Here are the selfless heroes nominated for The Sun’s Military Awards Millies
THE SUN Military Awards are back, celebrating another year of heroics from the finest Armed Forces in the world.
PRIVATE Doherty was six when his brother was killed in a Taliban ambush while with the Parachute Regiment in Afghanistan.Fin Doherty, the brother of slain a Afghanistan war hero, broke down in tears after formally earning his Paratrooper beretCredit: Glen MinikinHe set his heart on joining the Parachute Regiment just like brother Jeff, who was known to family and friends as JJ.
“As a result, the Parachute Regiment is all I have ever known. I grew up with it. Even after he died, his friends were still there.” They spent three days last August undertaking the feat to commemorate the regiment’s role in D-Day and honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice.Captains Robson and Pexton raised £7,500 for Support Our Paras with a 221-mile swim, march and cycle
Jamie, 26, from Newcastle, says: “We both wanted to do something that honoured the regimental history. Matt, 27, from the Weald of Kent, adds: “We both thought the tab would be the easiest part, but we were wrong. The pair were training for another deployment to Afghanistan when they learned of their Sun Millies nomination.
“But I hadn’t been able to do it on my own. I couldn’t drive or take care of myself. About nine months post- diagnosis, my wife booked a holiday to the Brecon Beacons. I went out on a short hike with Amy’s dad, Andrew, and the weather suddenly deteriorated. A couple of weeks later, Joe was invited to be part of a group of injured Marines going climbing in the Alps.Next, he joined a team of wounded Marines in successfully scaling 20,310ft Mount Denali, formerly Mount McKinley, in Alaska.
“Masses of friends and colleagues were killed over a six or seven-year period and it is that accumulated stress which did the damage for me.” A French military helicopter was down and on fire in a remote corner of Mali that was infested with IS terrorists last April.Flight Lieutenant Aaron Kerry rescued 50 French Paras after their helicopter went down in a remote corner of Mali infested with IS terroristsOn board his helicopter and the one flying alongside were 50 French Paras.
Aaron, 33, says: “After we had passed, one of them radioed and said the other had been forced to make an emergency landing in the desert with an engine fire. “First they massacre the people inside the camps, then burn everything and take their victims’ weapons to use in more attacks and assaults.” The patient’s chances of survival were slim, and Jonathon faced a five-day, 3,500-mile journey to Chile with the ill man that would test his medical skills.
After a day-long journey in pitching seas, Jonathon, along with colleague Major Amber Chadwick and their patient, reached a neighbouring station off the coast of Antarctica where they waited for a plane to take them to Chile. After nine hours of flight, plus refueling, Jonathon and his still-conscious patient arrived in Santiago, Chile, and were met by an ambulance. Jonathon says: “He was so lucky to survive.
The drama unfolded on a rainy April night last year on the M6 as more than 30 members of the band returned from London after training. THREE Parachute Regiment soldiers were driving along the M25 to their HQ in Colchester, Essex, last March when an unmarked car raced past them flashing blue lights.Three Parachute Regiment soldiers chased an unmarked car with blue flashing lights after suspicions were aroused
“I followed behind Richard while Zac went to the left-hand side of the car. I opened the door and took hold of the steering wheel, asking for ID. Zac went around the other side, swung the door open and took the handgun.” Craig adds: “We later found out he had minutes to live if that field dressing hadn’t gone as quickly as it did.” Once he had stabilised the patient, an ambulance arrived and the crew took over. The soldier is now recovering well.
Flight Lieutenant Matthew Smyth, 32, from Stafford, says: “The scale of the flooding was immense. We had an inkling something was going on — there was a national crisis brewing.” On being nominated for a Millie, he adds: “You don’t do the job to get a pat on the back, but its brilliant. We’re all awestruck.” Crewman Sergeant Gavin Anderson, a 31-year-old married dad-of- two, from Pocklington, East Yorks, directed the pilots so the helicopter could drop the rubble in the right spot.
