True grit.

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True grit.

Postby KLA2 » Thu Oct 02, 2008 11:56 pm

The Gurkhas were Nepalese warriors, renowned for their courage and fortitude, recruited by the British.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2786991.stm

I recall a story, possibly apocryphal, about them.

During the second world war, the British were recruiting volunteers to become paratroopers. Knowing the legendary courage of the Gurkhas, a British officer was sent to Nepal to recruit, certain of 100% success.

Addressing a company of Gurkha soldiers, he addressed their officer, who translated.

“Tell them, they will jump out of airplanes wearing parachutes, behind enemy lines, to kill enemy soldiers and disrupt supply lines. For this very dangerous duty, they will receive a small increase in pay. Any man who wishes to volunteer will take one step forward.”

To his annoyance, only about one man in ten stepped forward.

The British officer demanded of the Gurkha officer, “I was told your soldiers were renowned for their bravery. Why do so few volunteer?”

The Gurkha officer hung his head, turned and questioned his troops.

Some replied, and the rest nodded. The Gurkha officer turned back to the British officer and said, “The men wish to know, what is this “parachute” you spoke of?”


10% volunteered, not knowing what a parachute was. That’s true grit. :shock:
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Postby troubleagain » Fri Oct 03, 2008 1:16 pm

Amazing.
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Re: True grit.

Postby Halcyon Dayz, FCD » Fri Oct 03, 2008 3:42 pm

KLA2 wrote:The Gurkhas were Nepalese warriors...

The Gurkhas ARE...

Both the British Army and the Indian Army still have Gurkha Regiments.
It is not inconceivable though that the new Nepalese government will ban the recruiting of mercenaries in their country.
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Postby KLA2 » Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:03 am

Yes. I misspoke. Apologies to the Gurkhas. They were and are ... :oops:
"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you."
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Postby Enzo » Tue Oct 07, 2008 1:19 am

You just DON'T want to piss off the Gurkhas.
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Postby KLA2 » Thu Jun 02, 2011 11:00 pm

And now this.

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.

...

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.


http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/06/02/so ... ?hpt=hp_t2
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Postby Enzo » Fri Jun 03, 2011 12:22 am

You don't really expect me to make a pun here, do you?
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Postby KLA2 » Fri Jun 03, 2011 3:02 am

No Pun pun intended, or anticipated. :wink:
"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you."
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Postby tubeswell » Fri Jun 03, 2011 11:54 am

After reading about that, I fully expect any such Pun is quite capable of fending off lesser puns.
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