Pegasus Response

44 years ago today

42 years ago today.

32 years ago today, 33-year-old Gary Gordon (left) and 35-year-old Randy Shughart (right), both members of the US Army's 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment Delta, were providing air cover for Rangers in Operation Gothic Serpent in Mogadishu when a fellow Blackhawk helicopter was shot down. Gordon requested to be landed at the crash site to provide cover for the crew, but was denied permission. Seeing the hostile Somali crowds converging on the downed Blackhawk, he pressed his request until finally granted permission. Gordon and Shughart, armed each with only his own rifle and pistol, were dropped off at the crash site, and found pilot Michael Durant alive. There they formed a perimeter around him hoping for rescue that never came. Both men exhausted their ammunition and were killed saving Durant, who was taken alive as prisoner. Both men were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the first ones awarded for action since Vietnam.

R.I.P Mark

EVERYMAN AN EMPEROR

Today please remember and honour Corporal Mark Wright GC, The 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, who gave his all for our continued benefit and security in Afghanistan on Wednesday 06th September 2006.

Cpl. Wright had gone to the aid of a wounded colleague who had been seriously injured by a mine. Sadly during the rescue attempt several other mines also exploded. Three others had lost lower limbs and Cpl Wright, himself, sustained fatal injuries. "Despite this horrific situation and the serious injuries he had himself sustained, Corporal Wright continued to command and control the incident. He remained conscious for the majority of the time, continually shouting encouragement to those around him, maintaining morale and calm amongst the many wounded men.

He and his men were forced to wait for five hours before American helicopters could pick them up. Tragically, Cpl Wright succumbed to his injuries on board the helicopter before reaching the Camp Bastion military hospital.

Corporal Mark Wright, GC was 27 years old. He was posthumously awarded the George Cross for an act of "the greatest gallantry and complete disregard for his own safety in striving to save others."

20th August 2006 - Afghanistan
Corporal Bryan Budd - Victoria Cross 🟩

Citation

25048092 Corporal Bryan James Budd, The Parachute Regiment (killed in action) During July and August 2006 A Company, 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment were deployed to occupy once again the District Centre at Sangin.

The company’s location was constantly under sustained attack from a combination of Taliban small arms, rocket-propelled gr***des, mortar and rocket fire. In order to reduce this threat platoons were regularly tasked to conduct security patrols into the urban and rural areas in the vicinity of the District Centre. Given the prevailing enemy activity in the area it was assessed that patrols had a 75 per cent chance of coming into contact with the Taliban—a statistic that was not lost on the men of A Company.

These patrols regularly came under attack and on 27th July Corporal Budd’s section identified and engaged two enemy gunmen on the roof of a building in the centre of Sangin. This provoked a fierce fire-fight in which two of Corporal Budd’s section were hit. One was seriously injured and collapsed in the open ground, where he remained exposed to enemy fire, with rounds striking the ground around him. Realising that he needed to regain the initiative and understanding that the enemy needed to be driven back so that the casualty could be evacuated, Corporal Budd led his section forward and assaulted the building where the enemy fire was heaviest.

He led this attack under fire and personally killed two of the enemy inside the building with gr***de and rifle fire, forcing the remaining fighters to flee across an open field where they were successfully engaged by the rest of his section. This courageous and prompt action proved decisive in breaking the enemy and was undertaken at great personal risk. In inflicting significant losses amongst the enemy and forcing their withdrawal, Corporal Budd’s deliberate action and conspicuous gallantry also allowed the wounded soldier to be evacuated to safety where he subsequently received life-saving treatment.

On 20th August Corporal Budd was leading his section on the right forward flank of a platoon clearance patrol near Sangin District Centre. Another section was advancing with a Land Rover fitted with a .50 calibre heavy machine gun on the patrol’s left flank. Pushing through thick vegetation, Corporal Budd identified a number of enemy fighters 30 metres away to his front. As he had not been seen by these Taliban, Corporal Budd indicated their presence to the rest of his section and used hand signals to prepare his men to launch a hasty attack. He then led his section on a flanking manoeuvre but the enemy engaged the Land Rover on the left flank and the element of surprise Corporal Budd had hoped to achieve was lost as his own section was also spotted.

Recognising the immediate requirement to regain the initiative, Corporal Budd made a conscious decision to assault the enemy and ordered his men to follow him. As they moved forward the section came under a withering fire that quickly wounded two men and incapacitated a further soldier when a bullet struck his body armour. The effectiveness of the enemy’s fire and these losses forced the unwounded members of the section to take cover. However, Corporal Budd continued to assault forward on his own, knowing full well the likely consequences of doing so without the close support of his remaining men. He was wounded but he continued to move forward, firing at the enemy and accounting for a number of them as he rushed their position.