The “bomber” boats are busy all year around delivering the nation’s “ultimate insurance policy” against attack. He says: “My job is to avoid every single type of vessel – you name it, if it goes in the ocean I’m to avoid it – by as much margin as possible.“If you were walking fast, you would be going faster than me, and I’m trying to run away from things that are doing hundreds of miles an hour.
So civic leaders approached 2nd Battalion, the Yorkshire Regiment, and they reacted without hesitation. Craig became the first soldier wounded in Afghanistan to represent his country, as a member of the England Deaf Rugby team. Four years ago she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and feared her career in the service would be over.Credit: Getty Images - Getty
Georgie, who lives in South Wales, says: “I manage my illness right now by constantly looking forward to the next competition – train towards it, recover, have a little rest and then start again.” On top of her job at Bristol’s Armed Forces Careers Office, and her sporting achievements, Georgie is now the RAF advocate for chronic illness and disability as well as a champion for sports with the MS Society of Wales.
“I did the button presses and when I felt the clunk of the weapon coming off my aircraft, I was ecstatic. It was a direct hit.” Roger says: “I remember watching William talking about mental health and thinking I have been trying to say that for years. I love the way he has spoken openly.”All Call Signs support network
Stephen, who served for five years, and left the Army as a private, says: “Me and Dan have both had our own experiences of very poor mental health. Overwhelmed by the scale of the need, he decided to do what he knew best. He says: “I took them racing.” The charity not only gives veterans opportunities in motorsport, but has helped scores find work in the automotive industry.
After signing up last February, Halfords has committed to offering veterans and reservists guaranteed interviews for all Halfords roles.The company now hosts a “Wear Your Uniform to Work” day to demonstrate the work of reservists at its nationwide range of shops and garages. Our soldiers have constructed roads, bases, hospitals and helped civilians rebuild a primary school in Malakal, where children are now able to learn in safety.
Stricken 214metre-long merchant monster the MV Grande America was engulfed in an inferno and sinking when the Royal Navy frigate found her in the Bay of Biscay last March.Credit: SWNS:South West News Service But as HMS Argyll moved away, the Mayday sounded out. The entire crew of 27 piled into a lifeboat and launched. But to their horror, the crew of HMS Argyll, just 600 yards away, watched the lifeboat crash into the water and pound into the side of the boat, causing it to lose power.
“Every element of my ship’s company were involved, from the air crew to intelligence teams to the chefs, who not only feed the crew but form some of the boarding teams. AFTER a British-flagged ship was seized by Iranian forces in the Gulf, Lt Cdr MacSephney was sent to Bahrain where the UK runs an intelligence cell monitoring shipping in the hostile Strait of Hormuz.
The 44-year-old says: “It was such a volatile situation. One minute you’d be mapping a British ship then it would change hands and be flying under a different flag. My job was to analyse and interpret what was going on and work out which ships needed group transit. We had to work fast but with accuracy, but we got a system in place which ensured safe passage for British interests.”
But it his charity work with the homeless that has earned a Millies nomination for the veteran of Ulster, Bosnia and both Gulf Wars.
He also organised and led a number of charity events including sponsored sleep-outs. And he welcomed homeless people at the reserve centre in Nottingham, where they are offered showers, clean clothes, haircuts and a hot meal. Acting as a military liaison officer between the British Armed Forces and the humanitarian charity, she helped coordinate the UK’s efforts with the UN and aid organisations. Imogen, from Plymouth, Devon, says: “It was like slotting together pieces of a huge puzzle to make sure everything ran in a streamlined way, ensuring the people in remote areas got the help they needed”.
She says: “While science and the environment are a huge passion for me, serving is something I feel equally strongly about. It set up The Scar Free Foundation Centre for Conflict Wound Research, led by Prof Naiem Moiemen at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. He helped found the Casevac Club and says: “The work that the Scar Free Foundation is doing is unique. They are a group of people who are incredibly passionate about achieving the objectives they set themselves. They are an incredible bunch of people.
Now Cpl Claude Keogh, 40, a married dad of one from Southampton who serves with the Royal Logistics Corps, 17 Port and Maritime Regiment, has come up with the Mexe 360, a novel idea to make the process safer.
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