Aussie digger honoured in Afghanistan

November 26, 2006 - 2:49PM

An Australian commando has won the country's second highest military honour for his heroism in Afghanistan as Prime Minister John Howard told him and his colleagues they are there for the long haul.

Identified only as Sergeant A, the soldier was presented with the Star Of Gallantry for his bravery under intense fire when rescuing Canadian troops in a valley in southern Afghanistan earlier this year.

Governor-General Michael Jeffery presented Sgt A with his honour and also awarded the Medal Of Gallantry to another soldier, Corporal B, at a homecoming ceremony for the 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, at the Holsworthy Army Barracks in western Sydney.

Sergeant A led a special forces task group unit in a four-hour siege in the Oruzgan province, coming under intense fire from local militia as they fought to evacuate the cornered Canadians, who had suffered one fatality.

The Australians were surrounded by anti-coalition militia for over an hour during which every member of the outnumbered unit was shooting at the enemy as close as 50 metres away.

As he made the decisions on which the lives of his unit and the Canadians rested, Sergeant A had rocket propelled grenades land metres away from him, took a bullet in his headrest while others landed between his legs and his vehicle was peppered with fire.

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