First Victoria Cross awarded since the Falklands War.
Those with long memories may recall that when this was first mooted, I was unsure but the full details fully warrant the award.
Well done!
Well done indeed. I imagine Pvt Beharry will be awfully reluctant to go down any roadways that have any cover inside the range of an RPG in the future, though.
I saw him on the news, he seems like a really sweet guy. He was shuffling and looking more and more embarassed during the ceremony. He doesn’t even think he did anything unusual, he said he was just acting on autopilot.
Really, really brave man.
He was in the lead Warrior armoured vehicle of a convoy that was sent to relieve troops. They were ambushed, and after his commander was knocked unconscious he took over command of the Warrior and lead the convoy to safety.
The next month he was in a Warrior that was again ambushed. A rocket propelled grenade blew the hatch, 6 inches above his head, off. Although seriously injured he reversed the warrior out of the ambush and drove his crew to safety, all the while completely exposed to enemy fire because of the missing hatch.
Not in favour of the war, but bravery should be recognised, and he was certainly brave enough for a VC.
…for being detained, questioned, and “humiliated” (his words) as part of Trump’s immigration travel ban.
Ah yes, President Bannon is keeping the United States safe from brown-skinned VC recipients.
I feel so much safer knowing he’s in charge.
This is not accurate, though. Nothing in Trump’s order applies to him.
Why was he detained, then?
UK military service. That’s a Visa Waiver country, right? Traveled to Iraq. That’s a “country or area of concern”.
Born in Grenada. It’s citizens must have a US visa. No VWP entry. His Wikipedia bio says he moved to the the UK in 1999 but it is not clear if he has UK citizenship. As a Commenwealth citizen born before 1983 he has the right of abode in the UK even if not a citizen, assuming he meets certain requirements. Let’s presume he did gain a UK passport and was travelling on VWP.
H.R.158 - Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015 got a 407-19 vote, overwhelming. And it has an exemption for those whose presence in a country of particular concern was due to military service on behalf of a VWP country. The bill was signed into law by President Obama.
Seems the US CBP was vetting his entry under a law passed with wide bipartisan support and signed by Obama. A law in place long before Trump issued his EO.
Which happens to be exactly the same situation as a former Norwegian Prime Minister: Visa Waiver country, had traveled to Iran, got set aside and interrogated upon entry.
They eventually got released, but it’s the kind of thing that shouldn’t even happen. Checking that they’re allowed in should take seconds, minutes at most, not hours.
A better link, for those who appreciate a less biased source. The reporting is still very poor - Dopers, as usual, come up with the goods.
So, fake news again. And the best fake news is based on the truth.
I hope fellow VC-holder Willie Apiataisn’t planning a US vacation. Things could get ugly if they tried to detain him.
Balls that clang loudly, that one.