Page 17 - MERCIAN Eagle 2015

Sergeant Alan Gordon DENNIS CGC
Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team, Team Second in Command
Helmand Province, 2009
Sergeant Dennis won a Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, for his actions whilst deployed in Afghanistan in 2009.
“Sergeant Dennis was second in command
of an Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (OMLT) operating from Patrol Base (PB) Jaker, near Nawa. His team was deployed
to conduct a joint patrol with Warriors of the Afghanistan National Army (ANA) and whilst patrolling the Helmand River Valley his patrol was ambushed. His example and initiative brought the ANA into the battle which saved the patrol from defeat. He was calm and collected under intense fire and displayed cool courage.”
Sergeant Marc Kevin GILES CGC
Helmand Province, 2009
Sergeant Giles CGC was awarded the
Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for his actions
whilst deployed in Afghanistan in 2009 with
2nd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment. Sergeant
Giles CGC has since been promoted to WO2,
and now serves as Company Sergeant Major of B (Malta) Company, 2 MERCIAN.
“Sergeant Giles was on a joint patrol with Warriors of the Afghan National Army (ANA) in Basharan to the north of Lashkar Gar. The OMLT Commander was trapped in the killing zone and Giles took command. Within minutes, an ANA Warrior forward with the OMLT commander was seriously wounded. He dashed across open ground grabbed the casualty, threw him over his shoulders and ran with him back across the killing zone and to the emergency rendezvous. As a Quick Reaction Force (QRF) drew close to the fight, Giles went to guide them with two Warriors but was almost immediately blown off his feet and thrown violently against a compound wall. Composed, calm and fully aware of the danger the entire patrol faced, he ordered the QRF to halt, coordinated the patrol’s defence and, still recovering from the effects of the lED blast and under sporadic small arms fire, personally conducted a clearance to mark a safe route to marry up the patrol with the QRF. Giles’s actions were selfless and courageous.”
Lance Corporal Kyle Patrick
SMITH CGC
Section Second in Command Helmand Province, 2009
Lance Corporal Smith CGC from Arnold,
Nottinghamshire was awarded a Conspicuous
Gallantry Cross for his actions whilst deployed in
Afghanistan in 2009 with 2nd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment.
“When his platoon was ambushed by insurgents from a well sited and strong position (an ambush initiated by a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) strike) several soldiers became casualties in Smith’s section. Lance Corporal Smith moved to the nearest casualty, administered first aid and dragged him into cover. In the process
of doing so he knowingly and with great courage had to expose himself to heavy insurgent fire over 100 or so metres of open ground. Having reached the safety of cover and ensured that the casualty was secure, he immediately returned to extract a further casualty, once again placing himself in the line of fire and pausing only to return fire at insurgent positions. He successfully dragged his comrade to safety. Without the selfless, brave and timely actions of this young NCO, two of the casualties from the initial engagement would have remained exposed to the enemy and undoubtedly suffered further injury.”
Corporal Craig ADKIN MC
Company Medic Afghanistan, 2009
Corporal Adkin MC from Carlton, Nottinghamshire was awarded a Military Cross for his actions whilst serving as the Company medic in Afghanistan in 2009 with 2nd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment.
“Following a Rocket Propelled Grenade strike, Corporal Adkin
as the company medic, immediately pushed forward to locate the casualties and exposed himself to great danger. Able to assess
the situation, he decided to run across 100 metres of open ground under fire in order to reach and treat the casualties. Knowing that further casualties remained in the killing area, he again crossed the open ground which was still under heavy fire, in order to provide first aid and triage to the other casualties. Subsequently, all casualties were safely extracted and the insurgent position destroyed. His selfless and courageous actions have undoubtedly saved lives during the tour and he has placed himself in the most dangerous areas throughout.”
Captain Edward Robert BROWN MC
Afghanistan, 2009
Captain Brown MC from Tenbury, Worcestershire was awarded the Military Cross for his actions whilst deployed in Afghanistan in 2009 with the Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (OMLT).
“Captain Brown commanded an Operational
Mentoring and Liaison Team (OMLT) at Patrol Base (PB) Jaker in Nawa, an isolated location no more than 500 metres away in all directions from the enemy’s forward line. The only manoeuvre force was Brown’s OMLT and a platoon of Warriors from the Afghan National Army (ANA). Brown’s bravery and commitment were sustained for months. He took the fight to the enemy at every opportunity and his leadership inspired the OMLT and ANA.”
Private Alexander Robert KENNEDY MC
Rifleman
Helmand Province, 2009
Private Kennedy MC from Bromsgrove,
Worcestershire, was awarded the Military
Cross for his selfless actions whilst deployed in
Afghanistan with 2nd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment in 2009.
“Private Kennedy was involved in his company’s deliberate operation to clear an area of Garmsir. His multiple suddenly came under ferocious small arms fire, a fellow soldier, was caught in the first burst and dropped to the floor shot through the legs. Kennedy immediately crawled to the injured man and administered first
aid. Taking control of the rest of the section, he directed their fire
and ensured that they were engaging the enemy positions. This suppressed the enemy, allowed the casualty to be extracted and the rest of the multiple to move into cover. This is all the more impressive from a private soldier with six months experience in the Army. Kennedy acted with a level of leadership and situational awareness far above that expected of a private soldier, demonstrating selfless bravery and a cool head under fire.”
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
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