Sheer courage
Volume 11, No. 58, December 14, 2006
By Cpl Mike McSweeney

Highly decorated: Commandos Sgt A and Cpl B with their medals

AUSTRALIA’S first Star of Gallantry, along with Medals for Gallantry were awarded to members of the 200-strong SFTG now returned from Southern Afghanistan.

A sergeant received the Star of Gallantry, the ADF’s second highest award after the Victoria Cross, and a corporal the Medal for Gallantry during a 4RAR (Cdo) ceremony at Holsworthy Barracks on November 26. Three Medals for Gallantry and a Commendation for Gallantry were awarded to SASR soldiers during another ceremony at Campbell Barracks on December 2.

None of the award winners can be identified for security reasons.

At Holsworthy Barracks, Special Operations Commander Maj-Gen Mike Hindmarsh said the soldiers displayed conspicuous gallantry and leadership during combat operations.

“They operated and performed in some of the most difficult and demanding country in the world against one of the most courageous and tough enemies you’d want to fight against,” Maj-Gen Hindmarsh said.

Governor-General Maj-Gen Michael Jeffery, Prime Minister John Howard, Defence Minister Brendan Nelson and CDF ACM Angus Houston joined family and friends of the soldiers during the ceremony.

Commando Sgt A said he was humbled to be Australia’s first recipient of the Star of Gallantry.

“To be awarded something like this is just incredible,” Sgt A said.

The award citations told how the recipients put their team and mission first, placed themselves in hazardous positions during intense fire, and fought on despite fear, injury or overwhelming odds.

The soldiers were also quick to point out the courage of their mates, and Maj-Gen Jeffery announced the awarding of a Unit Citation for Gallantry to combat elements of the SFTG, while the entire task group was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation.

During his presentation of the awards, Maj-Gen Jeffery said the soldiers’ actions were “in the highest traditions of the Special Operations Command-Australia, the Australian Army and the ADF.”

Commandos’ intense fighting
Volume 11, No. 58, December 14, 2006

Sgt A’s story
“AT one stage I had a look around and everybody in the Force Element was firing at someone,” Sgt A said.

Sgt A’s section was the lead element of a Commando Reaction Force (CRF), sent in to secure the extraction point for a coalition assault force that had come under intense anti-coalition militia fire.

The force secured the helicopter landing ground and provided covering fire for more than an hour, coming under heavy rocket and small arms fire from multiple flanks.
Sgt A was responsible for securing the northern flank, repelling a number of assaults while being engaged as close as 50m.

“Our vehicles suffered quite a few strikes,” he said. “RPGs were going within 1m of our personnel, actually striking the ground or in the vicinity within 2-3m.”

When the extraction of the coalition element was complete, the CRF withdrew but was ambushed several times on its return to base.

Sgt A, commanding the lead vehicle, led his section in counter-ambush assaults and cleared the militia, despite frequent heavy and effective fire from as close as 5m.

Cpl B’s story
“ADRENALINE took over and I saw out the rest of the day, but that night my injuries hampered me.”

Cpl B’s platoon came to the support of a coalition infantry company pinned down by heavy RPG and small arms fire on multiple fronts with six wounded and one dead.

As the platoon manoeuvred forward it too came under heavy fire, including a volley of RPGs, wounding six commandos.

Despite being one of the wounded, Cpl B led his team on a swift and aggressive assault to clear a group of compounds from which they were receiving fire.

“I knew I’d been injured but I wasn’t too bad. I was still able to crack on,” Cpl B said.

Clearing the compounds allowed coalition elements to regain the initiative and continue the battle.

Cpl B inspired his team to repel continued attacks and later that day he successfully led a team to infiltrate the ACM-held territory, killing several militia fighters.

“They’re tenacious, they’re tough fighters and I’ve got a lot of respect for them,” he said.

SASR in thick of action
Volume 11, No. 58, December 14, 2006

Governor-General Maj-Gen Michael Jeffery presents the Medal for Gallantry to Tpr F. Photos by LAC Rodney Welch

Sgt C’s and LCpl E’s stories
SGT C was the 2IC and LCpl E the sniper/scout in a patrol in an observation post overlooking a militia sanctuary that coalition elements had attacked the day before.

Continuing to observe and call in offensive air support against anti-coalition militia (ACM) locations, the OP became the focus of ACM attention. When a militia member began to close on the OP, Sgt C and LCpl E moved out of their position to protect the patrol.

“We tracked down a militia member who was moving around towards the back of our position and engaged and neutralised him,” Sgt C said.

A few hours later two more ACM fighters approached the rear of their position, so they again went out to cut them off. With LCpl E covering him, Sgt C engaged and neutralised one person, but was unable to see the second. “He subsequently began firing into our OP,” he said. Sgt C moved to higher, exposed ground and began a shooting battle with the militant.

Meanwhile, LCpl E decided to move to another flank of the OP where he observed a group of ACM crossing open ground to get to the patrol. He held his position under accurate fire to engage them with his sniper rifle.

In precarious positions and receiving effective fire from a numerically superior force, both soldiers kept the enemy at bay while the patrol commander coordinated air support. The patrol was able to successfully withdraw later that evening.

LCpl D’s story
LCPL D’s troop was supporting a larger coalition force when they came under heavy fire from a large concentration of militia.

While providing fire support with his anti-armour weapon from the side of the vehicle, an RPG exploded directly behind LCpl D, seriously wounding his patrol commander. He immediately grabbed the Ptl Comd, lifted him into the vehicle and, while holding on to him, drove into dead ground out of the direct line of effective fire.

LCpl D stabilised the Ptl Comd and informed the Tp HQ of the evacuation requirements. His composure and application of skill under intense fire directly contributed to the successful evacuation of his Ptl Comd despite the potentially life-threatening injury.

Tpr F’s story
WHILE in an overwatch position of an ACM stronghold area, Tpr F’s patrol was engaged by machine-guns and RPGs by at least three groups of well-concealed militia.

After firing a short burst, Tpr F’s vehicle-mounted machine-gun malfunctioned and would only fire single shots. Remaining in the unprotected turret position and under heavy fire, Tpr F tried to rectify the stoppage. He realised the malfunction could not be cleared immediately and, dismounting the vehicle, engaged the ACM with an anti-armour weapon, grenade launcher and small arms. This allowed the patrol to regain the initiative and counter the attack.

During a lull in the battle, he stripped the vehicle-mounted gun but still could not fix the problem. At that point, his patrol was re-engaged by the ACM and was under heavy fire again.

“My weapon was only firing single shots, so I had to cock the weapon 150 times until it started firing properly again,” Tpr F said.

Tpr F and his patrol won the firefight and forced the militia to withdraw.

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