Britain's newest hero is a Nepali.
Queen Elizabeth II on Wednesday awarded Britain's second-highest award for bravery, the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, to Acting Sgt. Dipprasad Pun of the Royal Gurkha Rifles.
While stationed as a lone sentry at a checkpoint in Afghanistan's Helmand province on September 17, Pun fended off an attack by up to 30 Taliban fighters.
"There were many Taliban around me," Pun said in an interview with British Forces News. "I thought they are definitely going to kill me. ... I thought before they kill me I have to kill some of them."
During the 15-minute battle, Pun fired more than 400 rounds of ammunition, detonated 17 grenades and a mine and even threw his gun tripod at a Taliban fighter climbing toward his position, according to British Forces News.
"He was just about to climb up there and I hit (him) with my tripod and he fell down again," Pun told British Forces News.
Pun's actions saved the lives of three fellow soldiers at the checkpoint and were the "bravest seen in his battalion over two hard tours in Afghanistan," according to his medal citation.
Pun was not wounded in the firefight.
“That he survived unscathed is simply incredible," his medal citation says. “Throughout Dip’s actions he was under almost constant intense fire. Dip’s courage and gallantry were simply astonishing."
Pun, 31, joined the British military in 2000 and also has served in Bosnia and Kosovo.
Like other Gurkhas, Pun is from Nepal. The Gurkhas were incorporated into British forces after their fighting skill impressed the opposition British during the Nepal Wars of 1814 to 1816. As part of the peace treaty ending that conflict, Gurkhas were admitted into East India Company's army and then into the British military.
Gurkhas recruited solely in Nepal remain Nepalese citizens during their service. Gurkha unit officers are British.
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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congratulations from Paris, France,Sir
This guy can take care of 30 Taliban by himself, but the "most advanced' (hah) military in the world can't win the war on terror. Just more proof the "war on terror" is just about lining the pockets of defense contractors and not about winning at all.
lol Gurkjhas are not from defence contractors...they are in a regiment in the british army since 1800's.
if it were an American – he would have held off 100 taliban militants, saved an entire tribe, AND discovered a new species of camel.
He kicked @$$ and took names that day. My hat is off to you sir. Good Job.
Semper Fidelis.
Good Job Soldier!
It's tough enough being with your battalion and getting fired at by these "efin" hajis. I cant imagine how tough it would be shooting back at 40 of these rats when you're alone.
Like Tupac Shakur said "In times of danger, don't freeze when its time to be a G"
He's a Ghurka. To them 30 Taliban might as well be a cup of tea and 30 crumpets. Best soldiers in the world when it comes down to bravery in the face of the completely insane.
Agreed...Gurkha soldiers are some of the best infantry in the world (collectively). They come from a long warrior tradition
Awesome! I salute you.
Sure, 30..umm, you have pictures or video of this of course?
I think they found about 20 dead Taliban bodies and plus after 10 more who ran away after the battle, it adds upto 30...is that enough proof for you?
I remember my father mentioning crossing paths with some Ghurkas in the early 70's in Vietnam. He said they were bad mofos. It appears that has not changed.
slightly worried that gurkhas were in vietnam when britain and india weren't
Good for you, Sir!
Thank you for your service in Britain's military!
You are a good example for others to follow.
dont mess with Gurkhas. 400 rounds and 17! grenades, this dude must have been going nuts throwing all those nades like a video game or something, nade spammer
the thing is that he comes from a third world country and I am sure he hasn't played any video games in his life. To see him shoot 400 shots and 17 grenades in 15 minutes is just totally awesome. For them the real war must be their video game because they don't get scared.
Nade spammer hahaha. Nice one. I hope it's counter-strike you're referring to
400 rounds in 15 minutes is easily doable with a modern machinegun. And 17 grenades is about a grenade a minute, and I imagine the average person could throw at least 2-3 a minute.
Still that's some serious focus. Kudos to this guy and I expect to hear of him on BadA$$oftheWeek soon.
@neo here is the bad ass of the week article on Pun http://www.badassoftheweek.com/pun.html
and also his machine gun got jammed in the middle of the battle, that's when he used the tripod I guess.
great story , but he got lucky and well prepared i guess and second of all he does not even look like Hines Ward come on white boys! not all asians are look like each others
What a bull@#@$ story
and you know this because you were there? Oh yeah that would require you to leave the comforts of your home behind and do something useful for your country.
why is this s b.s. story? because he is not american? i just don't get it... can you explain? he is on our side, and did good. He deserved that metal and this recognition. We need more story's like this... you know our boys have had many many triumphs that are not talked about. But don't hate on the guy over it.
A stands for ass#@*% I am sure
There is always one nitwit that leaves trash for a comment the most you have done without hurting yourself is sit behind your computer and spew your remarks out to the ones that gave you the freedom to do so.
it was the tripod that did it , that is what scared the other towlies off