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Daniel's bravery wins top honour
An army medic who dodged flying bullets to perform emergency surgery in the battle field has received one of the highest military honours.
Lance Cpl Daniel Fletcher, 28, of Desborough, will receive the Military Cross for carrying out emergency surgery on a seriously wounded comrade as Afghan insurgents rained bullets down from 150 metres away.
He carried on with his work even after a bullet smashed through his helmet, singeing his hair.
Lance Cpl Fletcher, an Army medic, said: "The bullet went through and
out the back. I realised what had happened, but it's the sort of thing you put to the back of your mind and deal with afterwards.
"My job was to get the casualty out of danger. That's what I did."
Insurgents ambushed Lance Cpl Fletcher's patrol in Helmand Province last November. As he dived for cover behind a wall he saw one of his colleagues shot in the head.
Without a thought for himself or his pregnant wife back in Britain he rushed back in to the "killing zone" to his comrade's aid.
Lance Cpl Fletcher said: "It was one of my mates from my vehicle. Me and another member of our team crawled out of cover and grabbed hold of him.
"We tried three times. The first time there was too much weight of fire.
"The second time I took a round to the helmet.
"The third time we used a smoke grenade and then I could do it."
Lance Cpl Fletcher realised an emergency tracheotomy was needed if the patient was to breathe.
An incredibly difficult procedure to administer, Lance Cpl Fletcher, inserted the surgical airway while under fire.
On hearing of Lance Cpl Fletcher's actions a US Navy Surgeon based at Camp Bastion commended him for his "difficult but absolutely appropriate decision" and his skill for "an outstanding feat, especially given the circumstance that no surgeon at any level of training could have placed more effectively."
Despite Lance Cpl Fletcher's heroic effort the soldier later died of his wounds.
Lance Cpl Fletcher's mother Jane was unsurprised by the selfless actions of her son, who attended Havelcok Junior School and Montsaye Community College.
She said: "It's typical of him. He has always been brave and generous. Even as a kid he would look after others rather than himself.
"It's hugely brave."
The Queen will present Lance Cpl Fletcher with the award, which is granted in recognition of "an act or acts of exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy on land" at Buckingham Palace at a later date.
Lt Col Simon Redman, commanding officer of 254 Medical Regiment, said: "We are extremely proud of what Lance Cpl Fletcher and his colleagues achieved on operations.
"Lance Cpl Fletcher is a credit to the Royal Army Medical Corp and we are delighted he has gained this award."
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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