Friday, December 24, 2010

Fullbore Friday

In a split second the nature of a man can be quickly demonstrated. It is innate; natural; sublime.
Lance Corporal Murfitt – from Barnstaple in Devon and known to Army mates as ‘Murf’ – picks up the story:

“It had been a pretty standard patrol but, when the call came in and we were re-tasked, we were told to get in there fast and provide support. I was in the rear half of my Troop Sergeant’s vehicle ready to give precision fire with my rifle, and the driver stepped on it to get there as quickly as possible.

“Our arrival, with our heavy firepower, seemed to bring the fight to an end fairly quickly, but we stayed alert. Everything was quiet, but then I spotted three men with a child on a compound roof, about 300 yards to the front of the vehicles.

“Suddenly two of the men moved off, leaving one man with the child – it was a girl, no more than 10-years-old. At this point I realised something was wrong – the man picked up a rifle and moved behind the child, taking aim at me.”

LCpl Murfitt immediately told his commander that he could identify a possible insurgent who was using a child as a shield and taking aiming at his vehicle. He was faced by a dilemma: he could protect himself and engage the insurgent but, if he did that, he could not guarantee that the child would be unhurt. Making a split-second call, ‘Murf’ took the decision to wait.

LCpl Murfitt continued:

“I knew I could take him down but, being a dad myself, I didn’t want to run the risk of killing a kid and undoing all the good work we’ve achieved. So I waited, hoping that the child would drop down and give me a clear shot.”

But then, as he was waiting for the moment to strike without putting the girl’s life at risk, the insurgent fired a single shot – it struck LCpl Murfitt on the left hand side of his helmet knocking him to the floor.
Head on over to read the rest of the story.

Hat tip Scott.

12 comments:

AW1 Tim said...

God Bless them all.  The difference between the two sides is easily shown by the value each place upon human life.

Salty Gator said...

Brave man holds his fire...and then the insurgent gets it in the end with a FULLBORE from an A-10.  HOOYAH!

DeltaBravo said...

What a beautiful man...morally and physically. 

The enemy... not so much.  Note the SOB didn't seize a little 10 year old boy and hold him as a shield.  The poor females of that country... the first people to treat them as if they have any worth are the so-called "invaders."

prschoef said...

I believe the Warthog referenced is an armored vehicle, not the A-10.

Scorr Rogers said...

R u people kidding?  This is a straight propaganda piece from the Brits.  He should have engaged the enemy, and used his skills to minimize collateral damage.  Don't get all sappy eyed because the girl got away.  And by the way, the Warthog is a British armored vehicle, not an aircraft; and they engaged the insurgent, but did not state that he was KIA.  So in the end, a fine soldier almost gets killed, and an insurgent may still be alive to kill another day.  I bet these commentators would have made sappier comments if the lad was KIA since he sacrificed his life for the girl. 

Byron said...

He is a warrior: Loyalty to the King, Protect the innocent, Courage in the face of the enemy.

You, sir, are a jackass who spends too much time reading Soldier of Fortune.

Scorr Rogers said...

Byron:  Thank G_d we have people like you who advocate such dribble.  It makes for great Disney movies.  If SOF is the antithesis of your indoctrination, where do I get a copy?

Scorr Rogers said...

Byron:  Deep down inside, in places you don't talk about at high tea; you want me on that trigger, you need me on that trigger, you sleep well at night with me on that trigger.

I'll leave these antogonistic indulgences there.  Happy New Year and may Christ and Queen bless all of the coalition troops and you too.

SCOTTtheBADGER said...

Exactly so, Tim.

cdrsalamander said...

Awww, Christmas trolls are so cute in their green felt hats.

cdrsalamander said...

...especially when they post from San Antonio Texas with a Brit inflection ... 

Byron said...

And they don't say, "Christ and Queen", they say "God and Queen"...