6 Brave men

[josephwells]

I heard this morning that the six RMP's who died in Iraq are being snubbed by the MOD for medals.

I am not a soldier and I know that it is not all about glory and medals but is it not a bit of a sad scam when Beckham gets an MBE for kicking a football and wearing fancy clothing and 6 men who died in frightening and lonely circumstances trying to help people and serve our country are ignored. In the same report there were insinuations that the nearby PARA patrol knew they were there and didnt go back for them. This I refuse to believe.

[RobT]

In the same report there were insinuations that the nearby PARA patrol knew they were there and didnt go back for them. This I refuse to believe.

I belive that the Patrol coulden't get to them because of the mob of Iraqis.

May the six RMP's Rest in Peace

[Ploggers]

In the same report there were insinuations that the nearby PARA patrol knew they were there and didnt go back for them. This I refuse to believe.

Here, Here!

I cannot accept that the Para patrol simply sat there and said "sod 'em" there must have been a genine reason that they couldn't get there. It's is inconceivable that any British unit would choose not come to the aid of another.

[josephwells]

As far as I am aware the parachute regiment are trained to be aggressive and pretty fearless, I doubt any commander would put his men at risk for no reason but I believe without any doubt at all that if the para's had been aware of the RMP's plight they would have gone to their aid without question, I fact when the ex-para sergeant who was in charge of the RMP unit was given the opportunity to escape he turned it down according to one of the Iraqi policemen at the scene, his words were "They are coming, they will be here soon", by this i assume he meant the nearby 1 PARA soldiers, by fates cruel twist those RMP's did not get help due to non comms or something else but I hope and pray that the men who died believed that the para's where coming for them, and I hope this made their last moments easier to bear.

As a loafing freelance journo and entrepeneur I have not got what it takes to join the army, I would not have the mettle to fight and die, I choose to give my best support to those who look after us while we live our lives, it may seem a bit over the top but I am greatly annoyed by the tabloids nudging of the notion that these men were left behind by their colleagues in arms.

Rest easy 6 men braver than me.

[chunky from york]

Sounds more like a rumour the MOD would disseminate, covering its *rse about the lack of decent kit.

[dannyd]

I spoke to a mate who's in 1 Para about this incident after he got back from Op Telic (Iraq).

Although he didn't say anything about a Para patrol who didn't come to the RMPs aid, he did say that the RMPs were far too lightly armed.

He said when they (the Paras) went on patrol they would have, per section, a gimpy or minimi, 2 LSWs & the rest armed with personal weapons (L85A2 - SA80). They would also have 2 LAWs as well as grenades etc. Each man would also be carrying enough ammo to start a third world war.

Whereas the RMPs only had personal weapons and a few mags each. The reasons for this are unclear. He seemed to think it was because they chose to go in without sufficient arms. Personally I think they were armed like that because they believed they had won the support of the local people & didn't wish to harm relations by showing too much force.

Whatever the reason

is it not a bit of a sad scam when Beckham gets an MBE for kicking a football and wearing fancy clothing and 6 men who died in frightening and lonely circumstances trying to help people and serve our country are ignored. In the same report there were insinuations that the nearby PARA patrol knew they were there and didnt go back for them. This I refuse to believe

I couldn't agree more.

RIP

[Aussie]

Who exactly accused the para's of abandoning the MP's? Could anyone post a link?

[josephwells]

It was more a case of insinuations that the paras had not gone to the aid of the 6 RMP's who died, mainly by the tabloids probably using crap low level MOD sources.

The wording of some articles suggests that 1 PARA knew the 6 were in strife and did not go to them.

Paratroopers are highly motivated and aggressive men if they had been able and aware of the situation they would have been there to create merry hell and get the RMP's out. FACT.