Tuesday, March 17, 2009

"...using only his bayonet..."

Balls. Big, honkin' balls:

Petty Officer 2nd Class James Anthony Leith, S.C., M.S.M., C.D.,
Shearwater, Nova Scotia
Star of Courage


On September 28, 2006, Petty Officer 2nd Class James Leith risked his life to prevent the loss of civilian and military lives by dismantling an improvised explosive device (IED) on a road in the Pashmul area of Afghanistan. After his vehicle had been struck, Petty Officer 2nd Class Leith discovered an unstable IED. As his equipment had been destroyed in the original blast, he dismantled the IED using only his bayonet. His courageous actions enabled the reopening of a vital route for coalition forces.


BZ PO2 Leith! With a previous decoration that cites his diving prowess, I'd guess he was on the C-IED team: a number of them are clearance divers. You can't ask for more pressure in a job than this - the man's blood must double as a refrigeration system.

And BZ to the two SAR Techs who will also be receiving the Star of Courage for their arctic rescue of a hunter trapped on an ice floe: Sergeant David John Cooper, S.C., C.D., and Sergeant Dwayne B. Guay, S.C., C.D.

2 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

and brass, lots and lots of brass. Really big, really brassy ones.

Considering a bayonet is about as far from a "precision" instrument as you can get in a bladed tool, it is just amazing he kept at the task instead of opting out and waiting for reinforcements.

2:57 p.m., March 17, 2009  
Blogger Dave in Pa. said...

A set of brass ones, indeed! Let's hope this latest display of commitment and valor by PO Leith is also rewarded with another suitable decoration.

2:22 p.m., March 18, 2009  

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