Katanya+Biography-+Trooper+Donaldson

HOME PAGE!!!! // Your Assessment // Biography- trooper Donaldson

On the 18th of June 2002, Trooper Donaldson enlisted in the Australian army. After completing training he was posted to the 1st battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment. After 2 years in the 1st battalion, Trooper Donaldson started the special air service selection course. Having completed trooper Donaldson was posted to the special air regiment in May, 2004.

On the 2nd September, during the conduct of fighting patrol, trooper Donaldson was traveling in a combined Australian, U.S and Afghan vehicle that were engaged in a numerically superior, entrenched and coordinated enemy ambush. Meaning the enemy had more people and knew the best places to attack. They were traveling down a dried up river bed so they had no where to hide.

They enemy sustained a high level of machine gun fire coupled with the effective use of rocket propelled grenades. May of the passengers suffered wounds. It was over 2 hours before they were able to make a clean brake. In the early stages of ambush, trooper Donaldson reacted spontaneously to the enemy fire.

He moved rapidly between alternate positions of cover engaging the enemy with 66 mm and 84 mm anti-armour weapons. He was also shooting at him with his M4 rifle. During the early stages of the ambush, he deliberately exposed himself to enemy fire to draw attention away from the wounded. This gave them enough time to move to safety. The patrol was forced to undergo numerous vehicle manoeuvres, under intense enemy fire, so that they could get out of shooting range. That was over a distance of approximately 4 kilometres! The dead consumed all the available space within the vehicles. Those who had not been wounded (Trooper Donaldson) were left with no option but to run beside the vehicles.

During the vehicle manoeuvres, a severely wounded coalition force interpreter was accidentaly left behind. Trooper Donaldson, having seen the interpreter, moved alone on foot, with no regard for his safety. He moved across approximately across 80 metres of exposed ground to recover the wounded interpreter. Once his movement was indentified by the enemy, it drew intence and acurate machine gun fire. Upon reaching the wounded interpreter, trooper Donaldson picked him up and carried him back to the safety of the vehicles. He then provided immediate first aid before returning to the fight.

For his bravery Trooper Mark Gregor Donaldson was awarded the Victoria Cross on the 16th of January 2009. The last time someone was awarded the vic cross was about 40 years ago.

I think trooper Donaldson has shown courage by running back to someone he might not even know very well, picking them up and caring them back to safety. He was also very brave because ( if you have already watched the video) his dad died of a heart attack when he was 16 and his mum died 4 years later. media type="youtube" key="7AeOFjj8FEk" height="355" width="580"
 * Bibiliography**
 * - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Donaldson**
 * - http://www.defence.gov.au/special_events/TPR_markDonaldson.htm**
 * - Youtube**
 * - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Cross_for_Australia**