Commander's courage puts pay to Taliban bomb plans 25.02.11
56A Parachute Regiment CO who risked death by single-handedly tackling a team of Taliban bombers said he did no more than he would have expected from any of his paratroopers. Two Para's Lt Col Andy Harrison was struck by a grenade and gunfire after his convoy chanced upon the bombers in the act of planting a roadside device under cover of darkness near one of central Helmand's main routes. The decorated Para was first out of the vehicle and chased down the insurgents. To cover their escape the enemy threw a grenade and fired shots. A bullet struck his body armour chest plate while shrapnel wounded him in the face and thigh. "I just had a bad morning and sometimes these things happen, but I'm fine," he said in an exclusive interview with British Forces News. Medevaced to Camp Bastion Hospital, the following day he discharged himself and returned to his patrol base, limping unaided from the helicopter, carrying his daysack and determined to return command. "I had a small operation and I'm back in the fray this morning." He denied doing anything exceptional: "I expect every one of my paratroopers to take the fight to the enemy." "I'm like a thousand soldiers I work with. We think about doing our job every day and that's what's important."