2 honoured for bravery

Two SASR soldiers have been awarded the Gallantry Medal by the Governor-General for their courage in Afghanistan.

Sergeant ‘Y’: Awarded the Medal for Gallantry During the conduct of an operation in southern Afghanistan, an Australian force was engaged by a numerically superior anti-coalition militia element. In the lead up to the engagement Sergeant “Y” was tasked to clear and secure the south-western sector of a village and obstacle choke point. While doing this an engagement on the south-eastern sector of the village resulted in the south-western clearing patrol being separated. Sergeant “Y” placed himself in an extremely hazardous situation while under heavy fire to gain situational awareness and command of his patrol in order to link up with the main-force element. On linking up with the main-force element Sergeant “Y”, while under fire, retrieved a machine gun from a tactical vehicle to move to a position to put effective fire on to militia positions. This action turned the balance on the left flank, enabling the entire Australian element to regain the initiative. Sergeant “Y”, with assistance from another patrol member, occupied a position under extreme fire. This action enabled further elements to move into positions to prevent an militia advance and to facilitate the withdrawal of the Australian patrol. Sergeant “Y’s” actions of gallantry and disregard for his own safety to reinforce the main force element and his ability to recover a machine gun to suppress the militia, while under fire in extremely hazardous circumstances, displayed courage of the highest order and is in keeping with the finest traditions of the Australian Army and the ADF.

WO2 ‘Z’: Awarded the Medal for Gallantry In the lead up to the engagement with a superior anti-coalition militia element, WO2 “Z” was tasked to conduct a foot patrol to secure the south-eastern sector of the obstacle choke point. In doing so, WO2 “Z” and an Afghanistan National Army soldier, were engaged by militia at close range. This engagement resulted in the critical wounding of the ANA soldier. The decisive reaction of WO2 “Z” contributed to the early initiation of the militia ambush which in turn prevented the remainder of the Australian element from entering the ambush killing ground. The Australian patrol then became engaged in a sustained fire fight with the militia for several hours. During this time WO2 “Z” made three attempts to recover the critically wounded ANA soldier while still under extremely heavy fire from numerous enemy positions. Unfortunately, the critically wounded ANA soldier died of his wounds before he could be recovered. WO2 “Z’s” actions of gallantry and disregard for his own safety in attempting to rescue his fallen comrade in extremely hazardous circumstances displayed courage of the highest order and is in keeping with the finest traditions of the Australian Army and the ADF.

By Lt Simone Heyer
Volume 11, No. 38, March 8, 2006
TWO SASR soldiers have been awarded the Medal for Gallantry.

The Sgt and WO2 received the medals for their outstanding actions, leadership and bravery during a long and difficult engagement with anti-coalition militia early in the SFTG’s service in Afghanistan.

Governor-General Maj-Gen Michael Jeffery presented the medals during a moving welcome home ceremony for the first SFTG rotation at Campbell Barracks on February 25.

The Sgt, a patrol commander, earned his medal for his actions under intense anti-coalition militia fire. Showing disregard for his own safety, he recovered a machine gun to protect the left flank and neutralise enemy firing positions.

The WO2, also a patrol commander, ignored his own safety when he attempted three times to recover a critically wounded Afghanistan National Army (ANA) soldier.

Commander SOCOMD Maj-Gen Michael Hindmarsh said the patrols were outnumbered.
“It’s difficult to tell in these circumstances but the assessment is [that the enemy numbers] were well over 100,” Maj-Gen Hindmarsh said.

“A quite small force of SASR personnel were operating with the ANA and were engaged by a significant anti-coalition militia force fairly early in their rotation.

“They consolidated their position in the face of intense fire and numerous RPG strikes and air bursts. With the help of coalition air power, which came perhaps an hour or two later to support them, they actually managed to seize control of the situation and essentially rout the enemy.

“It was a very effective, very dangerous operation. The ANA were involved in a sort of combined force approach.
“It’s an honour for these guys [the Gallantry Medal recipients] to be singled out among a bunch of champions, which they all are – the entire group that was involved in that firefight probably deserves something.”

CDF ACM Angus Houston joined Governor-General Maj-Gen Jeffery, Prime Minister John Howard and CA Lt-Gen Peter Leahy in thanking the SFTG soldiers for their courage and commitment. ACM Angus Houston said he was immensely proud of the task group.
“They went into very challenging operational circumstances, a very dangerous environment, and their skills, their commitment to excellence, their commitment to teamwork, saw them prevail,” he said.

“They did a wonderful job while they were over there.

They were involved in seven special reconnaissance and deliberate action missions. They also conducted two ongoing humanitarian operations in and around the area they’re operating in.”

Mr Howard said the SASR had an enviable international reputation.

“There are no better Special Forces anywhere in the world.

Your reputation, your ability, your courage and your skill has the admiration of all of the Australian people,” he said.

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