A fitting award for this Veterans Day

 

Whether we celebrate Veterans Day in the USA, or Armistice Day in most of the rest of the world, it's still an occasion to remember the heroism of those who, in the words of our National Anthem, place their bodies "Between their loved homes and the war's desolation".

Australia does that today with the award of the Victoria Cross, the highest award of Britain and her Commonwealth for valor in action, to a serviceman from the Vietnam War, in which her forces joined America's to fight the Communist invasion of that country.

Awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia – Private Richard Norden 

For most conspicuous acts of gallantry in action in the presence of the enemy in the 'AO Surfers' Area of Operations in the Bien Hoa province, Vietnam, on 14 May 1968 during the Battle of Fire Support Base Coral. 

During Operation Toan Thang, 5th Platoon, B Company were ambushed and came under heavy fire from an estimated squad of seven to ten North Vietnamese Army regular soldiers. Private Norden, a member of the leading section, ran forward under heavy enemy fire to the Section Commander and forward scout who were wounded during the initial contact. 

Private Norden killed one North Vietnamese Army soldier whilst moving forward and, having expended his ammunition, recovered that enemy's automatic weapon which he used against further North Vietnamese Army soldiers. He then half-carried, half-dragged the severely wounded Section Commander back to the section. 

Private Norden, seriously wounded, again advanced to the forward scout. He pressed forward under enemy fire and reached the scout, killing the North Vietnamese Army soldier who had been using the scout as a shield. Having determined that the scout was dead, Private Norden returned to the section to collect grenades and moved forward for a third time. He cleared the area to enable the body of the scout to be recovered. 

Private Norden showed a complete disregard for his own personal safety, and his courage and selfless acts resulted in the enemy position being secured and likely saved the lives of other members of the platoon.

There's more at the link.

Sadly, Pvt. Norden died in the course of duty in 1972, but his surviving family will receive the medal on his behalf.

As General Patton famously said, "It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived."  Today, Veterans Day, is a good day to do so.  I'll be remembering my own comrades in arms as well.

(A tip o' the hat to Australian reader Andrew, who sent me the link to the above news.)

Peter