[unfolaReemoma]

I thought this was incredibly touching (sorry if is a repost...)

Basically, after an operation in Afghanistan went south, the attacking force had to withdraw. However, in the retreat, one of their own was left behind, his fate unknown. The story as follows:

But the besieged Taliban fighters proved resilient, and sprayed the Z Company marines with gunfire. Within minutes the British force suffered four casualties, mostly gunshot wounds. The commandos leapt back into their Vikings and retreated to the far bank of the river.

Moments later, commanding officers realised that one of their number was missing - Lance Corporal Ford. Reconnaissance aircraft found him lying outside the walls of Jugroom fort, on the far side of the river. It was not clear if he was alive. The soldiers prepared to return in the Vikings - a gambit that would entail enormous risk.

The Apache pilots hovering overhead suggested a less perilous but highly unusual move - they would bring the rescue squad across the river. Two Apaches landed and four volunteer marines strapped themselves to the aircraft wings using harnesses.

Dodging Taliban gunfire - and with four marines lying across the wings in the manner of the heroes of the second world war film Flight of the Phoenix - the two Apaches sped across the river and landed outside the Taliban fort. The marines unstrapped themselves and searched for Lance Corporal Ford. Having recovered his body, they strapped it to one of the Apaches and safely crossed the river.

Defence sources described the rescue as an unprecedented operation. Apaches cannot carry passengers - the small fuselage is crammed with instruments and weapons systems and can barely accommodate two pilots. But there are attachments on the wings to which soldiers can harness themselves in an emergency. Full story: http://www.guardian.co.uk/afghanista...992035,00.html

I am sorry, but this is one of the most courageous acts i have ever heard of. Those solders have brass balls, and they all deserve medals. Anyone willing to go to such lengths to save a fallen comrade is just... amazing. To the brothers across the pond, we salute you! [thumbup]

BTW- please don't turn this political...

[geraint.faughn]

Well, I'm probably gonna get flamed for this, But IMO, I think it was a pretty damned stupid act.
Their reasoning might have been that they did'nt want his body mutilated by the taliban (as it seems popular for them to do), But for all intents and purposes the guy, Ford, was dead after being seen by several squaddies to drop in a hail of gunfire after trying to "storm" the fort.

They not only risked themselves, but also risked 3 helicopters worth upwards of 10 million quid each.
There are been many cases of apaches being brought down with rpg's and even sustained assault rifle fire, they had no idea what the taliban had in that compound, and it was obviously
enough to impede their subsquent victory.

Unless this guy Ford was a devout christian or something and being buried at home was on the top of his list after his death, then I'd think he'd probably prefer his mates not to put themselves in needless danger by trying to rescue him when it was pretty obvious he was dead.

I guess I'm gonna get flamed, but its just the way I feel.

[Unwiseevove]

I agree, i don't know how does it feel to be in combat but i'm sure that you create a very special bond with all your teammates like they were your own family and will do anything for them.

Well, I'm probably gonna get flamed for this, But IMO, I think it was a pretty damned stupid act.
[...]

Little things like this is what makes life worth living. I bet you have never lost a loved one.

[vNZsk39B]

My opinion is yes, they showed great curage and honor towards their fallen buddy,
but ya´ll also know my stance towards the war, so i´ll leave it to that.

still these two things need commenting,..

They not only risked themselves, but also risked 3 helicopters worth upwards of 10 million quid each.

pff and even if they where worth 100 billion each,..
I honestly don´t like the way you mention the cost of those "things".
The price of an inanimated object is never higher than that of a life. (imo)

Little things like this is what makes life worth living. I bet you have never lost a loved one.

So little things, like risking your own life is what makes life worth living ?

[picinaRefadia]

My opinion is yes, they showed great curage and honor towards their fallen buddy,
but ya´ll also know my stance towards the war, so i´ll leave it to that.

still these two things need commenting,..



pff and even if they where worth 100 billion each,..
I honestly don´t like the way you mention the cost of those "things".
The price of an inanimated object is never higher than that of a life. (imo)



So little things, like risking your own life is what makes life worth living ?

OK, I understand having a problem with the war in Iraq, I do... I have since the begining...

However...

What is your objection to the war in Afghanistan?

[vNZsk39B]

What is your objection to the war in Afghanistan?

I think answering to that now would be rather off topic and inpolite towards Madcat,
for it would be doing exactly what he asked us not to do.

BTW- please don't turn this political...

[picinaRefadia]

I think answering to that now would be rather off topic and inpolite towards Madcat,
for it would be doing exactly what he asked us not to do.

Um... I think when you said "you all know my stance" you turned it political. Correct?

[Geetiill]

Ah yes... the Apache. An American product. My favorite helicopter.


________
Fetish Smoking

[vansVoish]

I can't really understand how the taleban managed to inflict so many casualties and eventually push special forces back. I mean they had gunship cover, I bet if they wanted they could have called an artillery barrage or heavy bombers' support.

They shouldn't have placed themselves in that sort of situation in the first place.

IMO their action is very justified. Even if some people think this or that war is not justified, young men are still fighting there. There's a bond among these soldiers and I'm sure they treat each other as family. After all they spend more time with each other than with their family.

They showed great courage! many times there's a fine line between courage and madness.

[ropinirole]

By doing this, they showed that NO ONE will ever get left behind to die. Knowing this would probably give a soldier more courage and confidence to fight than anything else. It doesn't matter if the guy died or even if some of the rescuers died. By doing this they have benefitted the moral of the entire army.

[Belindanan]

The Regimental system of the British army always tended to inspire a real feeling of comradeship amongst the soldiers. My Grandfather on my mothers side always told me when he fought in the second world war, he fought not for King and Country but so as to not let his regiment down.

I'd put money on it that they simply didn't want to leave their mate behind.

Always remember, it's a fine line between heroism and stupidity. The line is usually drawn in whether you live or die.

Stupid you can call it, but it takes a huge amount of courage to do what they did.

[greekbeast]

By doing this, they showed that NO ONE will ever get left behind to die. Knowing this would probably give a soldier more courage and confidence to fight than anything else. It doesn't matter if the guy died or even if some of the rescuers died. By doing this they have benefitted the moral of the entire army.

This was my feeling as well, all done for moral.

[nuveem7070]

Morale.