by Geoffrey Ingersoll
Ambushed, outnumbered, and under fire, the first thing British soldier Cpl. Sean Jones did was fire a rocket at the enemy.
Then he gave the order: "Fix bayonets."
The British Ministry of Defence just released an award citation which describes how Jones led a bayonet charge across 80 meters of open ground in the face of withering enemy fire.
"I asked [the men] if they were happy. They were all quite young lads and the adrenalin was racing. I shouted 'follow me!' and we went for it," said Jones.
Jones said the ambush was "well-planned," and came from three separate points of contact. He fired a rocket at one, and then they charged the two others.
The Taliban did not expect the "aggression and audacity" of the move, and they scattered, fleeing the fight.
From the citation:
Fighting a determined enemy force, on ground of their own choosing, he epitomized the best qualities of the British infantry gritty determination, controlled aggression, tactical cunning and complete disregard for his own safety.
The award is the third highest award for valor.
Ambushed, outnumbered, and under fire, the first thing British soldier Cpl. Sean Jones did was fire a rocket at the enemy.
Then he gave the order: "Fix bayonets."
The British Ministry of Defence just released an award citation which describes how Jones led a bayonet charge across 80 meters of open ground in the face of withering enemy fire.
"I asked [the men] if they were happy. They were all quite young lads and the adrenalin was racing. I shouted 'follow me!' and we went for it," said Jones.
Jones said the ambush was "well-planned," and came from three separate points of contact. He fired a rocket at one, and then they charged the two others.
The Taliban did not expect the "aggression and audacity" of the move, and they scattered, fleeing the fight.
From the citation:
Fighting a determined enemy force, on ground of their own choosing, he epitomized the best qualities of the British infantry gritty determination, controlled aggression, tactical cunning and complete disregard for his own safety.
The award is the third highest award for valor.
