard about his award he assumed it would be posthumous. Over two hours in southeastern Afghanistan last September 2, Trooper Donaldson, 29, repeatedly fought alone in open ground raked by accurate and heavy Taliban machine-gun fire to allow his wounded comrades to be dragged to safety. Deliberate exposure to draw enemy fire away from the wounded would have been enough for a Victoria Cross recommendation, but Trooper Donaldson then sprinted 80m over the same killing ground to save the life of a seriously... The Australian http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2166085/posts#comment Sat, 17 Jan 2009 00:14:27 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2166088/posts Mark Donaldson VC shows the way to other Australians MARK Donaldson does not think he is a hero. Heroes generally do not. He believes that everybody would do what he did. But the way SAS Trooper Donaldson earned his VC, on duty with the SAS in Afghanistan, was a rare act of selfless courage. During a Taliban ambush of a coalition convoy, Trooper Donaldson drew enemy fire away from wounded men while they were moved to some semblance of safety. But when Trooper Donaldson realised an interpreter had been left behind, he went back, crossing exposed ground under fire to... The Australian http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2166088/posts#comment Sat, 17 Jan 2009 00:16:18 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2165604/posts Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce, AC, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia pins the Victoria Cross to Trooper Mark Donaldson VC. Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce, AC, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia congratulates Trooper Mark Donaldson VC at today's ceremony. Mr Keith Payne VC congratulates Trooper Mark Donaldson VC at today's ceremony. A congratulatory kiss from wife Emma to Trooper Mark Donaldson VC; with the Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie; Mrs Houston and the Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston looking on. The Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon. Kevin Rudd MP, congratulates... Commonwealth of Australia Department of Defence http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2165604/posts#comment Fri, 16 Jan 2009 07:13:53 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2165426/posts 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... The Australian http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2165426/posts#comment Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:46:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2165424/posts THE first Victoria Cross for Australia has been awarded to a Trooper Mark Donaldson this morning for his bravery in Afghanistan. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Governor-General Quentin Bryce made the historic announcement today at Government House in Canberra. Tropper Donaldson received the award for his actions in Afghanistan on September 2 last year, when, under heavy fire, he ran 80 metres to save an interpreter for the coalition forces and carried him to safety under sustained and accurate shooting. The Victoria Cross is the highest possible award for acts of bravery in wartime, ahead of the Military Cross. Queen... news.com.au http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2165424/posts#comment Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:43:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2051030/posts ALBERT Jacka is regarded as one of Australia's finest soldiers. His exploits at Gallipoli and on the Western Front are legendary, and he was the first Australian in World War I to be awarded the Victoria Cross. Clearly honoured and smiling broadly, his great nephew Simon Jacka, 25, yesterday became the first in the family to join the military since his famous ancestor almost a century ago. "I am proud to serve the nation as a member of the Australian Defence Force," hesaid. "Formally joining the army was a proud moment for the family. I am continuing the association between... The Australian http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2051030/posts#comment Fri, 25 Jul 2008 08:04:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2019596/posts SEVEN Network boss Kerry Stokes will return a Victoria Cross awarded to one of the country's greatest war heroes to the Australian War Memorial. The media mogul and the South Australian Government were yesterday revealed as the mystery bidders of the medal, which sold at auction in Sydney for $488,000. It is the third Victoria Cross Mr Stokes has bought at auction and returned to the War Memorial since 2006, spending almost $2 million to save the pieces of Australia's history from being lost to the public. Carey Badcoe, daughter of Adelaide-born digger Major Peter Badcoe, was happy her father's... The Daily Telegraph http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2019596/posts#comment Thu, 22 May 2008 11:28:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2018543/posts A VICTORIA Cross medal from the Vietnam War has sold for $488,000 at auction in Sydney as part of a collection of 12 medals and memorabilia. The medal was awarded to Adelaide-born Major Peter Badcoe for a series of heroic actions during the Vietnam War in 1967. The Victoria Cross, the Commonwealth's highest decoration for gallantry, was sold to an anonymous buyer, but will remain in Sydney, the auctioneer said. Three bidders were in the race to buy the medals, with spirited bidding starting at $300,000 in Bonhams & Goodman's auction house in Double Bay tonight. Bonhams & Goodman chairman... news.com.au http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2018543/posts#comment Tue, 20 May 2008 10:36:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2017140/posts FOUR weeks ago, auction house chairman Tim Goodman received a call from a wealthy client in the US. The businessman, a passionate military memorabilia collector, had learned that medals and frontline archival material belonging to Australian army Major Peter Badcoe, who was killed in action in Vietnam in 1967, would feature in Bonhams and Goodman's May auction, to be held in Sydney on Tuesday. The collector told Mr Goodman he intended to bid for the Badcoe