Scott
08-31-2009, 07:26 PM
This story goes to show how lowed paid our troops are being paid , the worst bit is, the frontline troops are not being paid more then the troops back in the safe zone, i think the troops who are more vunderable to being injured or dieing should be paid more, i have my opinions on this, some will agree and some won't.
Heres the story.
A CASH-STRAPPED Royal Marine hero is having to flog off his bravery medal so he can give his family the financial security they need.
L/Cpl Justin Thomas won the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross - second only to the VC - for saving the lives of 20 colleagues by single-handedly fending off 100 Iraqi insurgents with a machine gun.
But he hopes selling it for around £60,000 will enable him to buy a house for his wife and two-year-old daughter.
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00878/SNN3109MED-380_878462a.jpg
Justin, 30, admitted yesterday: "I do have some regrets. In an ideal world I'd like to keep it but we don't live in an ideal world.
"If soldiers were paid more I might not be in this situation."
Justin, of Pontypridd, South Wales, earned just £20,000 a-year during his time with 40 Commando.
Now he has another job but needs the money his highly-prized medals would provide.
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The Cross will be auctioned on September 17 along with Justin's three service medals from Iraq, Afghanistan and Northern Ireland and a 2002 Jubilee medal.
Only 33 of the silver crosses attached to a white, red and blue ribbon have been awarded since the medal was introduced in 1993.
Justin's was the first won during the Iraq war and is believed to be the first one put up for sale.
A Ministry of Defence source said: "He did something phenomenal and won something phenomenal. It's a shame he has to sell it."
Heres the story.
A CASH-STRAPPED Royal Marine hero is having to flog off his bravery medal so he can give his family the financial security they need.
L/Cpl Justin Thomas won the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross - second only to the VC - for saving the lives of 20 colleagues by single-handedly fending off 100 Iraqi insurgents with a machine gun.
But he hopes selling it for around £60,000 will enable him to buy a house for his wife and two-year-old daughter.
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00878/SNN3109MED-380_878462a.jpg
Justin, 30, admitted yesterday: "I do have some regrets. In an ideal world I'd like to keep it but we don't live in an ideal world.
"If soldiers were paid more I might not be in this situation."
Justin, of Pontypridd, South Wales, earned just £20,000 a-year during his time with 40 Commando.
Now he has another job but needs the money his highly-prized medals would provide.
Advertisement
The Cross will be auctioned on September 17 along with Justin's three service medals from Iraq, Afghanistan and Northern Ireland and a 2002 Jubilee medal.
Only 33 of the silver crosses attached to a white, red and blue ribbon have been awarded since the medal was introduced in 1993.
Justin's was the first won during the Iraq war and is believed to be the first one put up for sale.
A Ministry of Defence source said: "He did something phenomenal and won something phenomenal. It's a shame he has to sell it."