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Soldier awarded V C for saving translator

An Australian soldier has been awarded the Victoria Cross for saving the life of an army translator during a battle in Afghanistan. Trooper Mark Donaldson, 29, is the first Australian in 40 years to receive the medal, which is the highest military honour in the Commonwealth.

Only three other VCs have been awarded worldwide in the past 27 years, and Trooper Donaldson is the first person ever to receive the award in its national form, the Victoria Cross for Australia, which was introduced in 1991.

He won the medal for displaying "conspicuous gallantry" during a prolonged ambush of Australian, American and Afghan troops in Uruzgan province on Sept 2 last year, when he risked enemy fire to return to the battlefield to rescue an Afghan translator.

Showing complete disregard for his own safety and on his own initiative and alone, Trooper Donaldson ran 80 metres across exposed ground to rescue the injured coalition forces translator and carry him to safety, the medal citation said.

Trooper Donaldson, who is married and has one daughter, said the award was a great honour but it would not change him, despite the fact that tradition dictates the most senior member of the armed forces must now salute him.

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