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Collo Lieutenant General User is Offline Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 23950 Karma: 12 applaud / smite Location: Down Under 23745 points 0 warnings 0 tempbans	Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2007 11:48 pm    Post subject: NZ soldier awarded Victoria Cross · Quote Quote: NZ soldier awarded Victoria Cross July 02, 2007 A NEW Zealand soldier has become the first person since World War II to be awarded the country's highest honour for bravery, after a daring rescue of a wounded comrade while serving in Afghanistan in 2004. Corporal Bill Apiata of the New Zealand Special Air Service was given the Victoria Cross for New Zealand. The medal is based on Britain's Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for British soldiers. Prime Minister Helen Clark said Corporal Apiata, 35, was awarded the medal for carrying a severely wounded soldier across open ground while coming under heavy fire. The wounded man would have died from blood loss and shock had Corporal Apiata not done what he did. Corporal Apiata's patrol came under attack from machine gun and grenade fire when it had taken cover for the night, setting two vehicles on fire, his citation notice said. During the fight, Corporal Apiata found himself isolated with two of his comrades, one of whom was badly wounded from shrapnel. Corporal Apiata carried his wounded comrade 70m to where the rest of his patrol had taken cover, despite being clearly visible by the light of the burning vehicles. Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae, said Corporal Apiata was a humble man who when praised for his bravery had said: “I was only doing my job, boss.” There are 22 New Zealand soldiers who have been awarded the British Victoria Cross, the last of which was in 1946 for service in World War II. New Zealand separated its system of honours and awards from Britain's in 1999, creating the new award. Like New Zealand, fellow Commonwealth countries Australia and Canada have established their own version of the British Victoria Cross. Three other awards for bravery were handed out to SAS soldiers for service in Afghanistan. They have not been named for security reasons. The identities of SAS members are generally kept confidential but Corporal Apiata's name has been released because of the special nature of his award. In another rare moment for an SAS officer, he will hold a press conference this afternoon. Defence Minister Phil Goff said witnesses of Corporal Apiata's actions had initiated the process of him winning the rare award. Ms Clark said the Queen had approved it. “Corporal Apiata carried a severely wounded fellow soldier across open ground while coming under intense attack. He did this despite the extreme danger to himself,” Ms Clark said. “As opposing forces pressed their attack towards the two men, Lance Corporal Apiata, as he was then, carried his comrade over 70m of broken, rocky and fire-swept ground, fully exposed in the glare of battle to heavy opposing fire, and into the face of returning fire from the main New Zealand troop position.” Corporal Apiata had displayed “stunning courage and selflessness”, Ms Clark said. Agencies Well done Corporal, Sir. _________________ Commander 1st class Special Ops
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afsp90_02 Chairman Joint Chiefs User is Offline Joined: 26 Oct 2006 Posts: 11253 Karma: 14 applaud / smite Location: North Carolina 28875 points 0 warnings 0 tempbans	Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 1:08 am    Post subject: · Quote Congratulations Corporal Apiata, job well done sir! Thank you "Colo" for the story, our heroes need to be recognised... Vitoria Cross {Equal to U.S. Medal of Honor} _________________ Administrator Forum Chairman Joint Chiefs [Staff CO] Commanding Officer[CO] Forum awards comity Moderator Staff Company staff officer M.S.T. Bravo CO.
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Collo Lieutenant General User is Offline Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 23950 Karma: 12 applaud / smite Location: Down Under 23745 points 0 warnings 0 tempbans	Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 1:47 am    Post subject: · Quote They sure do mate. Thanks for posting the images mate. It goes without saying that Sir will never have to pay for another round ever again. Since 2001; there has been 3 VCs' awarded. The first to Private (now Lance Corporal) Johnson Barry VC from the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment, British Army for Valor in Iraq, the second was awarded posthumously to Corproal Bryan Budd VC of 3PARA of the British Army for Valor and Leadership in Afghanistan and most recently to Corporal Bill Apiata VC of the New Zealand Speacial Air Service, New Zealand Army in for Valor in Afghanistan. The link for the wikipedia page (which is accurate) for the VC: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Cross#Victoria_Cross_after_World_War_II _________________ Commander 1st class Special Ops
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