Former Soaks Fullback Wins Victoria Cross

[RugbyWA]

Special Air Services Regiment (SASR) soldier and Associates RUFC player, Trooper Mark Donaldson, has been presented with the Victoria Cross today for his gallantry whilst serving in Afghanistan.

The former Soaks fullback is the first Australian to receive the highest military honour since the Vietnam War.

Major Bruce Hughes, who coached and managed Trooper Donaldson to consecutive Fourth Grade Premierships in 2005 and 2006, commended the 29-year-old on the award.

“I’m not surprised that Trooper Donaldson has picked up a Victoria Cross for his work with the Regiment judging by the way he approaches his rugby. He is bloody tough!” Major Hughes said.

TWF extends its congratulations to Trooper Donaldson on his achievement.

[travelling_gerry]

Top honour for bravery under fire


January 16, 2009 10:00am

A SOLDIER who deliberately drew enemy fire to allow wounded colleagues to reach safety has been awarded the Victoria Cross.

Trooper Mark Donaldson has been recognised for exceptional gallantry under enemy fire in Afghanistan.

He is credited with saving the life of an interpreter.

Details of his the SAS soldier's bravery first emerged last year.

Major General McOwan said early in their tour in late 2007, Australian troops encountered significant numbers of Taliban prepared to take them on in large groups.

An Australian, US and Afghan convoy was ambushed by a superior and well-prepared Taliban force while returning to base.

The clash resulted in nine Australian soldiers being wounded, the largest casualty toll of any single action since Vietnam. The previous day, the Australian soldiers killed 13 Taliban.

As the convoy withdrew, the Taliban opened fire. Major General McOwan said soldiers reacted without concern for their own safety.

One, identified only as Trooper F at the time, but now known to be Trooper Donaldson, deliberately exposed himself to enemy fire on several occasions to draw attention away from the wounded.

He then saw that a severely wounded Afghan interpreter had fallen from a vehicle and was lying on open ground raked by machine gun fire.

"Without prompting, and without regard to his own safety, Trooper F ran back to recover the wounded Afghan," the major general said.

"He ran across about 80 metres of fire-swept and exposed ground, drawing intense and accurate machine-gun fire from the entrenched enemy positions."

Still under fire, he lifted the wounded man onto his shoulders and carried him back to the convoy's vehicles. He administered first aid and then returned to the fight.

Trooper Donaldson played for the Swanbourne based Associates rugby club's fourth grade in 2005 and 2006.

Major Bruce Hughes, who coached the side, traditionally one that contains SAS players, to consecutive premierships in those years said: "I'm not surprised that Trooper Donaldson has picked up a Victoria Cross for his work with the Regiment judging by the way he approaches his rugby. He is bloody tough.”

http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/stor...37-948,00.html

[slomo]

the word 'hero' is banded around nowadays too easily...but mark donaldson is a true hero....

[The Lone Hydrangea]

the word 'hero' is banded around nowadays too easily...but mark donaldson is a true hero....

Aint that the truth.

[brokendown gunfighter]

Being a fullback,he probably first learnt to hold his nerve
under the high ball

[Cowboy]

That he did it for their Afgahan interpreter makes me even more proud to call myself an Aussie.

[fulvio sammut]

And to think it only happened because he once played for Soaks ....

[brokendown gunfighter]

he'd rather dodge bullets than go back to allen park

[fulvio sammut]

To be fair, so do most of Nedlands these days ...

[Ecky]

[brokendown gunfighter]

actually we cant even beat them at home these days

[travelling_gerry]

To give you an idea of how rare this Victoria Cross award is, the last recipeient was Keith Payne who recieved his VC for action's on 24 May 1969 in Vietnam.


Paynes story..

I had the honour of meeting this very unassuming guy on a number of occasions and was aways in awe of his demeanour.

Congratulations Trooper Mark Donaldson.

[.X.]

May I suggest that if you are interested please have a read of Wikipedia's information about the VC.

Technically speaking Trooper Donaldson is the first recipient of the Victoria Cross of Australia.

[beige]

Now that's something praise-worthy...

[jargan83]

I read up on the Victoria Cross Act of 1991 this morning

http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honour...oria_cross.cfm

I think could be the same as the Wikipedia entry, wikipedia probably ripped it off anyway