GALE, Arthur Jordan

Lieutenant, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment

CITATION

New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration

New Year Honours 31 December 2012

Lieutenant GALE served with the New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team in Bamyan Province, Afghanistan, from March to September 2011. On two occasions while operating in the highest risk area in the north-east of the province, his patrol was attacked by insurgents using improvised explosive devices (IEDs). In the first attack on 28 April, his vehicle was immobilized by an IED blast, while the remainder of the patrol’s vehicles came under attack from rocket propelled grenades. Through excellent leadership and tactical skill he gained control of the situation, calling in close air support that disrupted the attack. He then linked up with another patrol to secure the area and recover the damaged vehicle without sustaining any casualties. In the second attack on 18 July, a large IED exploded and narrowly missed destroying a patrol vehicle.  Again, through his tactical skill, he was able to secure the area overnight and a later search of the surrounding area yielded valuable information on insurgent activities. In September, he led a patrol search at the scene of a fatal attack against an Afghan Police patrol, discovering an IED that had been hidden by insurgents for future use, as well as valuable information on their tactics. Throughout his tour, Lieutenant GALE displayed outstanding leadership and tactical skill while operating under stressful conditions in the most dangerous area of the province.

KNOWN AWARDS

New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration

New Zealand Operational Service Medal

New Zealand General Service Medal (Afghan Primary)

NOTES

Born

Died

THE PRO PATRIA PROJECT