President Elect, The Mechanic wrote on Jan 26^th, 2016 at 10:04pm:


I carried a wounded guy up a steep slope in a valley too narrow for 'dustoff'.. recovery by APC.. I also walked two miles on a bunged up knee that took three years to get over.... that's serious sh!t.... and I never talk about it..... my ex-wife and mother of my children knows nothing about it.... only that I was first out the door of the chopper, from the jump seat behind the door gunner.....

Well... hardly.... talk.. about.. it.........

Sir Grappler Truth Teller OAM wrote on Jan 26^th, 2016 at 11:25pm:


And that's about the norm here is Aus.  No fuss.

That's why I started the thread to discuss a radical change to that behavior.

Seriously, I can't help but wonder about the selection process.  I refuse to believe that the intense round of media activity around him has only been devised after he was awarded.

"VICTORIA Cross medal winner Ben Roberts-Smith has emerged as Australian television’s fastest rising star, after being promoted to the rank of general manager at Channel 7 Queensland."

Channel Seven has an extremely close relationship to the Federal Government for propaganda style series and news articles

"Details of the contract between the Seven Network and Australian Border Force over the access and production of Border Security: Australia's Front Line are revealed."

So Ben fits right in.  No wonder his media blitz was so intense.

WOULD YOU DO THIS??

Victoria Cross for Australia[edit]



On 11 June 2010, a troop of the Special Operations Task Group conducted a helicopter assault into Tizak, Kandahar province, in order to capture or kill a senior Taliban commander.

Immediately upon the helicopter insertion, the troop was engaged by machine gun and rocket propelled grenade fire from multiple, dominating positions. Two soldiers were wounded in action and the troop was pinned down by fire from three machine guns in an elevated fortified position to the south of the village. Under the cover of close air support, suppressive small arms and machine gun fire, Roberts-Smith and his patrol manoeuvred to within 70 metres of the enemy position in order to neutralise the enemy machine gun positions and regain the initiative.

Upon commencement of the assault, the patrol drew very heavy, intense, effective and sustained fire from the enemy position. Roberts-Smith and his patrol members fought towards the enemy position until, at a range of 40 metres, the weight of fire prevented further movement forward. At this point, he identified the opportunity to exploit some cover provided by a small structure.

As he approached the structure, Roberts-Smith identified an insurgent grenadier in the throes of engaging his patrol. Roberts-Smith engaged the insurgent at point-blank range resulting in the death of the insurgent. With the members of his patrol still pinned down by the three enemy machine gun positions, he exposed his own position in order to draw fire away from his patrol, which enabled them to bring fire to bear against the enemy. His actions enabled his Patrol Commander to throw a grenade and silence one of the machine guns. Seizing the advantage, and demonstrating extreme devotion to duty and the most conspicuous gallantry, Roberts-Smith, with a total disregard for his own safety, stormed the enemy position killing the two remaining machine gunners.

His act of valour enabled his patrol to break into the enemy position and to lift the weight of fire from the remainder of the troop who had been pinned down by the machine gun fire. On seizing the fortified gun position, Corporal Roberts-Smith then took the initiative again and continued to assault enemy positions in depth during which he and another patrol member engaged and killed further enemy. His acts of selfless valour directly enabled his troop to go on and clear the village of Tizak of Taliban. This decisive engagement subsequently caused the remainder of the Taliban in Shah Wali Kot district to retreat from the area.[4]

So awesome.  And, Arhh, how it all going over there then?  All that risk, death and injury paid off has it?

My problem, has nothing to do with whether he was deserving of the award.

If you concentrate, you will find that my concern is about what has happened afterwards and the effect that has had on the standing of the medal.

For me it has devalued it.  It has become a marketable commodity, a tool to be exploited by Channel Seven.

Roberts has even been wheeled out (as I said, Like the STIG) by the government in the ruckus over Defense personnel pay.

".VICTORIA Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith has defended the meagre pay deal for soldiers, arguing the budget deficit required sacrifice. "

Nice, he's been bought. 

http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-yarra-ii

At least a brace of VCs should have been earnt in the above Ship's last action.....Rankin & Taylor

Rankin for taking on a much superior force in hopeless circumstances.

Taylor for continuing to man his gun to the last.

Apparently no one in the RAN has ever been a warded a VC? 

The only “devaluing” of the VC comes from people who in their wildest imaginings could never fulfil the criteria to be awarded one.

Isn't that right gweggy?

Seems to me that theres actually 2 questions here and people are getting confused.


1) Has the actual earning of the VC been devalued?

I don't think so

2) Has the response to those who receive VCs been devalued?

I think somewhat. Donaldson was an example for me where it didnt happen, Roberts is.

Seen any other kind of action Gregg?