A member of the SAS has been awarded the Victoria Cross, making him the first New Zealander to receive the award since the end of the World War II. Corporal Willy Apiata, 35, has been given the VC for extreme bravery under fire in Afghanistan in 2004. The Victoria Cross is the highest recognition for gallantry that can be awarded to members of the armed forces of Commonwealth countries and Apiata's award is the first to a serving member of the SAS anywhere in the Commonwealth.
Three of his SAS colleagues have also received gallantry decorations for their part in the same incident, although their names will not be released for security reasons. They are receiving the New Zealand Gallantry Decoration and the Gallantry medal. Prime Minister Helen Clark says Corporal Apiata displayed stunning courage and selflessness, risking his life to save a colleague in a situation of extreme danger.
"The citation for his award describes how he carried a fellow soldier suffering serious arterial damage to safety," Clark told a special news conference at the Beehive. It was 3.15am one morning in Afghanistan in 2004 when a troop of SAS soldiers came under fire from 20 enemy fighters with machine and rocket propelled grenades.
Apiata was blown off the bonnet of his vehicle in the attack and one of colleagues was seriously injured. Apiata picked up his colleague and carried him 70 metres in what was described as broken, rocky and fire-swept ground under heavy fire. He placed his colleague into safety and then joined the counter attack.
The government says Corporal Apiata showed little regard for his own life when he saved his colleague who would certainly have died from loss of blood otherwise. Defence Force chief, Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae, said awards of this nature were a great honour and serve to highlight the calibre of New Zealand Defence Force personnel. "Today's announcement is an incredibly proud moment for New Zealand, the New Zealand Defence Force and the NZSAS.
For the story of the Victoria Cross in New Zealand Click here and you can also learn the origins of the Victoria Cross. For a full list of New Zealand recipients of the Victoria's Cross, click here. A member of the SAS has been awarded the Victoria Cross, making him the first New Zealander to receive the award since the end of the World War II.
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