Maori VC
Kiwi commando sprinted more than 70 meters under Taliban machine guns carrying a badly wounded mate, saving his life.
In 2004 Lance Corporal Apiata was part of an NZ SAS patrol in Afghanistan.
The troops had put up a defensive formation for the night when they were attacked by a group of around 20 enemy fighters. Grenades destroyed one of the troops’ vehicles and immobilised another.
This was then followed by fire from machine guns and further grenade attacks.
The initial attack was aimed at the vehicle where Lance Corporal Apiata was stationed, and he was blown off the bonnet by the impact of the grenade. He was not physically injured but another soldier - named only as Corporal D - was in a serious condition.
The soldiers were under constant fire from the enemy and, as they were exposed by the fire from the vehicle, they immediately tried to take cover.
… Apiata took control of the situation, as D was rapidly deteriorating. However, he was in a very exposed position and the enemy fire was becoming increasingly intense.
D was suffering from arterial bleeding and so Apiata came to the conclusion that he needed urgent medical attention or he would die … Apiata then carried D seventy meters through exposed ground and enemy fire - and miraculously neither man was hit.
Apiata then resumed the fight.
Medical evaluation revealed that D would have probably died from blood loss had it not been for Apiata’s bravery … D is now back on active duty.
Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae, said Corporal Apiata was a humble man who when praised for his bravery had said: “I was only doing my job, boss.”
More here. Thanks North Shore
Topics: Afghanistan, NZ, military
Posted by Jules Crittenden at 9:52 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2007
3 Responses to “Maori VC”
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July 3rd, 2007 at 11:23 am
Well done, Lance Corporal Apiata. You’re a true hero.
July 4th, 2007 at 1:02 am
Now THAT is heroism!, not the trumped up commonalities we are expected to praise of heroism these days.
I add my “well done”, Lance Corporal Apiata. And my thanks for reminding me that the whole world isn’t made up of Alphtards.
July 4th, 2007 at 3:15 pm
we will know we are united when we see stories like these in the MSM.