Private Johnson Gideon Beharry: War Hero!
Given the Vietnamization of the war in Iraq, it now seems doubtful that the soldiers fighting there will return home to a hero’s welcome – if they’re lucky enough to return alive. An extraordinary exception, however, is Pvt Johnson Beharry. But then, this is no ordinary soldier:
Last April, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II awarded Beharry Britain’s Victoria Cross (VC). The VC is
…the highest award for valour that can be awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth armed forces of any rank in any service and civilians under military command. And, it is only awarded for bravery in the face of the enemy.
According to his commendation, Beharry earned his VC for leading fellow soldiers to safety under enemy fire on two separate occasions in Basra, Iraq in May 2004. In the first incident he sustained a bullet wound but in the second, just weeks later, he suffered serious head wounds during an assault by rocket propelled grenades that left him in a coma.
The VC has a hallowed pedigree dating back to 1856. It is so revered because, since then, only 1,355 VCs have been awarded. Indeed, Beharry claims that HM The Queen remarked on this fact by telling him that
You’re very special. [I don’t] get to present the Victoria Cross very often.
In fact, Beharry is the first living recipient of the VC since 1965. And, he’s the first Caribbean native to be so honored.
It is ironic, however, that if Beharry were English, Prime Minister Tony Blair would not have dared to organize a ticker-tape parade in his honour – considering how unpopular the Iraq war has become in England. But, as fate would have it, Beharry was born in Grenada where such anti-war sentiments pale in comparison to the pride Grenadians feel for Beharry’s heroic accomplishments.
Therefore, Grenadian Prime Minister Keith Mitchell will preside over activities to welcome Beharry as a national hero when he returns home today.
Well done soldier!
News and Politics
Anonymous says
boy that’s pretty awesome. wonder why we haven’t heard anything about him in the American press: englang gives highest award to a black guy? and pigs do fly…
Mike Gomersall says
Dear Sir, It’s quite obvious you have a limited knowledge of how the Victoria Cross is viewed in Great Britain and how the Government also view it.
The slur of Pte Beharry not being British has no relation to a “Ticker Tape” welcome from the PM. We also don’t do “Ticker Tape” welcomes, we appretiate the Soldier who put his life on the line not the Media Coverage of his home coming, hence no “Ticker Tape”.
He is trained and paid as a British Soldier, whether he comes from Britain, Barbados or the Moon.
American politics are totally different from normal British politics, American Politics rely on how many handclaps they get, whereas British Politics try to tell the people what the Government think they want to know, and they don’t get handclaps.
The Iraq war is only seen as a problem by people who have nothing better to do other than moan.
This war wasn’t our fight, it was the US that took it on and dragged the others with it. Mr Blair however is the idiot that wanted to be noticed, hand in hand with an equally dim witted “leader?” who is told what to say by his not so bright staff.
The British Army do there job with the utmost professionalism and don’t have time to back slap or moan of anything they do in Iraq.
They do the job they are paid for, they signed up for the Queens shilling and just get on with it.
Pte Beharry did just the same as a British Soldier, his birthplace is secondary.
A well angry ex British Soldier.
ALH ipinions says
Dear Mr Gomersall
I respect your military service – even if you resent the “handclaps” most soldiers appreciate. And, although I suspect you have many justified reasons for being “A well angry ex British Soldier”, I trust the following points of clarification will help you target the venting of your anger more appropriately:
This might be too subtle a point, but I did not write about Pvt. Beharry “not being British”. I wrote: “if Beharry were English…”. And, where I appreciate that you may harbour colonial sentiments in this respect, Beharry is, in fact, Grenadian. And that is why he was welcomed home as a national hero in Grenada. How this amounts to a “slur” escapes me.
Regarding your derisive declaration that “We also don’t do ‘Ticker Tape’ welcomes”, may I remind you of the victory parade (complete with handclaps to be sure) that your PM Margaret Thatcher presided over on 12 October 1982 for “able bodied” soldiers returning from the Falklands War. This parade was described as the “largest ever staged in London”. Did you miss it….