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'''Mark Gregor Strang Donaldson''' [[Victoria Cross for Australia|VC]] (born 2 April 1979) |
'''Mark Gregor Strang Donaldson''' [[Victoria Cross for Australia|VC]] (born 2 April 1979) received the [[Victoria Cross for Australia]], awarded for gallantry, the highest award in the [[Australian honours system]], in January 2009. [[Trooper (rank)|Trooper]] Donaldson was a member of the [[Australian Special Air Service]] regiment when he exposed himself to enemy fire to protect injured troops and then rescued an interpreter under heavy enemy fire in [[Oruzgan province]] during [[Operation Slipper]], the Australian contribution to the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|War in Afghanistan]]. He was awarded the medal by [[Governor-General of Australia]], [[Quentin Bryce]], in a ceremony in [[Canberra]] on 16 January 2009.<ref name=TheAustralian20090116>{{cite news |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24920258-31477,00.html |title=Australian SAS soldier Mark Donaldson awarded Victoria Cross |publisher=[[The Australian]] |date=16 January 2009 |accessdate=2009-01-16}}</ref> |
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==Life== |
==Life== |
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Revision as of 00:55, 25 January 2009
Mark Gregor Strang Donaldson | |
|---|---|
| File:Trooper Mark Donaldson 2009.jpg Trooper Mark Donaldson | |
| Allegiance |  Australia |
| Service | Australian Army |
| Years of service | 2002 – Present |
| Rank | Trooper |
| Unit | 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment Australian Special Air Service Regiment |
| Battles / wars | East Timor |
| Awards | Victoria Cross for Australia |
Mark Gregor Strang Donaldson VC (born 2 April 1979) received the Victoria Cross for Australia, awarded for gallantry, the highest award in the Australian honours system, in January 2009. Trooper Donaldson was a member of the Australian Special Air Service regiment when he exposed himself to enemy fire to protect injured troops and then rescued an interpreter under heavy enemy fire in Oruzgan province during Operation Slipper, the Australian contribution to the War in Afghanistan. He was awarded the medal by Governor-General of Australia, Quentin Bryce, in a ceremony in Canberra on 16 January 2009.[1]
Life
Early life
Donaldson was born on 2 April 1979 at Waratah, New South Wales. The younger son of Greg and Bernadette Donaldson he grew up in the small northern New South Wales township of Dorrigo, attending Dorrigo High School until 1996.[2] When Donaldson was 19, his mother disappeared and is presumed murdered; an investigation into the disappearance is ongoing. His father had died three years earlier from a heart attack.[3]
Military career
Donaldson enlisted in the Australian Army on 18 June 2002. He trained at Army Recruit Training Centre, Kapooka, NSW, winning prizes as the best shot and best at physical training in his platoon. Detailed to the Royal Australian Infantry Corps he then underwent further training at Singleton, NSW, where he again won prizes for shooting and physical training, and also as most outstanding soldier in his platoon. He was then posted to 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, based at Townsville, Queensland.[4]
From February to April 2004 Donaldson completed the SAS selection course, and was posted to I Troop, 3 Special Air Service Squadron in May 2004. He has since seen service in East Timor, Iraq (Operation Falconer) and Afghanistan (Operation Slipper). During his deployment to Afghanistan he was slightly wounded on 12 August 2008.[4]
Act of gallantry
The actions for which Donaldson's VC were awarded took place on 2 September 2008. Patrolling with Afghan and US forces, they were ambushed by a well-prepared and larger Taliban force. The ambush began with sustained machine gun and rocket-propelled grenade fire, causing several casualties. Donaldson deliberately exposed himself to fire from the Taliban fighters in order to draw their attention away from the casualties, allowing them to be moved to cover. When the patrol attempted to withdraw, the number of casualties was such that the unwounded personnel (including Donaldson) had to make their way on foot, beside their vehicles, as the casualties filled the vehicles. As they set off, it was realised that an Afghan interpreter attached to the patrol was wounded, and had not been loaded into the vehicles. Donaldson immediately crossed the 80 metres or so of open ground between the convoy and the interpreter, under heavy fire, and then carried him back to the vehicles where Donaldson administered first aid. The patrol eventually broke free of the ambush after two hours.[4]
When asked about the incident, Donaldson commented: "I'm a soldier, I'm trained to fight ... it's instinct and it's natural. I just saw him there, I went over and got him, that was it."[2]
The events were first reported by the Australian press on 12 December 2008 following a briefing by Major General Tim McOwan on 11 December.[5] At this stage Donaldson was identified only as "Trooper F".[1] Donaldson then became the first recipient of the Victoria Cross for Australia on 16 January 2009, with no previous announcement, he was presented with the medal by the Governor-General at a ceremony in Government House, Canberra.[1][4] Seven days later, Donaldson loaned his VC and other medals to the Australian War Memorial in an official ceremony, where it is anticipated they will be placed on public display by the end of February.[6]
Personal life
Donaldson is married to Emma and has a daughter Kaylee.[4] Emma describes him as being "married to the army".[7] Donaldson says of himself: "I don't see myself as a hero, honestly. I still see myself as a soldier first and foremost."[7]
Honours and awards
| Ribbon | Description | Notes |
_ribbon.png){kind=small} |
Victoria Cross for Australia (VC) | |
 |
Australian Active Service Medal | with ICAT clasp |
_ribbon.png){kind=small} |
Afghanistan Medal | |
_ribbon.png){kind=small} |
Australian Defence Medal | |
| Ribbon of the NATO Medal for ISAF | NATO Medal for the Non-Article 5 ISAF Operation in Afghanistan | |
_star.png){kind=small} |
Unit Citation for Gallantry | with Federation Star for service as a member of 1SAS during the period of Operation Falconer |
_no_star.jpg){kind=small} |
Meritorious Unit Citation | without Star, as a current member of SASR. Not worn when posted out of unit. |
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Australian SAS soldier Mark Donaldson awarded Victoria Cross". The Australian. 16 January 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-16.
- ^ a b "VC for former Dorrigo pupil". The Coffs Coast Advocate. APN News & Media Ltd. 17 January 2009. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Lawrence, Kara (19 January 2009). "VC hero at heart of murder mystery". Herald Sun. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
- ^ a b c d e "Trooper Mark Gregor Strang Donaldson, VC". Department of Defence. 16 January 2009. Retrieved 16 January 2009. Includes official citation for the medal.
- ^ Mark Dodd (12 December 2008). "Aussie special forces crush Taliban leaders in Afghanistan". The Australian.
- ^ Nick Fletcher. "Trooper Mark Donaldson loans his Victoria Cross to the Australian War Memorial". Blog Archive. Australian War Memorial.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|accessdaymonth=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ a b "I'm no hero says Aussie soldier with VC". The Age. 16 January 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-16.
External links
- Official portraits (copyright)
- Images from the Award Ceremony.
- Images of Special Operations Task Group activity in Oruzgan Province, Afghanistan.
- Audio downloads of interviews with Donaldson.