Defence force members!

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them."

Words that every New Zealander and Australian knows. There are few that haven't got a relation that either fought or lost their life in one of the wars that our country's have fought in. They deserve to be, and in my humble opinion, must be remembered! For not only their service but also for their sacrifice. None who have not witnessed the horrors of battle can truely relate to what has been experienced by our soldiers.

Which brings me to my next statement. Whilst we should never forget those that have made the ultimate sacrifice for their Country, we still need to ensure that those of our soldiers that make it home are given any and all support that they require. I have read too many times where an ex-soldier has suffered PTSD and been kicked to the curb and deemed no longer needed so no longer to be cared for. I have also lost a few friends, who, having felt there was no one they could turn to in their time of need, have ended up taking their own lives.

One of my friends and collegues, who served as a medic in Afghanistan, still suffers PTSD, and I am thankful that he is still able to utilise the medical services through the government as a ex-soldier. As an ex NZ police officer, through a governmental scheme, should I ever need it, I have free psychiatric services for life. I would love to hear that that is the case for all ex service personnel too.

I guess the point of my rambling is that, whilst we can never forget those that have fallen in War, we should never forget those that still suffer as a result of it.

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Originally Posted by Drift triker

mental heath sux and dva dont give a f#ck about it as i am a exmember suffering from mental heath problems and get f#ck all help from them sorry dva boil my blood so bad

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Mate, you need to get yourself a good advocate. Some are excellent and others are crap....all the best.

Australia's 100th VC presented

Cameron Baird's parents accept the Victoria Cross medal on behalf of the Special Forces commando, the highest award presented for bravery during wartime.

Special forces soldiers such as those from the 2nd Commando Regiment are known to be a tight-knit bunch.

It was a sign of brotherhood and family that Doug Baird, accepting Australia's highest military honour on behalf of his son, paused, pointed and waved at the young men at the back of the room.

There at the back, where the emotion was palpable, sat Corporal Cameron Baird's mates from Bravo Company, 2nd Commando Regiment, many of whom were with him when he was killed while carrying out the acts of extraordinary bravery that earned him the Victoria Cross today.

Corporal Baird became the 100th Australian to receive the Victoria Cross when Governor-General Quentin Bryce presented the decoration to the Baird family at Government House in Canberra.

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In a similar spirit to Mr Baird's gesture towards the commandos, General David Hurley, Chief of the Australian Defence Force, observed the custom that every military member - regardless of rank - should salute a VC winner. He saluted the Baird family - father Doug, mother Kaye, brother Brendan and nephews Max and Riley.

The written citation - with previously unheard detail of the firefight of June 22 last year - painted a picture of a warrior to whom even other brave warriors looked up.

After leading the charge on the insurgent-held compound at Ghawchak village, Oruzgan province, Corporal Baird's weapon - an M4 rifle - jammed at a critical moment. He pulled back to clear it, then went straight back in.

Twice more he stormed the building. On the third attempt - drawing fire away from his comrades as he had done repeatedly through the firefight - he and his team managed to break through and kill the insurgents. But he was killed in the effort.

Speaking after the ceremony - which was attended by Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and Defence Minister David Johnston alongside Defence brass and Corporal Baird's mates - brother Brendan Baird revealed the family had resolved to put the award in the Australian War Memorial so that ''future generations can be educated on the meaning behind the medal''.

They would also put Corporal Baird's Medal for Gallantry in the memorial, he said.

Brendan said his brother would have been ''more than a bit embarrassed and probably a bit shocked by all the attention''.

''Cameron would be the first to tell you, 'This is not just about me. It's about my army family, my brothers in arms, the 2nd Commando Regiment.' While today is about Cameron, it's also about the mateship he shared with these blokes, with whom he trained, lived and fought alongside.''

Doug Baird, his voice breaking, paid tribute to the ''heavy lifting'' of the 2nd Commando Regiment, whose members - along with its predecessor, 4RAR - make up 11 of the 40 Australians killed fighting in the country, more than any other regiment.

''We are so grateful that their parents aren't standing here today - we would wish this on nobody else.''

Doug recalled visiting his son at the regiment's Holsworthy Barracks in the early days and staying in the dormitory with the boys from what was then called 4RAR.

''They were all very fresh, all very young and now we see a lot of those guys at the back of the room today. It started all then ... I was privileged to be part of it.''

Corporal Baird's actions epitomised the courage and quick-thinking needed to be a commando, said Warrant Officer Dave Ashley, the Army's Regimental Sergeant Major.

''He always led from the front. He was just a dynamo in that unit,'' he said. ''Even though his weapon failed, he fixed the weapon ... and got straight back into the battle. And it's that kind of momentum that needs to be continued to win the firefight.''

Warrant Officer Ashley said in all his lengthy experiences of travelling through army barracks talking to soldiers, he couldn't remember a person regarded with such ''professional regard and with such deep affection and by the people and soldiers that count the most, those mates that went into battle with him''.

''I know in both my head and in my heart that Cameron Baird is one of Australia's greatest ever soldiers.''

The young men at the back of the reception room in Government House could not be filmed or photographed - as members of the elite special forces, their identities are protected. But the sounds of quiet emotion could be heard from the back - tight throats and running noses.

''You can be a tough soldier and still be emotional,'' Warrant Officer Ashley said.

LEST WE FORGET

PS, Strike Swiftly

Regards,

RLI

Brought a tear to my eyes reading that Paul the good are always taken too early but he and his mates are the epitome of Aussie spirit.

Lest we forget

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Originally Posted by 93patrol

Brought a tear to my eyes reading that Paul the good are always taken too early but he and his mates are the epitome of Aussie spirit.

Lest we forget

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x 2! Gone too quickly but will live on forever in our memories.

First time in yrs I've been thanked by a member of the public for my service.

I was at the supermarket on my way home with the missus and a bloke (about 55yrs old) came up and shook my Hand and said"not enough people understand, I'd like to say thank you for what you do". Made my year

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Found this on stalk book
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Sent from my iPhone using Motorculture mobile app

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Originally Posted by Warwick89

First time in yrs I've been thanked by a member of the public for my service.

I was at the supermarket on my way home with the missus and a bloke (about 55yrs old) came up and shook my Hand and said"not enough people understand, I'd like to say thank you for what you do". Made my year

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That happened to be a few years back at a shop in Yandina up on the Sunshine Coast. She was a good looking blonde in her 40s. I think she wanted to do more than shake hands though.......where are these bloody women when you're single :)

I have removed all material content because I have left this forum! I have only removed my personal photos, i think this thread is very important and i hope you good folks keep it going.

Kind regards,

RLI