The ‘medic’ and the major.

We have heard a lot lately about American pilots in Iraq and how they have behaved in ’the heat of battle’ which has not been to the credit of the US military: so it was nice to see one turn up at Buckingham Palace this week to have ‘er Maj’ pin the Distinguished Flying Cross on his chest.

US Marine Major William Chesarek is the first American flyer to receive this bravery award since World War II and took part in the same action in which a teenage army ‘medic’, Private Michelle Norris, became the first woman to be awarded the Military Cross for bravery under fire.

Normally I have a good old rant about investitures and the way ‘gongs’ are handed out like sweets (candies) to bloody second rate actors, ancient pop stars and so called sporting ‘heroes’, but for once they have gone to people who deserve them and can truly be called ‘heroes’.

Medals are often won for acts of heroism which involve killing other human beings, so it is always pleasing to see awards going to people who have risked their own lives to save the life of another.

In the horror that is the Iraq fiasco many decorations have been pinned on many chests and many have been presented to the families of those who have died; so whilst I congratulate the young ‘medic’ and the major, I have to hope that in the near future acts of courage such as theirs …

…    will become a thing of the past.