longbough

Someone started a thread about the "baddest MF." It was closed before I could post my response. I didn't want to waste my time and effort. So I'll start it up again.

Regardless of ideology or politics - who are some of the bravest, toughest folks who ever lived?

(OK. Let's get these out of the way right now: Rosa Parks, MLK and Mahatma Ghandi).

Sgt. Alvin York, the famous pacifist soldier. On October 8th, at the battle of the Argonne Forest, Sgt. York killed 28 Germans, wiped out 35 machine guns, and captured 132 prisoners.

First Lieutenant Audie Murphy. During WWII he killed over 240 German troops and captured or wounded a great many others.

The brave Ghurkas whose regiments have been awarded 26 Victoria's Crosses have incredible stories.

Havildar Gaje Ghale, 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles.
….while preparing for the attack the platoon came under heavy mortar fire but Havildar Gaje Ghale rallied them and led them forward.

Approaching to close range for the well-entranced enemy, then platoon came under withering fire and this NCO was wounded in the arm, chest and leg by an enemy hand grenade. Without pausing to attend to his serous wounds and with no heed to the intensive fire from sides, Havildar Gaje Ghale closed his men and led them to close grips with the enemy when a bitter hand to hand struggle ensued.

Havildar Gaje Ghale dominated the fight by his outstanding example of dauntless courage and superb leadership. Hurling hand grenades, covered in blood from his own neglected wounds, he led assault after assault, encouraging his platoon by shouting the Gurkha’s battle cry.
Spurred on by the irresisitible will of their leader to win, the platoon stormed and carried the hill by a magnificent all out effort and inflicted very heavy casualties on the Japanese.

Rifleman Ganju Lama. … B Company, 7th Gurkha Rifles, was ordered to counter-attack and restore the situation. Shortly after passing the starting line it came under heavy enemy medium machine-gun and tank machine-gun fire at point blank range, which covered all lines of approach. Rifleman Ganju Lama, the No.1 of the projector infantry anti-tank gun (PIAT), on his own initiative, with great coolness and complete disregard for his own safety, crawled forward and engaged the tanks single handed. In spite of a broken left wrist and two other wounds, one in his right hand and one in his leg, caused by withering cross fire concentrated upon him, Rifleman Ganju Lama succeeded in bringing his gun into action within thirty yards of the enemy tanks and knocked out first one and then another, the third tank being destroyed by an anti-tank gun.

In spite of his serous wounds, he then moved forward and engaged with grenades the tank crews, who now attempted to escape. As the enemy crews scrambled out of their burning vehicles, Ganju attacked them with hand grenades - removing the pins with his teeth because of his broken hand. Not until he had killed or wounded the last enemy tank crew member could he be persuaded to return to the Regimental Aid Post to have his wounds dressed…….

Havildar Lachhiman Gurung, 8th Gurkha Rifles. … Before assaulting, the enemy hurled innumerable grenades at the position from close range. Once grenade fell on the lip of Rifleman Lachhiman Gurung’s trench; he at once grasped it and hurled it back at the enemy. A second grenade landed in his trench. Again this Rifleman snatched to throw it back but it exploded in his hand, blowing off his finger, shattering his right arm and severely wounding him in the face body and right leg. His two comrades were also badly wounded and lay helpless in the button of the trench.

The enemy, screaming and shouting, now formed up shoulder to shoulder and attempted to rush the position by sheer weight of numbers. Rifleman Lachhiman Gurung, regardless of his wounds, fires and loaded his rifle with his left hand, maintaining a continuous and steady rate of fire. Wave after wave of fanatical attacks were thrown in by the enemy during the next four hour and all-were repulsed with heavy casualties…