Royal Marine Commandos Make Daring Rescue

UK Forces are taking the fight to the enemy in Afghanistan and in the process made a daring first of its kind rescue, to retrieve one of their own:

Lance Corporal Ford, from 45 Commando Royal Marines, died when his UK Task Force attacked a major Taliban fort in southern Helmand Province.

The attack began at dawn on Monday 15 January 2007, on the Taliban base of Jugroom Fort, south of Garmsir. Z Company 45 Commando, mounted in Vikings and supported by C Squadron, Light Dragoons, crossed the Helmand river to the south west of the fort.

3 Commando Brigade Reconnaissance Force (BRF), had already secured the crossing point. The marines then dismounted to engage the Taliban with small arms fire.

During the fight the unit pulled back to regroup and the noticed that one of their own was missing, it was then decided that they would mount a dangerous and dramatic attempt to rescue their fallen comrade.

An initial plan was hatched to use Viking vehicles but they eventually concluded that the Apache WAH-64 attack helicopters would provide a quicker and safer means to get him out and back to safety.

And so four troops were strapped to the small side 'wings' of two Apaches, two to each helicopter. A third Apache provided aerial cover, and further units laid down a mass of covering fire while the other two Apaches landed.

All four men got off, as well as some of the aircrew, to provide additional firepower and to assist with the recovery of Lance Corporal Ford.

UK Task Force spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Rory Bruce, said, "It was a leap into the unknown. This is believed to be the first time UK forces have ever tried this type of rescue mission. It was an extraordinary tale of heroism and bravery of our airmen, soldiers and marines who were all prepared to put themselves back into the line of fire to rescue a fallen comrade."

Never leave your brother behind, its a code we live by here in the US as well. To the family of Lance Corporal Ford our sympathies and prayers go out to you, he will not be forgotten.

To our brothers across the pond, good on ya!

To all you weenies in Congress, take note, this is what it means to be a member of the military, and be willing to do dangerous and dramatic things to ensure that your brothers all come home. Thier acts were the acts of the couragous. Courage is not "talking truth to power;" courage is doing something and doing it with the expectation that you are may not come back but it is your duty to make the effort.