Army nurse honoured for bravery in Iraq
7 Apr 09
An Army medic has been honoured for his bravery in treating troops on the front line in Iraq. Report by Leigh Morrison.
Captain Gary King from the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps
[Picture: via MOD]
Captain Gary King from the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps received the Associate Royal Red Cross from Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace.
The medal recognises his nursing work during a five-month deployment to Iraq in 2007, which saw him treating and rescuing troops in the middle of a battle ground.
Capt King's nursing position involved giving medical attention to some run-of-the-mill ailments such as insect bites as well as treatment for more serious injuries such as shrapnel wounds and major head injuries.
Although he was in some cases saving people's lives, Capt King said that it was all in a day's work:
"I was doing what I had been trained to do. I was in Iraq on TELIC 10 and was based at what is effectively the police HQ at the camp with about 68 guys and I was the only nurse.
"My predecessor told me when I took over the post that I had better have lots to read as nothing ever happened there, but then five days later we were attacked.
"While I was in Iraq I had to transport wounded soldiers onto helicopters and on one occasion we had to run through a mortar attack with shells landing on either side of us. But that's what I was there for, so I was just doing what I was trained to do."
Captain Gary King with his award, the Associate Royal Red Cross, which he received from Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace
[Picture: via MOD]
Capt King travelled from Bath to London to receive his medal from Prince Charles which proved to be a memorable experience. Capt King said:
"There were 96 other people there receiving their MBEs and I was the last person to go up. According to my wife who was watching, Prince Charles spent more time with me than anyone else, but I'm not sure if that's actually true!
"He knew exactly what my citation said and he knew it word for word - it was amazing. I was amazed that he knew so much about me and that made it so much more special. He really took the time to give us attention.
"My wife organised for loads of members of my family to come to London on the day that I received my medal and that was a huge surprise; especially as she was in Afghanistan on operations while she set it all up!"
Capt King comes from a military family with many of his relations having been in the forces. He has also guaranteed more Service personnel for the forces as his children all have aspirations to join up:
"It started with my granddad and all my uncles were in the military as well," he said. "My dad and my uncles did national service and all ended up in the TA [Territorial Army].
"I was at school during the Falklands and that influenced my future. I love being in the military and that has obviously gone down to my children."
Capt King returned to the UK from Iraq in March 2009 where he had volunteered for his third tour of duty in three years.