Inspired by Corporal Budd’s example, the rest of the platoon reorganised and pushed forward their attack, killing more of the enemy and eventually forcing their withdrawal. Corporal Budd subsequently died of his wounds and when his body was later recovered it was found surrounded by three dead Taliban. There is no doubt that Corporal Budd first demonstrated conspicuous gallantry in leading the assault on 27th July 2006, an assault which broke the enemy and ultimately saved the life of a wounded member of his section.

What is remarkable is that he did this again on 20th August in the knowledge that the rest of his men had either been struck down by enemy fire or had been forced to go to ground. Throughout his service in Afghanistan Corporal Budd led his section from the front and was always at the point where the action was fiercest. Twice he behaved with the greatest gallantry but his single-handed action on the second occasion and his determination, though wounded, to push on against a superior enemy force stands out as a premeditated act of inspirational leadership and the greatest valour, which cost him his life.

It's 17 years today since a paratrooper I had the privilege to call a friend was tragically killed in Afghanistan, he was a paratroopers paratrooper, a leader, a dad, a friend and an all round mega bloke.

It is extremely rare to go any military camp and there be a person that nobody has a bad word to say about them, Dan Shirley is that man.

R.I.P Dan you will never be forgotten pal.

EVERY MAN AN EMPEROR

43 years ago today the men of 3 PARA were fighting in the battle for Mount Longdon. 23 men were killed, Two of the dead – Privates Ian Scrivens and Jason Burt – were only seventeen years old, and Private Neil Grose was killed on his 18th birthday. R.I.P Airborne Warriors.

"What manner of men are these who wear the maroon red beret? They are firstly all volunteers, and are then toughened by hard physical training. As a result they have that infectious optimism and that offensive eagerness which comes from physical well being. They have jumped from the air and by doing so have conquered fear. Their duty lies in the van of the battle: they are proud of this honour and have never failed in any task. They have the highest standards in all things, whether it be skill in battle or smartness in the ex*****on of all peace time duties. They have shown themselves to be as tenacious and determined in defence as they are courageous in attack. They are, in fact, men apart - every man an Emperor."

43 years ago today.

42 years ago today.

43 years ago today.

April 2nd, 1982: Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands on this day in 1982 – triggering a war that would cost the lives of 255 British servicemen in their successful bid to reclaim them.

Around 600 Argentine troops mounted an amphibious landing and within hours overwhelmed 57 Royal Marines, 11 Royal Navy sailors and 25 local militiamen. British forces initially surrendered after killing three enemy soldiers and losing none in a fire fight at Government House in Stanley, the capital of the disputed islands.In the hope of preventing a massive British retaliation, Argentina’s forces had been ordered to avoid killing and immediately returned the prisoners of war to the UK.
But images of a surrendered platoon lying face down in a field – supposedly to highlight that none had been shot – deeply angered the British public. And as the Marines were being taken Uruguay, one of them told a guard: ‘Don't make yourself too comfy here mate, we'll be back.’

31 years ago today, 33-year-old Gary Gordon (left) and 35-year-old Randy Shughart (right), both members of the US Army's 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment Delta, were providing air cover for Rangers in Operation Gothic Serpent in Mogadishu when a fellow Blackhawk helicopter was shot down. Gordon requested to be landed at the crash site to provide cover for the crew, but was denied permission. Seeing the hostile Somali crowds converging on the downed Blackhawk, he pressed his request until finally granted permission. Gordon and Shughart, armed each with only his own rifle and pistol, were dropped off at the crash site, and found pilot Michael Durant alive. There they formed a perimeter around him hoping for rescue that never came. Both men exhausted their ammunition and were killed saving Durant, who was taken alive as prisoner. Both men were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the first ones awarded for action since Vietnam.

42 years ago today the men of 3 PARA were fighting in the battle for Mount Longdon. 23 men were killed, Two of the dead – Privates Ian Scrivens and Jason Burt – were only seventeen years old, and Private Neil Grose was killed on his 18th birthday. R.I.P Airborne Warriors.

"What manner of men are these who wear the maroon red beret? They are firstly all volunteers, and are then toughened by hard physical training. As a result they have that infectious optimism and that offensive eagerness which comes from physical well being. They have jumped from the air and by doing so have conquered fear. Their duty lies in the van of the battle: they are proud of this honour and have never failed in any task. They have the highest standards in all things, whether it be skill in battle or smartness in the ex*****on of all peace time duties. They have shown themselves to be as tenacious and determined in defence as they are courageous in attack. They are, in fact, men apart - every man an Emperor."

Private Robert ‘Bobby’ Johns was just 14 when he joined the British Army. He lied about his age, went through Airborne training and on the night of June 5th, 1944, he would become the youngest soldier to parachute into Normandy on D-Day.

Pvt Johns was killed in Le Mesnil, France in July 1944, aged 16.

"He died as he lived, fearlessly"