collection, which includes the only Vietnam War VC medal still in private hands and awarded to Major Badcoe posthumously. The estimated price for the... The Weekend Australian http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2017140/posts#comment Sat, 17 May 2008 00:18:55 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1994187/posts A Royal Marine who threw himself onto an exploding grenade to save the lives of his patrol has been put forward for the UK's highest military honour. Lance Corporal Matt Croucher, 24, a reservist from Birmingham, survived because his rucksack and body armour took the force of the blast. He was part of a reconnaissance troop in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in February, when the incident happened. The Ministry of Defence said he could be considered for the Victoria Cross. BBC http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1994187/posts#comment Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:25:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-vetscor/1980929/posts Havildar Bhanbhagta Gurung, VC Gurkha who was decorated for his courage and skill in capturing a Japanese position in fierce hand-to-hand fighting Havildar Bhanbhagta Gurung, VC Bhanbhagta Gurung won his Victoria Cross in Burma in 1945. His action was the culmination of a series of extraordinarily gallant actions by this soldier of quite exceptional courage, yet it occurred while he was in disgrace, albeit unjustly. Born in the hill village of Phalbu in western Nepal, he was recruited into the old Indian Army soon after the outbreak of the Second World War, and joined 3rd Battalion 2nd King Edward VII’s... times online http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-vetscor/1980929/posts#comment Wed, 5 Mar 2008 21:51:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1933615/posts The medal was awarded to 21 New Zealanders Nine rare and valuable Victoria Cross (VC) medals awarded for acts of extreme bravery in combat have been stolen from a military museum in New Zealand.The thieves managed to evade security patrols, cameras and an alarm when they broke into the Army Museum in Waiouru on North Island early on Sunday. Defence Minister Phil Goff called the raid "a crime against the nation". Military officials estimate the medals are worth millions of dollars, but say they will be difficult to sell. The Victoria Cross, inscribed "For valour", is the highest honour... BBC http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1933615/posts#comment Sun, 2 Dec 2007 17:42:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1890657/posts That the award of two more Victoria Crosses should even be under consideration says a good deal about our campaign in Afghanistan. No other nation has produced a medal so prized. This unprepossessing gun-metal cross, with its simple two-word inscription, is the supreme award that a soldier can win. By tradition, officers and men of all ranks salute its holder. Only 14 VCs have been awarded since the end of the Second World War; two of these (one the New Zealand version) were won in Afghanistan. The citations for the two latest candidates read like episodes from a war film.... UK Telegraph http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1890657/posts#comment Mon, 3 Sep 2007 22:10:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1890141/posts Two British soldiers from the same battalion have been nominated for the Victoria Cross in recognition of their incredible bravery in the face of the enemy. The citations for Britain's highest gallantry award came after the men were involved in fierce fighting against the Taliban in Afghanistan. The first is Captain David Hicks – who would become the first officer to win the VC since Falklands hero Lieutenant-Colonel Herbert 'H' Jones. The second is believed to be Lance-Corporal Oliver 'Teddy' Ruecker, 20. Last month Capt Hicks, 26, refused morphine when mortally wounded in order to lead a counter-attack against a... The Mail on Sunday (UK) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1890141/posts#comment Sun, 2 Sep 2007 12:04:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1890096/posts Double VC for Afghan heroes First officer to receive citation since Falklands by MARK NICOL - More by this author » Last updated at 00:27am on 2nd September 2007  Two British soldiers from the same battalion have been nominated for the Victoria Cross in recognition of their incredible bravery in the face of the enemy.  The citations for Britain's highest gallantry award came after the men were involved in fierce fighting against the Taliban in Afghanistan. The first is Captain David Hicks – who would become the first officer to win the VC since Falklands hero Lieutenant-Colonel Herbert 'H'... The Daily Mail (U.K.) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1890096/posts#comment Sun, 2 Sep 2007 04:52:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1883541/posts Our Troops Rock!  Thank you for all you do!   For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces.   Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today!     ~ Hall of Heroes ~CPT Charles Hazlitt Upham VC             Captain Charles Hazlitt Upham VC and bar (September 21, 1908 - November 22, 1994) was a New Zealand solider who won the Victoria Cross twice during World War II. Earning the Victoria Cross and Bar for outstanding gallantry and leadership in Crete in May... linked in thread http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1883541/posts#comment Sun, 19 Aug 2007 22:59:28 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1870950/posts Kiwi wins medal in Iraq The Nelson Mail | Wednesday, 25 July 2007 A Kiwi soldier who returned to Iraq on a second tour of duty has been awarded one of Britain's highest military awards for bravery under fire. Corporal Terry Knights - a former territorial solder in New Zealand - has been honoured with the Military Cross for bravery and leadership. The recognition is bitter-sweet for the soldier, who serves with the British Royal Marines. He returned home this month for his mother's funeral. His father John Knights, of Motueka, said he was very proud of his son. "When... Nelson Mail / Dominion Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1870950/posts#comment Tue, 24 Jul 2007 20:57:57 GMT