Aussie E
04-08-2004, 12:47 AM
From Australian & NZ Defender magazine.
1 SQUADRON SPECIAL AIR SERVICE REGT AWARDED THE FIRST UNIT CITATION FOR GALLANTRY
Story by John Hunter Farrell
1 SQUADRON Special Air Service Regt was awarded the Australian Defence Forces' highest unit honour for it's combat operations during the war in Iraq.
The Unit Citation for Gallantry was awarded for the first time since the inception of the award in 1991 to 1 Squadron Special Air Service in late November for "extraordinary" service during the Coalition invasion of Iraq.
The award capped off a hard two years for 1 Squadron SASR, which with the fortunes of war, was the lead Australian ground combat unit in both Op Slipper deployment in Afghanistan in Nov 2001 and the Op Falconer deployment to Iraq in February 2003.
The article goes on to mention that the Aussie's were among the first ground troops into Iraq on the first night of the war and were in heavy combat within a hour of crossing the border. It then goes on to say they were invovled in 13 major contacts in the first five days in the western Iraqi deserts. 16 more contacts were fought by mostly vehicle mounted patrols during the final three weeks of mobile operations, including the operation to secure Al Asad Air Base.
Members of the SFTG, predominantly from 1 Sqaudron, were also awarded two Distinguished Service Crosses, three Dsitinguished Service Medals and a cluster of Commendations for Distinguished Service for courage under fire and outstanding leadership in wartime.
Not to bad for a unit of 75 Aussies. The magazine has some great photos and articles on other Australilan units in theatre. I don't have the technology or know-how to post them.
1 SQUADRON SPECIAL AIR SERVICE REGT AWARDED THE FIRST UNIT CITATION FOR GALLANTRY
Story by John Hunter Farrell
1 SQUADRON Special Air Service Regt was awarded the Australian Defence Forces' highest unit honour for it's combat operations during the war in Iraq.
The Unit Citation for Gallantry was awarded for the first time since the inception of the award in 1991 to 1 Squadron Special Air Service in late November for "extraordinary" service during the Coalition invasion of Iraq.
The award capped off a hard two years for 1 Squadron SASR, which with the fortunes of war, was the lead Australian ground combat unit in both Op Slipper deployment in Afghanistan in Nov 2001 and the Op Falconer deployment to Iraq in February 2003.
The article goes on to mention that the Aussie's were among the first ground troops into Iraq on the first night of the war and were in heavy combat within a hour of crossing the border. It then goes on to say they were invovled in 13 major contacts in the first five days in the western Iraqi deserts. 16 more contacts were fought by mostly vehicle mounted patrols during the final three weeks of mobile operations, including the operation to secure Al Asad Air Base.
Members of the SFTG, predominantly from 1 Sqaudron, were also awarded two Distinguished Service Crosses, three Dsitinguished Service Medals and a cluster of Commendations for Distinguished Service for courage under fire and outstanding leadership in wartime.
Not to bad for a unit of 75 Aussies. The magazine has some great photos and articles on other Australilan units in theatre. I don't have the technology or know-how to post them.