US Reservist takes bullet for British Colonel
 

Reservist took assassin's bullets for British colonel

A British Army colonel's life was saved by a US soldier who jumped in front of an assassin's hail of bullets, it has been reported. The US Army reservist, who normally works for Apple, the Silicon Valley-based electronics company, was shot six times as an Afghan assailant opened fire on a group of high-ranking officers at a military training academy earlier this month, The Sunday Times said.

The reservist, who has not been named, used his body as a shield to literally "take a bullet" for the senior British officer, and was hit twice in the leg and once in the shoulder, with a further three rounds stopped by his bulletproof vest. Details of the act of heroism were revealed in an American casualty report, the newspaper said. It describes how the reservist returned fire with both his rifle and sidearm.

The attack by Mohammad Rafiqullah killed Major General Harold Greene, the deputy commanding general, Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan. Maj Gen Greene was the highest ranking US officer to be killed in hostilities since Lt Gen Timothy Joseph Maude was killed by a hijacked airliner that crashed into the Pentagon, on September 11, 2001. A similar ranking officer has not been killed overseas since the Vietnam War.

The attack took place during an outdoor briefing at the Marshal Fahim National Defence University, in Kabul, which also houses the British-run officer training academy known as "Sandhurst in the Sand". The Afghan ministry of defence described the attacker as “a terrorist wearing Afghan National Army uniform”.

Several other senior officers, including a German brigadier general and the Afghan commander of the training base, were among the 14 injured, which also included two Britons. Their injuries were said to be not life threatening.

The Ministry of Defence declined to comment.

If validated, have an MoH I suspect.

But then that would highlight the deficiencies in the overall Security set-up, so make that a discreet Silver Star Medal (why do they call a star a medal?).

As he saved a 'British' life, should he be considered for a British Medal?

PZU - Out of Africa (Retired)

Or both....

US Reservist takes bullet for British Colonel
 

Is he eligible for the VC?

Right now I would settle for knowing this courageous fellow's name! Seems a small enough thing to do for a guy that is willing to die while protecting someone from a deadly close quarters attack!

There is a bit of a precedent for the silver star at least

Drum soldier who saved Polish officer tapped for Silver Star | Army Times | armytimes.com

Soldiers who display such selfless valour still inspire me. It makes life worth living to know that there are such exemplary human beings.

As presented above, in the face of the enemy and, as I see it, satisfying all of the requirements, surely this is deserving of the highest military honour that our Sovereign lady might bestow.

Furthermore, getting off a few rounds at the bastard shows admirable skills!

VC, without a doubt in my book. MoH is up to our colonial cousins to decide:)

Politically, I cannot imagine any greater unifying scene than to see an American soldier awarded the highest British honour, For Valour.

(Spelling tests might have to be suspended!:E)

Conflict can bring such inspiring acts that seem almost incomprehensible to everyday people leading average lives.

Greater love hath no man...................

I hope he makes a full recovery and has no lasting or debilitating effects from his wounds.

IF said soldier is a US citizen, can he even be considered for the VC? A cursory search indicates no, but I stand to be corrected.

Now, if the soldier a Canadian who happened to enlist in the US army, possibly then?

The US unknown soldier from WW1 that lies at Arlington is a posthumous recepient of the Victoria Cross. That could class as precedence....

Source: BBC News - The unknown soldier's journey from trench to tomb

Not sure if the same was done with WW2/Korean unknowns.

US soldiers have been awarded the VC before but when serving with Canadian forces. A long time ago though.

They can get the DFC as has occurred recently, so why not ?

Not that I trust Wiki...but it was quick and easy.


I suppose when we broke the Lease with our Landlord back in the late 1700's we unknowingly frustrated any possibility of this Brave Soldier from receiving the VC.

The Law of Un-Intended Consequences strikes again!

This government has bent so many of its own laws and rules I don't why they can't bend another to give this very brave soldier the VC that is so well deserved

Other than the many awards to Empire/Commonwealth recipients there has been a small number of instances of the Victoria Cross being awarded to foreign nationals. The one probably most familiar to the majority because of his depiction in the film Zulu is that awarded to Corporal F.C. Schiess of the Natal Native Contingent, a Swiss national, for his actions at Rorkes Drift in 1879. However Cpl Schiess was serving in a colonial unit of the British Army, as were the others I can trace.

I have not been able to trace any amendment to the original warrant which extends eligibilty for receipt of the award beyond members of British and Commonwealth (formerly Empire) armed forces, but this may have passed me by. I cannot find any reference to an amendment to the warrant which approved the award of the Victoria Cross to the US unknown soldier, but presumably a special case must have been made at the time.

Understandable sentiment, but I dont think there is a case for "bending the rules". Far better to do it properly and amend the original warrant so as to include provision for the award to be given to foreign nationals serving in their own armed forces alongside those of the United Kingdom or the Commonwealth

This guy took 6 slugs: 2 in the leg, 1 in the hip and 3 into his bullet proof vest in the chest area!!!

More fuss should be made of this.

Crazy stuff really. A friend who was Australian FAC attached to USAF and seconded to an Army unit in Vietnam was written up for the Medal of Honor by his divisional sunray. This was passed to Australian HQ in Saigon for action and a recommendation for VC. He wound up with Silver Star and DFC .... Downgraded by both systems because he was a/ not a US serviceman and b/ he was not serving at the time with a Commonwealth service. The cracks are big I guess...

Given this took place within an Afghan army training facility would it be classified as an 'enemy' assault? Perhaps a George Cross might be forthcoming?

For which there is solid precedent:

BBC News - Reis Leming: 1953 flood rescue airman gets Hunstanton honour