Hero Gurkha awarded top medal for fighting off Taliban

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by Tricia Jamieson

A Gurkha who single-handedly fought off 12 Taliban insurgents will be awarded second highest military honour, it was revealed today.

Sgt Dip Pun, 32, of the Folkestone-based 1st Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles, used up all his ammunition and threw grenades at the attackers.

When his weapon was damaged, he lobbed a machine gun tripod at one of the insurgents.

Sgt Dip, who lives in Ashford with his wife Shobha, said: "In that situation 15 minutes is a long time.

"But at the time I didn't worry about anything, I was just fighting. I didn't get a chance to think.

"All I knew was that the Taliban were going to overrun our checkpoint, so acted to save my own life and also my friends."

Sgt Dip received the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross today.

The incident happened when he was one of four soldiers at a small outpost during the Battalion's recent tour of duty in Afghanistant.

Only when all his ammunition had gone did he move into the safety of the sangar.

His actions are cited as being the "bravest" seen in his battalion over two hard tours.

Sgt Dip, who attended a ceremony in Folkestone today, is one of a number of Gurkhas who are set to receive medals for bravery in Afghanistan.

Friday, March 25 2011

via kentonline.co.uk