Some Marines Simply Refuse To Die!
 

Royal Marine who jumped on grenade awarded George Cross

L/Cpl Matthew Croucher will become part of a select of group of just 20 living George Cross holders when the Queen awards him the medal, which is given for acts showing the same level of heroism as the Victoria Cross.

The Marine had less than seven seconds to make up his mind on whether to risk sacrificing his own life to save his friends when the hand grenade rolled onto the ground during an operation in Afghanistan earlier this year.

Without hesitating he chose to chance death and save his three fellow Royal Marines.

Randy

Just incredible valor. Thank God he lived to be recognized.

He didn't have permission to die. So he didn't. More power to him and my sincerest admiration for his decision.

Awesome act of selfless service.

Back to combat in less than an hour. Incredible.

"L/Cpl Croucher was examined by a medic who recommended he should be evacuated but the Marine, who has completed three tours of Iraq, was determined to stay to fight the Taliban and within an hour had shot an insurgent approaching their position. "

..now that's courage and generosity!

Oorah.

Marines are a breed apart. Tough as nails 'til the day they "move on".

Remember the story about the 70+ year-old marine that shot two gangbangers when they tried to rob the Subway he was buying a sandwich at?

Marines are a breed apart. Tough as nails 'til the day they "move on".

Remember the story about the 70+ year-old marine that shot two gangbangers when they tried to rob the Subway he was buying a sandwich at?

No biggie. I jump on live grenades all the time. Why....just yesterday I had a chance to lay on top of a stick of dynamite. Witnesses say I was thrown at least fifty feet in the air and it scorched my necktie a little, but it was worth it. Really fun.

Try that with a pocketful of kryptonite, tuff guy! ;)

Randy

I've said it before on this forum...the guys and gals that have been pulling the load for multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan are the next greatest generation. Just watch.

I've been there, met them and was always humbled...an old helicopter pilot among incredible young men and women from all services and countries. When I read all the, 'America is doomed' threads I always think of them and smile.

BTW, I don't need any naysayers. Start your own thread. Semper Fi, Randy.:cool:

This is a most interesting thread coming on the heals of the bullet weight thread.

And a hell of a story, thanks for posting it!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph...er_780025c.jpg
Here's a picture of the Royal Marine Commando in question.

How can you be anything but impressed? Their commitment and sacrifice is unbelievable.

Emotional Sarah Kennedy breaks down in tears live on air over hero soldier

Veteran broadcaster Sarah Kennedy burst into tears live on-air during her BBC Radio 2 show today.

The 58-year-old was reading highlights from this morning's newspapers when she broke down crying over a story about a soldier who will receive the George Cross for bravery.

Randy

All joking aside, and knowing I have said this before, the one thing that strikes me the most about humans is the incredible RANGE of their behaviors. On the one hand, humans can commit the most horrific, unspeakable horrors upon each other. I won't even give you and example, simply because the stuff I am talking about here is truly unspeakable. Horrific. But on the other hand, humans regularly lay down their lives for people they don't even know. As a fellow human, I have felt both shame and pride. Extreme shame and extreme pride. This story of course makes me proud.

Marines. If I were to serve in the military, I would prefer to be a Marine. Why? Two reasons. First, they are the finest. Best trained. Most disciplined. These are our "go to" people. And the second reason is glamour. United States Marines have the finest dress blue uniforms in the Solar System.

NO doubt. A friend of mine who graduated a year before me, came home from boot to take a classmate of mine to the prom. He shows up in his blues and EVERY single girl, including my date, fell outta their chairs.

The second reason is sound, but the first is not. It's simply untrue.

US Army Delta Forces and US Navy SEALs are the most highly trained and disciplined troops in the US military. They are our "go to people". The next step below them would be US Army Special forces.

Marine Recon and/or counter-terror types would be the rough equivalent to Army Rangers. Both are elites, but nowhere near to the level of those listed above.

What the Marines have are fancy uniforms and very good PR. ;)

Oh yeah? Well I see Army Rangers, Navy Seals and US Marines fight all the time (it seems they can't handle the beer I serve at my barbecues). Anyway, the Marines kick their asses every time.

One of the best things to watch is the USMC Silent Drill Platoon. Do it in person if possible. If not, look here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YygD7_ZQNI0

Lol

No doubt he is a hero for what he did. I was just wondering why he did not try to throw the grenade away rather than muffle it with his backpack. Seven seconds might have given him time to do that. I have never been in that situation, but maybe those who have or have practical knowledge may want to comment on this.

Aurel

This is a story about a British marine right?

Well.....in my experience with live hand grenades you just can't be too sure about those seven seconds. Sometimes the thrower holds them for three or four. You just don't know. So......rather than gamble I tend to just fall onto the grenade. It's safer that way.

Unfortunately, those with the "practical knowledge" you speak of aren't with us long enough to share their experience. :(

In a situation such as this, however, one really has no idea how much time one has to "react". It seems it would be more of a reflex kind of thing than a reaction to some sort of "deductive reasoning" process.

Randy

Yes.

Randy

That is one brave young man!

Semper Fi, David

Bravo! Salute!

He'll probably go a very long time without having to pay for his own beer...

Grenades have a 5 second fuze unless that's been changed since i got out (which i seriously doubt). Perhaps WP nades have a 7 second fuze. I honestly cannot recall.

Commenting on the marine's actions, i would definitely not second guess a guy that flung his living flesh over an explosive device to save his friends. I am under the operating theory that if there was any other option, he would've exercised it.

One of our own guys did this recently in Iraq and won the CMoH, but he didn't live. :(

"The next step below them would be US Army Special forces."

Uh oh. I see the natural enemies of the USMC have surfaced...

You're not going to compare the training of the average Marine to that of a US Army Special forces trooper are you?

That would be like comparing a leg infantry Army national guardsman to a Recon Marine.

Nope - not me.

But for some decades now, short Col.s in USMC have been trying to figure out how to head off the enemy menace.

After all, if you can put SF on a ship and land them by helo.... "Why do you need the Marines"/ title of an article, not my own sentence.



I will offer this: a MEF is a complete "little" package. Once US A is involved, things tend to snowball. There are political implications to the package concept also.

The other reason is historical. We've had Marines since before we actually existed as a nation. It would be really hard to end that.

But the problem still exists, and is still studied at the Naval War College.

Someone has to protect Navy guys in overseas bars. :D

Stories like that boggle the mind. I helped pull some people out of a burning house once, but it really did not seem dangerous at the time. (I was drunk at a party when a neighboring house went up in flames w/ kids sleeping inside). Sometimes when someone really needs you, you do not have time to analyze, just act. But jumping on a grenade or some of the other things that guys do on the battlefield are really almost incredible. I cried when I read about the U.S. serviceman that died doing the same thing and recently won the CMOH. It just sucks when someone that good dies before they can reproduce, and so many scumbags get to live and multiply.

If there is any justice in this world, hopefully a lifetime.

Great story, but for some reason Superman still has me laughing with every post of his.

I guess you can be in awe and laugh at the same time.

Kohima Epitaph

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1216905453.gif

Inspired by the Battle of Kohima, fought by the British Troops in 1944. WWII.

I have seen the Kohima Epitaph often in the UK. British soldiers carry on the tradition.

John_AZ
USMC

This is really funny.

Seals = Delta Force = Rangers

All elite - all unique - Royal Marines are up there in their training. Great story.