VC for NZ soldier.

[corsair67]

From stuff.co.nz.


SAS soldier to get Victoria Cross
By DAN EATON - The Press | Monday, 2 July 2007



BREAKING NEWS: An SAS member who carried a severely wounded fellow soldier across open ground under heavy fire while in Afghanistan has been awarded the Victoria Cross by the Queen.

Prime Minister Helen Clark announced a short time ago that "Corporal Bill (Willy) Apiata of the NZSAS had been awarded the supreme bravery award for his actions in saving the life of a comrade under heavy fire from opposing forces.

Clark said Apiata's actions were carried out despite extreme danger to himself and there was no question he had saved his comrade's life. The action took place in Afghanistan when the SAS was helping US and British forces fight the Taliban in 2004.

Three other gallantry decorations are also being awarded to members of the NZSAS. All four decorations have been awarded for actions in Afghanistan in 2004.

Clark said Apiata's was the first Victoria Cross for New Zealand to be awarded since it was instituted in 1999.

"This decoration continues the tradition of the Victoria Cross previously awarded under a British Royal Warrant to members of the New Zealand military since 1860, the last of which was awarded in 1946," Helen Clark said.

"The Victoria Cross for New Zealand resembles the British Victoria Cross in appearance and manufacture and is equally hard to win."

[Dave Homewood]

Yes, I've just learned this too. Fantastic news. Congratulations to him. I never thought there'd be another NZ VC winner.

It will be some years before all the details are released I'd think.

[Barnsey]

VICTORIA CROSS FOR NEW ZEALAND (V.C.)

Corporal Bill Henry APIATA (M181550) - Citation

"Lance Corporal (now Corporal) Apiata was, in 2004, part of a New Zealand Special Air Service (NZSAS) Troop on patrol in Afghanistan, which laid up in defensive formation for the night.

At approximately 0315 hours, the Troop was attacked by a group of about twenty enemy fighters, who had approached by stealth using the cover of undulating ground in pitch darkness. Rocket-propelled grenades struck two of the Troop's vehicles, destroying one and immobilising the other.

The opening strike was followed by dense and persistent machine gun and automatic rifle fire from close range.

The attack then continued using further rocket-propelled grenades and machine gun and rifle fire. The initial attack was directed at the vehicle where Lance Corporal Apiata was stationed.

He was blown off the bonnet by the impact of rocket propelled grenades striking the vehicle. He was dazed, but was not physically injured.

The two other vehicle crew members had been wounded by shrapnel; one of them, Corporal D, was in a serious condition.

Illuminated by the burning vehicle, and under sustained and accurate enemy fire directed at and around their position, the three soldiers immediately took what little cover was available. Corporal D was discovered to have sustained lifethreatening wounds. The other two soldiers immediately began applying basic first aid.

Lance Corporal Apiata assumed command of the situation, as he could see that his superior's condition was deteriorating rapidly.

By this time, however, Lance Corporal Apiata's exposed position, some seventy metres in front of the rest of the Troop, was coming under increasingly intense enemy fire. Corporal D was now suffering serious arterial bleeding and was lapsing in and out of consciousness.

Lance Corporal Apiata concluded that his comrade urgently required medical attention,or he would likely die. Pinned down by the enemy, in the direct line of fire between friend and foe, he also judged that there was almost no chance of such help reaching their position.

As the enemy pressed its attack towards Lance Corporal Apiata's position, and without thought of abandoning his colleague to save himself, he took a decision in the highest order of personal courage under fire. Knowing the risks involved in moving to open ground, Lance Corporal Apiata decided to carry Corporal D singlehandedly to the relative safety of the main Troop position, which afforded better cover and where medical treatment could be given.

He ordered his other colleague, Trooper E, to make his own way back to the rear.

In total disregard of his own safety, Lance Corporal Apiata stood up and lifted his comrade bodily. He then carried him across the seventy metres of broken, rocky and fire swept ground, fully exposed in the glare of battle to heavy enemy fire and into the face of returning fire from the main Troop position. That neither he nor his colleague were hit is scarcely possible. Having delivered his wounded companion to relative shelter with the remainder of the patrol, Lance Corporal Apiata re-armed himself and rejoined the fight in counter-attack.

By his actions, he removed the tactical complications of Corporal D's predicament from considerations of rescue.

The Troop could now concentrate entirely on prevailing in the battle itself. After an engagement lasting approximately twenty minutes, the assault was broken up and the numerically superior attackers were routed with significant casualties, with the Troop in pursuit.

Lance Corporal Apiata had thereby contributed materially to the operational success of the engagement. A subsequent medical assessment confirmed that Corporal D would probably have died of blood loss and shock, had it not been for Lance Corporal Apiata's selflessly courageous act in carrying him back to the main Troop lines, to receive the immediate treatment that he needed."


A very well deserved VC for a brave and selfless soldier - congratulations and well done

[flyjoe180]

Great news indeed, well deserved.

[steve]

A point that TV1 news picked up was it was the "first" NZVC awarded since the Royal Warrant was signed off in 1999. Apparently the AUs UK and NZ medals are today still identical in every way except the paper work however the Canadian VC has the same shape but is silver I believe instead of Bonze. I worked often was sas guys some years back and found all of them very polite and somewhat shy...quite amazing guys that you would never guess of being from one of worlds most elite forces

[Dave Homewood]

An interesting piece from the Dominion Post

Basking in the glow of our true heroes
POLITICAL WEEK - HAYDON DEWES - The Dominion Post | Monday, 9 July 2007

Everyone has their heroes. Whether yours is a family member, a movie star, a sports legend or even a political leader, elevation to cult status is based on a subjective set of preferred qualities.


