This soldier deserved the Victorian Cross.

[k_amp_s]

<p>

LONDON (AFP) – A Nepalese soldier in the British army has been given a top bravery award by Queen Elizabeth II for his heroics in Afghanistan, where he single-handedly saw off more than 30 Taliban fighters.</p>

<p>Corporal Dipprasad Pun, 31, said he thought he was going to die and so had nothing to lose in taking on the attackers who overran his checkpoint.</p>

<p>He was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC), which is given in recognition of acts of conspicuous gallantry during active operations against the enemy.</p>

<p>Pun fired more than 400 rounds, launched 17 grenades and detonated a mine to repel the Taliban assault on his checkpoint near Babaji in Helmand Province, southern Afghanistan, last September.</p>

<p>Surrounded, the enemy opened fired from all sides and for 15 minutes Pun remained under continuous attack, including from rocket-propelled grenades and AK47 guns.</p>

<p>At one point, unable to shoot, he used his machine gun tripod to knock down a militant who was climbing the walls of the compound.</p>

<p>Two insurgents were still attacking by the time he ran out of ammunition, but he set off a Claymore mine to repel them.</p>

<p>Pun was given his medal in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London on Wednesday.

</p>

<p>[Queen</a> decorates Nepali for Afghanistan heroics - Yahoo! News](<a href=“http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110602/wl_uk_afp/britainmilitaryafghanistannepalaward]Queen”>http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110602/wl_uk_afp/britainmilitaryafghanistannepalaward)</p>

<p>Really, what more did Corporal Pun need to do in order to get awarded the highest honor?</p>

[ucsd_ucla_dad]

<p>I don’t know but it’s amazing what some of these people have been through and many of them probably end up either without specific medals or more lower level general ones but that doesn’t mean they weren’t deserving of a higher honor. </p>

<p>I’m reading a book now that another CC poster mentioned - Lone Survivor. It’s a true story about a Navy Seal and the ordeal he and some others went through in their training and then in battle in Afghanistan. It’s truly astounding what they’ve gone through.</p>

[jsanche32]

<p>If he died he probably would have been awarded the VC post-hum.</p>

<p>I do agree with you though. That definitely deserves the VC.</p>

[ellemenope]

<p>17 grenades? Was he sitting on a pile of them?</p>

[hayden]

<p>This soldier was amazingly courageous. However, I think I might understand why he did not get the VC. In Pun’s case, he fought incredibly well against overwhelming odds. But he was attacked, and there was no one else there. According to his own words, he had no choice - well, actually he did - he could have freaked out, run or given up, none of which he did. Which is why he got the award.</p>

<p>What usually distinguishes a VC recipient is that they voluntarily put themselves into mortal danger to save the life of a comrade. The stories of VC recipients are more like our Medal of Honor recipients, like the guy written up this week. He was already wounded in both legs, when a grenade landed near some comrades. He was not in the path of danger, but he lunged over to protect them, grabbed then threw the grenade, and lost his hand. </p>

<p>If this were me, I’d probably cut and run at the first chance, so I admire all of them.</p>