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| Afghanistan |
| Kiwi Corporal Awarded The NZ Victoria Cross |
| 2007-07-02 |
| 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 in Afghanistan in 2004. Corporal Bill Apiata of the New Zealand Special Air Service (SAS) 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 Cpl Apiata, 35, was awarded the medal for carrying a severely wounded soldier across open ground while coming under heavy fire. Cpl 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, Cpl Apiata found himself isolated with two of his comrades, one of whom was badly wounded from shrapnel. Cpl 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. "This brave action saved his comrade's life," Miss Clark said. 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. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #4 "Carleton Nights"? Cigarette brand or football team, Besoeker? |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-07-02 14:31 |
| #3 Sung with manly gusto, eyes bulging, tongue waging enthusiasm: leader: Hey ringa ringa pakiah!group: pakiah, pakiahleader: Hey weeah weeah takiahgroup: takiah takiah(everyone together moving AWAY from the crowd:)Hey ringa ringa hiaringa tiearinga mootoo katoo, katoo HEY (Jump up on HEY)katoo, katoo HEY!(repeat coming back toward the crowd)leader: Tee fah oorehnah, tee ah tooah wanna!group: tinga tonga ooroo pooroo!leader: Tee fah oo ay ah, teeah tooah wanna!group: tinga tonga ooroo poorooeveryone, (going down on one knee): harpunah, harpunah, harpunah HA!everyone: ssst alooetka, sssst alooetkaleader: tee tee, kee kee, pakiah pakiah oo, oo, oorehnah!group: oo oo ooreh nah!leader: tee tee, kee kee, pakiah, pakiah, oo oo ooay yah!group: oo, oo, oo ay yah!leader (jumping up): "Carleton Knights"everyone: yayyyyyyy! Who Dares Wins! |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2007-07-02 11:37 |
| #2 Damn old Cpl. I'll bet he is Maori on top of it. Mostly reconstruction activity with force protection component including perimeter patrols. Experience with insurencys in Bouganville and Timor Leste. |
| Posted by: Jack is Back! 2007-07-02 11:03 |
| #1 Kiwis are in Afghanistan? |
| Posted by: 3dc 2007-07-02 10:27 |