One person's hero can be another's zero. That is why Prime Minister Helen Clark is full of admiration for the first Labour prime minister Michael Savage, while National leader John Key's political role models include former National prime ministers Sid Holland and Keith Holyoake.

It is not just political beliefs but race, social status and age that determine who is a hero – and seldom does one person capture the hearts and minds of an entire population and prompt a collective swelling of chests.

Sir Edmund Hillary did it when he "knocked the bastard off", as did Peter Jackson when he conquered Hollywood. But last week saw the birth of the next true Kiwi hero.

Corporal Willy Apiata emerged from the secret world of the Special Air Service with a tale of daring straight from the pages of a Commando comic.

He did what most men, if placed in similar circumstances, could only dream about doing.

He picked up a severely injured comrade, slung him over his broad shoulders and hauled him 70 metres through a strafe of bullets to safety and medical help.

His reward – the first Victoria Cross won by a Kiwi since World War II – was a proud moment for all New Zealanders.

And as sure as eggs, the Government made sure that when he emerged from the shadows they were riding shotgun, firing accolades with more ferocity than an insurgent ambush.

You cannot blame them for joining rank. It is a tried and tested formula for anybody seeking greater status. Surround yourself with heroes and something might rub off.

Corporal Apiata's actions became the genesis of a PR dream. It may be more than a coincidence that at the same time word was filtering back to the Beehive that attempts to have Corporal Apiata's deeds recognised with the country's highest military honour were likely to succeed, Defence Minister Phil Goff announced to a select committee that he planned to pull back the veil of secrecy surrounding the SAS and its actions.

At the time, he said people would be "overwhelmingly proud" of what the SAS did.

It was a dramatic about-turn from the previous pigheaded policy of maintaining SAS secrecy – seemingly at pain of death.

Other countries were more open about their special forces' movements, a sign that New Zealand's secrecy was more about minimising the collateral political damage of being seen to support the United States in its war on terror, rather than any risk to operational safety.

The ridiculousness of our hush-hush policy was highlighted in 2002 when US media published the location of an accident in Afghanistan that injured three Kiwi SAS troops – information that officials in New Zealand tried to keep under wraps.

Only in the past 18 months has the country started to shake its almost pathological anti-American sentiment.

In the 24 hours before the Government announced Corporal Apiata's decoration a week ago – and there was no way anyone else but Miss Clark was going to break the news – it worked furiously to make sure it ran smoothly.

Corporal Apiata was given a once- over and the message to the ninth floor from its spies was that he was perfect media fodder – earnest, humble and photogenic. He was given a crash course in dealing with the media and then put out to woo the nation. It worked.

Given the guarded nature of SAS soldiers and their activities, it is unlikely anything will surface to backfire on the Government.

If Corporal Apiata is upset that his new exposure has virtually wiped out his chances of future operations with his SAS buddies, then he is not letting on.

And the prime minister has an uncanny ability to detect trouble from 20 paces. She would have run a mile if there was any suggestion his gallantry was less than that portrayed.

It would have been seen as a safe bet, and rightly so, to get a piece of Corporal Apiata and bask in his reflected glory.

Painting a picture of success is the priority for any political party. The Clark government has separated its successes and aspirations into three areas; economic transformation, families young and old and national identity.

It is the third tenet that has always been hard to define. Is it anything that promotes pride in the country? Certainly under Miss Clark the role of our small- but-perfectly-formed military – which, with the exception of the SAS, has been used almost exclusively for peacekeeping missions – has been a metaphor for New Zealand's role as a peace- loving nation.

The America's Cup team straddles the fence between national identity and economic transformation. With $34 million of taxpayer dollars to fill its sails, Team New Zealand lost its final race – and their chance to be yachting champions – by just a second.

That did not stop the H-word from coming out again. Miss Clark labelled them heroes for coming so close, but unlike Corporal Apiata, this accolade did not stick.

At least they were able to claim an economic windfall from the investment. The challenge pumped at least $85 million into the economy, with the team paying $22 million in tax, according to Sports Minister Trevor Mallard – who, surprise surprise, was in Valencia with the team ready to shake hands and slap backs if victory was theirs.

Already $10 million has been pledged for the next challenge and, while other cash-strapped sports codes may grumble, it is tough to criticise.

The economics are good and the latest regatta has undoubtedly raised New Zealand's profile on the world stage, if not to a level the Government wanted.

Luckily there are more potential heroes waiting in the wings. The All Blacks go into the World Cup this year, again as favourites.

While history has not been kind when the men in black go into the tournament with the weight of the nation's expec tations on its shoulders, that pressure will be there.

If they win, there will be parades, parties and one of those parliamentary receptions where the players stand around looking bored and divide their time between scoffing hors d'oeuvres and signing autographs.

And as sure as Corporal Apiata has cemented his place as a living legend, the Government will be there with fawning speeches and bright smiles to claim its share of the glory – at least till the next hero comes along.

[flyjoe180]

Governments have always made a big deal of heroes. Heroes and other succeses around election time make people feel better about life and unwilling to alter it. The status quo means keeping the same leaders. Lots of foreign governments have gone to war (namely the USA and UK) and this has produced patriotism that has seen the President/PM of the day get through to serve another term (Thatcher, Blair, Bush, etc...)

Corporal Apiata deserves every bit of fame and attention his VC brings with it, bravery in battle is one of the rarer examples of modern day heroism. We tend to now idolise people in sport and on TV because we have fewer conflicts (at least we are told we have fewer), and those we do get involve din, as the report above says, are often cloak and dagger. Peace keeping just took on a whole new meaning.