George Cross for Bomb Disposal lads

[Zak33]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8550539.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8574378.stm

Two very brave lads.... one sadly dead now.

Well worth reading... one of the guys disposed of 7 Taliban bombs, with no protective clothing, to help his fallen and injured comrades get the hell outtsa dodge.

[Tumble]

I do think they should have the VC to be fair - silly rules that you have to be in direct fire to be awarded the VC. I would have thought that bomb disposal is just as dangerous, if not more dangerous even than being in a firefight. It's still the enemy trying to kill you isn't it?

[blueball]

Two extremely brave guys. I feel that it is not the medal that's important but what it stands for.

[azrael316]

I do think they should have the VC to be fair - silly rules that you have to be in direct fire to be awarded the VC. I would have thought that bomb disposal is just as dangerous, if not more dangerous even than being in a firefight. It's still the enemy trying to kill you isn't it?

I quite agree.

The "rules" were written back in the days bgefore IEDs and sneaky boobytraps, I think they should be revised.

[Zak33]

hey..none the less.. proper courage

S!

[matty-hodgson]

This isn't proper courage though. Far from it. A couple of hours of stressful work is absolutely nothing compared to what they're all putting up with day in, day out.
It takes REAL courage to sit out there on the front lines every day without having a breakdown. They all deserve medals.

I sure as hell couldn't do it, but I'm bloody grateful that they can!

[Guy]

This isn't proper courage though. Far from it. A couple of hours of stressful work is absolutely nothing compared to what they're all putting up with day in, day out.
It takes REAL courage to sit out there on the front lines every day without having a breakdown. They all deserve medals.

I sure as hell couldn't do it, but I'm bloody grateful that they can!

I'm sorry, not PROPER courage?!

'couple of hours stressful work' Seriously you don't know the half of it.

[Zak33]

matty... that's not in character for you !

Bomb disposal IS in the thick of it.. AND they did it to get the injured out of the hot zone...

so I am gonna presume, hopefully, that you just miss typed that bit

[matty-hodgson]

I'm sorry, not PROPER courage?!

'couple of hours stressful work' Seriously you don't know the half of it.

matty... that's not in character for you !

Bomb disposal IS in the thick of it.. AND they did it to get the injured out of the hot zone...

so I am gonna presume, hopefully, that you just miss typed that bit

No, you're not seeing my point. A few hours of bomb disposal is obviously gonna be hell. And yeah, it does take balls to do that kind of thing.

But I personally think that's nothing compared to what they ALL put up with out there, day after day, week after week. Never seeing their families, never seeing their friends, never doing much apart from try and keep the world a better place while being shot at from everyone, having tonnes of regulations placed upon them, not having enough weapons, all that stuff.

I just think that this stuff doesn't deserve medals specifically, I think they all deserve the same praise.

EDIT: And that is MY opinion, which I am fully entitled to.

[Guy]

No, you're not seeing my point. A few hours of bomb disposal is obviously gonna be hell. And yeah, it does take balls to do that kind of thing.

But I personally think that's nothing compared to what they ALL put up with out there, day after day, week after week. Never seeing their families, never seeing their friends, never doing much apart from try and keep the world a better place while being shot at from everyone, having tonnes of regulations placed upon them, not having enough weapons, all that stuff.

I just think that this stuff doesn't deserve medals specifically, I think they all deserve the same praise.

EDIT: And that is MY opinion, which I am fully entitled to.

Hope much is that fact, and how much is your opinion? (Which yes you are entitled to, but no need to get all defensive over eh )

Never seeing their families, never seeing their friends

Not quite true, they do get to fly back and spend a week/2 with there friends/family/loved ones. Ok at times it can be anywhere from 2-6 months apart. BUT its not like this was hidden from them when they joined up. No one forced them to sign up . . .

never doing much apart from try and keep the world a better place while being shot at from everyone

Depending on there role/where they are not always the case. They do get some R+R time.

having tonnes of regulations placed upon them

not having enough weapons

Care to name any sources on those?

[matty-hodgson]

Care to name any sources on those?

Terry Hodgson - My uncle.

[Saracen]

From what I can make of it, bomb disposal in a place like Afghanistan currently is is probably about the single most dangerous job assignment. And, on top of that, the disposal guys are out there without their families, just like all the others are.

I certainly think it's pointless arguing about what medal they deserve, though personally, I have no less respect for the troops that don't get medals than I have for those that do, and certainly no less because it's a GC not a VC. They're all out there for their country, and they're all taking their chances, and they're all doing a job that I for one wouldn't want to do.

My one reservation is that I'm not convinced its a job we ought to be asking them to do in the first place. But given that we, as a country, have asked them to do it I'm proud as hell of the way they do it, all of them, medals or not.

[Andy3536]

Bomb disposal takes some serious balls. These acts of gallantry are well deserving.

I find it fascinating to read the storys behind the medals. Really does make yo think.

[Rave]

Interesting interview with a bomb disposal chap on Saturday Live today- listened to it on my way to work. I think it was on from about 25-35 minutes in:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/satlive

[Gerrard]

They all deserve medals.

If they do 30 days continuously (I think it's that at the moment), then they do: Imaginatively named the Operation Service Medal for Afghanistan.

[SammEl]

Courage or no Courage, they joined the Army, not forced into the Army, they know the risks nowadays, it's not like being thrown into the Army or else like before.

And, wow, a medal, an amazing piece of metal that must be to the family now missing a loved one.

Honestly I lol at this, no amount of award or money can bring that guy back, so is all pretty pointless crap imo.

And do what any REAL man does now, leave the army and spend a year in Prison here, not only does it save your life, but it will save your family from lifetime of regret and pain that will tear away at you every single minute until you are also dead. Plus, it takes you away from a pointless and endless fight against a few Taliban who know that country so much that unless they nuke Afghanistan, or send in a few million troops to wipe it, it will never, ever, be won.

Call me negative, but the truth hurts sometimes.