Soldier’s family petition for medals
The family of Rory Malone say they have been denied ‘‘closure’’ for their fallen son after he was blocked from receiving his New Zealand Gallantry Medal at Government House.
They have launched a petition for a full ceremonial service for the medal he was posthumously awarded for his heroic actions at the Battle of Baghak in Afghanistan in August 2012.
Lance Corporal Malone was killed after pulling his wounded commanding officer Captain Craig Wilson to safety during an intense firefight when their unit was ambushed in a remote valley in the Bamiyan province. Lance Corporal Pralli Durrer was also killed.
In December, Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee announced Malone would receive the gallantry medal for giving ‘‘his life in the service of New Zealand’’.
‘‘His sacrifice, and that of other personnel who lost their lives, must never be forgotten,’’ said Brownlee.
But while two of his comrades received their medals in April, Malone’s mother, Helen Thomasen, and brothers, waited for news.
This week the learned that Malone’s girlfriend, Kate Johnston, who was appointed as his ‘‘primary next of kin’’ by the Defence Force, requested that the medals be posted to her in Australia.
This request was declined by Government House, and instead the Defence Force is trying to arrange to hand the medals over to Johnston, who was also serving in Afghanistan when Malone was killed.
The medals would then be donated to the National Army Museum at Waiouru, and a ceremony would be held to honour Malone’s actions.
But his mother and brothers are adamant they want the service to be held at Government House.
Malone’s mother, Helen Thomasen, said their family were upset at the prospect of his medal being ‘‘posted like a piece of cosmetic jewellery’’. ‘‘Why should Rory not be recognised like the rest of the guys at Government House?’’
The petition states: ‘‘We, his whanau, just want closure. We want him honoured like his mates were. No more, no less.’’
A Defence Force spokeswoman said: ‘‘The medals will be presented in a formal ceremony at the convenience of Corporal Rory Malone’s primary next of kin and Government House. As this is a matter between these parties we have no further comment to provide.’’
The Battle of Baghak was New Zealand’s largest firefight since Vietnam, and left two Kiwi soldiers dead, six wounded, while several Afghan soldiers were also killed.
Investigations carried out by the Defence Force into the battle cleared commanders on the ground of wrongdoing, but soldiers on the ground have questioned the official version of events.
Two weeks later on August 19, Corporal Luke Tamatea, Lance Corporal Jacinda Baker and Private Richard Harris died when the vehicle they were travelling in was hit by an improvised explosive device.
The Gallantry Medal is the fourth-highest honour, behind the Victoria Cross, the New Zealand Gallantry Star and the New Zealand Gallantry Decoration.
The petition, which had