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Queen decorates Nepali for Afghanistan heroics
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ProfessorF
What's a life?
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 7:56 pm
Posts: 12030
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  | | | | Quote: Queen decorates Nepali for Afghanistan heroics
LONDON (AFP) – A Nepalese soldier in the British army has been given a top bravery award by Queen Elizabeth II for his heroics in Afghanistan, where he single-handedly saw off more than 30 Taliban fighters.
Corporal Dipprasad Pun, 31, said he thought he was going to die and so had nothing to lose in taking on the attackers who overran his checkpoint.
He was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC), which is given in recognition of acts of conspicuous gallantry during active operations against the enemy.
Pun fired more than 400 rounds, launched 17 grenades and detonated a mine to repel the Taliban assault on his checkpoint near Babaji in Helmand Province, southern Afghanistan, last September.
Surrounded, the enemy opened fired from all sides and for 15 minutes Pun remained under continuous attack, including from rocket-propelled grenades and AK47 guns.
At one point, unable to shoot, he used his machine gun tripod to knock down a militant who was climbing the walls of the compound.
Two insurgents were still attacking by the time he ran out of ammunition, but he set off a Claymore mine to repel them.
Pun was given his medal in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London on Wednesday.
The CGC is second only to the Victoria Cross -- the highest honour for bravery in the face of the enemy.
"There wasn't any choice but to fight. The Taliban were all around the checkpoint. I was alone," he said.
"I had so many of them around me that I thought I was definitely going to die so I thought I'd kill as many of them as I could before they killed me.
"After that I thought nobody can kill us now -- when we met the enemy I wasn't scared."
Britain's Major General Nicholas Carter, who was commander of allied forces in southern Afghanistan during Pun's deployment, praised his efforts.
"The CGC does not get handed out lightly. It was a most remarkable achievement," he said. | | | | |
I remember reading about this, and hell yes, you deserve a pension at the very least. Although I'm wondering why he's not being referred to as a Gurkha in that report?
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| Sun Jun 05, 2011 11:45 am |
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bobbdobbs
I haven't seen my friends in so long
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 7:10 pm
Posts: 5490
Location: just behind you!
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the BBC report does mention him as a Gurkha, I assume its because its Yahoo.com and those pesky people outside the UK may not understand the relationship the Gurkhas have with the British army. The big question is why on earth wasnt the medal a VC? _________________Finally joined Flickr
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| Sun Jun 05, 2011 12:44 pm |
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JohnSheridan
Doesn't have much of a life
Joined: Mon Apr 27, 2009 9:10 pm
Posts: 1057
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Yes - remarkable feat by this one soldier. Definately should have been awarded the VC - disgraceful he wasn't.  _________________
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| Sun Jun 05, 2011 1:49 pm |
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koli
Doesn't have much of a life
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 5:12 pm
Posts: 1171
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I might be wrong but VC cannot be award if the reason for the act of a solder might have been self preservation. I believe one must do something that he doesn't have to do, in addition to doing something outstanding. I think the fact that he was fighting for his life (self preservation) prevented him from getting the VC.
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| Sun Jun 05, 2011 3:05 pm |
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rustybucket
I haven't seen my friends in so long
Joined: Thu Jun 18, 2009 5:10 pm
Posts: 5836
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I disagree. What he did was incredible, yes, but that's why he got the CGC, a rarity in itself. However if you compare him with past recipients (e.g. Major Robert Henry Cain, Major David Auldjo Jamieson, David Vivian Currie) he doesn't come up to the same level. The VC is basically only given for superhero-level feats of derring-do. _________________Jim
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| Sun Jun 05, 2011 3:45 pm |
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MrStevenRogers
Spends far too much time on here
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 9:44 pm
Posts: 4860
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+1 a VC was very in order ...
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| Sun Jun 05, 2011 8:57 pm |
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Spreadie
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Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 6:06 pm
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Location: IoW
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I thought the VC, and the CGC for that matter, were awarded when the recipient had decided to act; through his or her own volition, rather than circumstance being pressed upon them.
I have no desire to belittle the guy's achievement, I am in awe of his actions, but his position was surrounded and he had little choice but to act. I certainly believe he should receive a medal, afterall he did save lives other than his own, as well as prevail against superior enemy numbers.
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| Mon Jun 06, 2011 11:37 am |
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paulzolo
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Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 6:27 pm
Posts: 12251
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I’d say that the recognition is pretty high up on the list. Even if it’s just “second place”, it’s still a Monarch-Meeting honour.
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| Mon Jun 06, 2011 12:06 pm |
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