Virtue, guts, and brains
Today's Daily Telegraph has the story of Matthew Croucher who has been awarded the George Cross for his heroism. He was on an operation to investigate a suspected bomb-making factory when he tripped a booby-trap that set off a grenade.
Virtue - prudence, justice and fortitude are certainly there. (Temperance too if you consider the other two headings.)
"I thought, 'I've set this bloody thing off and I'm going to do whatever it takes to protect the others."Guts - he did not hesitate to jump on the grenade to save his three fellow Royal Marines and said that he expected to lose a limb but hoped to keep his head and torso intact.
Brains - he rolled over to use his backpack to shield his body from the shrapnel fragments.
Fortunately, the backpack that the Royal Marines carry has quite a lot of kit in it. His had a lithium battery, a medical kit and a 66mm Rocket. Thanks be to God, he got thrown up in the air and suffered only a nose bleed. Within an hour, he was back fighting the Taliban and shot an insurgent approaching their position.
L/Cpl Croucher has kept the backpack as a souvenir. Now that's something to show your grandchildren! Along with the medal of course.
5 comments:
What an incredibly brave thing to do - to think of your mates in such a moment - split-second decision making putting your own safety last. A real hero - hopefully the other marines were unhurt. I'll give him the 'George' Cross and buy him a pint anytime.
I like the understatement - he only suffered a nosebleed! I bet he didn't cry over that, well not too much anyway!
We should all be so proud of our men and women in the military who at such great personal risk of life and limb take on the terrorist and lunatic fanatics of this world so that we (and the indiginous people of Iraq and Afghanistan) may live in some semblance of peace. We owe these people a lot and should keep them in our prayers. May God look after them and bring them safely back to our shores. May the madness that is terrorism and blights so many lives be cleared from the face of the earth as soon as possible.
For me personally this is an especially poignant story as my youngest son who is currently studying at university has been training with the Territorial Army all year (weekends primarily) and now during his summer holiday has signed on for an officers training course, which he is currently enjoying very much (despite sheer exhaustion as he writes to us to let us know how he is getting on). His ultimate ambition which he has nurtured for many years is to join the Royal Marines. I know that Matthew Croucher will be a great inspiration to him.
Amazing story!
God bless him.
When I was in the light infantry (an oxymoron if ever there was one) we also carried huge rucksacks ... and complained vociferously as is the soldier's prerogrative!
Now, with Cpl. Croucher's experience in mind, I will never-ever complain about a huge ruck. (That is: should ever I be recalled to active duty after being 15 years on the retired list!)
After looking up the George Medal, it is analogous to the US's Distinguished Service Cross (second only to the Congressional Medal of Honor).
I'm a bit confused though ... the George Cross Warrant states: The Cross is intended primarily for civilians and award in Our [UK] military services is to be confined to actions for which purely military Honours are not normally granted.
(source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Cross)
So, why should not a VC have been awarded the corporal since (1) he was military executing a specific military operation and (2) his actions were above & beyond the call of duty in a combat scenario. (He even expected to lose a limb!)
Was a VC not awarded because he was fortunate enough NOT to suffer the injuries he anticipated? If he had suffered a more dramatic injury, would he have been presented the VC? Or; was it because he was not under enemy fire?
I am happy for the Corporal, but in my opinion it seems he has been short-changed.
Well done, Corporal!
--Guy Power
The GC is on the same level as the VC and is the highest award possible. AFAIU it was the GC because he was not directly engaged with the enemy.
I agree Fr Tim - naught better than the George Cross, so enough on the matter you people out there and don't make me, George, Cross. (LOL - well OK, a little bit anyway, I thought it was funny - tee hee hee, titter, titter).
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