Diggers’ Afghan gallantry rewarded

HEROES of the war in Afghanistan are being recognised in the Military Division of this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

AS Australia withdraws from 12 years of intense combat operations in Afghanistan, its heroes are being recognised in the Military Division of this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Three officers of the Order of Australia, 12 members and 14 medal holders are among the 74 individuals recognised for “outstanding achievements or service within the defence forces”.

But we cannot know the identity of the three men awarded the highest gallantry honours, even though their valour is being celebrated publicly.

The Star of Gallantry, Australia’s second-highest military honour after the Victoria Cross, has been awarded to a soldier known simply as “Private B”.

He has been recognised for his “conspicuous gallantry in action in circumstances of great peril while on operations” during Operation Slipper, Australia’s contribution to the Afghanistan war effort during operations in Oruzgan.

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Two more men, Private M and Corporal W, were awarded a Commendation for Bravery for their service in Afghanistan.

A member of the Special Opera­tions Task Group, Private M displayed bravery and composure under fire; while wounded, he stayed by the side of his injured teammate, treating him with ex­emplary composure and mateship.

Corporal W displayed similar gallantry in the face of a confusing and dangerous situation. He saved the life of a seriously wounded comrade and helped the safe evacuation of other wounded Australians and their Afghan partners.

A Distinguished Service Cross and Bar for outstanding command or leadership in warlike operations has been received by Major General Michael Peter Crane. He was Commander of Joint Task Force 633 during the handover of lead security operations to the Afghan National Security Forces.

Three names on the military honours list stand out for another reason. Colonel Dean Gregory Franklin, from the US, was honoured with a DSC for “distinguished leadership in warlike operations” in Assistance Force Joint Command. American Army Colonel Douglas Cardinale was awarded a Distinguished Service Medal for being “an outstanding coalition partner”.

And Lieutenant Colonel Phillip Frederick Hills, also from the US, received a Conspicuous Service Cross for innovative leadership in supporting soldiers and guiding their career paths “to enhance capability to the Australian Army’’.

Ten women are among the military honour recipients. Naval Captain Katherine Anne Richards got her CSC for a tireless work ethic and unwavering devotion as she commanded HMAS Cerberus. She was later responsible for the “delivery of effective and efficient recruitment and initial training of almost 3000 sailors’’.

And Royal Australian Air Force Group Captain Deanne Gibbon showed enormous devo­tion to duty overseeing the harrowing Review into the Treatment of Women in the defence forces.