Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Lance Corporal Sally Clarke is a true hero


Dear All

During wartime, soldiers display acts of heroism that are worthy of highlighting out loud.

Lance Corporal Sally Clarke, 22, a medic with the 2nd Battalion the Rifles is one such individual that deserves the respect of us all.

When her patrol came under rocket fire and she was wounded, she stayed at her post to treat more seriously wounded comrades.

In war time the Victoria Cross is awarded for bravery above and beyond the call of duty.

This is one case in which I feel Lance Corporal Sally Clarke should be considered for the highest military order.

While on patrol; she and others members came under from insurgents using AK 47 and RPGs. During the firefight the insurgents fired an RPG which landed in the middle of the group exploding, shrapnel from the grenade lodged in her shoulder and back. Despite being in intense pain, she went to the aid of seven other wounded comrades, some seriously.

Corporal Paul Mather, another member of the patrol was most seriously hit and had large wounds to his legs and buttocks, some the size of a fist. Although seriously injured; he stayed at his post and co-ordinate a strike by British jets on to enemy positions.

L/Cpl Clarke stayed with the wounded, patching them up and helping to move them to a heli landing site for evac to hospital at Camp Bastion, the British base.

When the Helicopter arrived, she despite her injuries refused to get on insisting that the patrol must not be left without a medic.

The Victoria Cross is awarded for;

most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy.

Lance Corporal Sally Clarke must surely be a contender for the top award.

I would urge everyone to write to the Ministry of Defence on her behalf.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

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