Not many people know of the New Zealand military involvement in the current Afghanistan conflict, but Corporal Bill Henry "Willie" Apiata soon changed that.Starting in late 2001, the NZ SAS began operations assisting in the War on Terrorism in Afghanistan. Three 6 month rotations of between 40 and 65 soldiers from the NZ SAS served in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom before the unit was withdrawn in November 2005.
On 17 June 2004, two NZ SAS soldiers were wounded in a pre-dawn gun-battle in central Afghanistan. Secrecy still surrounds much of the NZ SAS's operations in Afghanistan, although a Radio New Zealand news piece claimed the service had maintained a mission success rate of 100%.
According to a New Zealand government fact sheet released in July 2007, the NZ SAS soldiers routinely patrolled enemy territory for three weeks or more at a time, often on foot, after being inserted by helicopter.
There were "casualties on both sides" during gun battles, but no New Zealanders were killed.
It was announced on 2 July 2007 that Corporal Bill (Willie) Apiata of the NZ SAS, aged 35, had been awarded the Victoria Cross for New Zealand for carrying a severely injured comrade 70 metres "under heavy fire" from machine-guns and grenades after their vehicle was destroyed in an ambush and then joined the rest of his comrades in a counterattack.
Corporal Bill Henry "Willie" Apiata, VC (born 28 June 1972 in Mangakino, New Zealand) is a member of the Special Air Service of New Zealand and the first recipient of the Victoria Cross for New Zealand.He received the award on 2 July 2007 for bravery under fire during the Afghanistan conflict in 2004, after carrying a wounded compatriot across a battlefield to receive medical treatment.
Corporal Apiata is the first and only recipient of the Victoria Cross for New Zealand.
There are no living New Zealand recipients of the (Imperial) Victoria Cross, which was last awarded to a New Zealander for actions in the Second World War.
Corporal Apiata, the first New Zealander to be awarded the Victoria Cross since the Second World War, has now decided to gift his VC and campaign medals to the New Zealand Special Air Service Trust based in Papakura, Auckland.
Bill Apiata said "It was important the VC be protected for future generations and by gifting it to the NZSAS Trust, I know my wishes will always be respected."The NZSAS Chairman said the decision to gift the Cross was extraordinary and the trust was pleased to accept responsibility for ensuring Corporal Apiata's wishes would always be adhered to.The VC will remain available for Corporal Apiata to wear and will always be available for his family to wear in the future.
It is hoped the Victoria Cross will go on public display at special events or ceremonies, but such decisions would be made by the trust.The NZSAS Trust was established in 2004 to focus on the welfare, resettlement, education and fundraising for those who have served with the SAS, and their families.The New Zealand SAS is held in high regard internationally - as demonstrated by the United States Presidential Citation which was awarded to the NZSAS on 7 December 2004.
Sources:
No comments:
Post a Comment