Ramsgate rifleman awarded George Medal for bravery in Afghanistan
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by Martin Jefferies
A Kent soldier who displayed "sheer personal courage and
startling dedication to his comrades" has been awarded the George
Medal for his outstanding bravery.
Rifleman Paul Jacobs, of 2nd Battalion The Rifles, was leading
his patrol through a heavily booby-trapped road in Afghanistan's
Helmand Province when another soldier stood on an improvised
explosive device (IED).
The huge blast killed his colleague and blinded Rifleman Jacobs,
from Ramsgate, who also suffered multiple wounds.
Alone save for a single cover man and despite horrific injuries,
the 21-year-old immediately attended to the fallen soldier.
In doing so, he confirmed that a second device was lying on the
ground and moved back towards his cover man, when another IED
exploded, killing his comrade.
Remarkably, he had the presence of mind to drag himself back
onto the safe route he had just cleared to make his rescue much
safer for medics.
Rifleman Jacobs, who modestly insisted he was "just doing his
job", will be presented with his medal - the second highest honour
in the British armed forces - by a member of the Royal
Family later this year.
He was awarded a framed citation at a ceremony in London on
Friday, March 19, which read: "His sheer personal courage and
startling determination, selflessness, devotion to duty and
dedication to his comrades was faultless."
Rifleman Jacobs, who was initially treated at Selly Oak
Hospital, Birmingham, is now undergoing rehabilitation at St
Dunstan's Centre, West Sussex, which provides support for visually
impaired ex-servicemen.
He was among more than 140 members of the Armed Forces and one
civilian who received honours and awards in the latest Operational
Awards List.
General Sir Peter Wall, Commander-in-Chief of the Land Forces,
who presented Rifleman Jacobs with his citation, said: "We should
all be hugely proud. These men and women of all three Services are
an example to their generation.
"They have all done some remarkable things in the most exacting
circumstances and the nation should be hugely grateful to
them."
Monday, March 22 2010
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