First female DFC amongst honour awards
6 Jun 08
Amongst Armed Forces Personnel receiving their honours at an Investiture Ceremony at Buckingham Palace this week was the first woman ever to be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Flight Lieutenant Michelle Goodman, Royal Air Force, received The Distinguished Flying Cross
[Picture: Sergeant Mick Howard RLC]
Flight Lieutenant Michelle Goodman, of the Royal Air Force, was Aircraft Captain of an Incident Reaction Team (IRT) Merlin Helicopter, when she was alterted to a serious casualty in central Basra City on 1 June 2007.
She chose to fly into the extremely dangerous area using night goggles and under very heavy fire. She landed next to the casualty and extracted him, despite mortar rounds landing nearby. Without the IRT, the casualty would have died within 15 minutes.
Staff Sergeant James Wadsworth, of The Royal Logistic Corps, received the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for rendering safe, by hand, and recovering, one of the largest bombs ever found. His extraordinary, selfless courage saved a nearby hospital and prevented potentially severe and untold consequences.
Major Michael Aston, of The Royal Anglian Regiment, received the Military Cross for a series of encounters with the Taliban, which included an intense firefight with enemy fighters north of Gareshk on Operation Silicon in April 2007. Engaged by rifle, RPG and mortar fire, the officer led his 200-strong force of soldiers in what was described as "the most intense close-combat fighting the British Army has seen for some years".
Major Michael Aston, The Royal Anglian Regiment, received The Military Cross at an Investiture Ceremony at Buckingham Palace
[Picture: Sergeant Mick Howard RLC]
In a separate incident in early June 2007, Major Aston was commended for braving enemy fire to rescue a wounded top-cover sentry from the turret of his Viking vechicle.
His citation added:
"These are just two of the many examples of his impressive leadership during his command of B Company on operations."
Bombadier Paul Greenwood was awarded the Military Cross after he charged over open ground to collect vital ammunition and prevent his comrades being overrun and got pinned down in an irrigation ditch with his fire support team by Taliban fighters. Disregarding his own safety, he ran a gauntlet of Taliban Rocket Propelled Granades (RPG) and rifle fire to get more vital ammo up to his forward position.
Bombardier Paul Greenwood, Royal Artillery, received The Military Cross at an Investiture Ceremony at Buckingham Palace
[Picture: Sergeant Mick Howard RLC]
Bdr Greenwood's death-defying resupply runs - as well as his earlier exemplary conduct on Operation Leg Tufaan and Operation Chakush in Helmand province - earned him the Military Cross.
His citation read:
"Although exposed under intense fire, Greenwood distinguished himself by conducting innumerable fire missions at close distances to protect friendly forces and destroy the enemy.
"His courage was infectious and leadership inspiring throughout the operation."