True Hero

[Vermilion]

A young marine i to receive the George Cross for throwing himself on a grenade in order to protect his fellow soldiers. Amazingly the marine suffered only minor injuries, his backpack and body armour taking the brunt of the explosion.

The marine himself says of the incident:
"I thought, I've set the bloody thing off and I'm going to do whatever it takes to protect the others. I figured that if I could keep my head and torso intact I'd probably survive any other injuries - although I fully expected to lose a limb."

Full story here


I just was blown away by how matter of fact he was about the whole thing, and it's nice to hear some of the positive stories relating to our troops...
He's not bad looking, either shame I'm getting married in 6 weeks!

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44856000/jpg/_44856420_croucherbagbody.jpg

 

[keeblercrumb]

Rocket Man

Hero indeed....

I doubt there was ever a soldier who has not wondered what he would do in a similar situation.....

I wonder if they currently receive any training along those lines.... certainly not in my day, but then we did not train with body armor.

-KC

 

[Guest]

True hero, indeed.

 

[impressive]

Um, if he triggered the damned grenade in the first place, then I'd expect no less. Not sure I'd go so far as to call him a "hero" simply for taking responsibility for his actions and protecting others from the fallout of those actions.

IMO, he did what a soldier should have done. Period.

I'm glad he's okay, but it makes me cynical about our world when such acts of responsibility are praised as extraordinary. They should be SOP.

 

[Guest]

He received the George Cross for his actions, which aren't given out lightly, and rightly so...

 

[Guest]

Um, if he triggered the damned grenade in the first place, then I'd expect no less. Not sure I'd go so far as to call him a "hero" simply for taking responsibility for his actions and protecting others from the fallout of those actions.

IMO, he did what a soldier should have done. Period.

I'm glad he's okay, but it makes me cynical about our world when such acts of responsibility are praised as extraordinary. They should be SOP.

He didn't "trigger a damn grenade" (as in pissing about with one) he stepped on a trip wire, in no doubt highly-charged and intense circumstances.

From the full report:

"Croucher, from Birmingham, was taking part in a mission to uncover a suspected Taliban bomb-making factory in Helmand province in February when he stepped on a trip-wire and triggered the device. His award will be officially announced tomorrow."

 

[impressive]

He didn't "trigger a damn grenade" (as in pissing about with one) he stepped on a trip wire, in no doubt highly-charged and intense circumstances.

From the full report:

"Croucher, from Birmingham, was taking part in a mission to uncover a suspected Taliban bomb-making factory in Helmand province in February when he stepped on a trip-wire and triggered the device. His award will be officially announced tomorrow."

I realize that. I read the article. I didn't mean to imply that he was behaving foolishly. However, his actions were directly responsible for triggering it, so I believe his response was appropriate -- not heroic.