McGEE, Robert Victor Keith

Staff Sergeant, New Zealand Defence Force

CITATION

New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration

Queen's Birthday Honours List 2015

For services to the New Zealand Defence Force.  Staff Sergeant Rob McGee served as a patrol commander with the New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team in Bamyan Province, Afghanistan from April to October 2012, as the only patrol commander who was not an Officer.  He was responsible for the command of a small patrol working within the Khamard District. On 4 August 2012, he commanded a patrol tasked with clearing insurgents from the side of a valley as part of the 'Battle of Baghak'. He showed excellent leadership under fire, suppressing a number of enemy positions and successfully extracting two of his men who had been injured in the firefight. One of his men was killed fighting from the patrol vehicles on the road and another was wounded. His patrol was attacked by insurgents at their Forward Patrol Base the following night after the battle. He exhibited excellent control of his patrol and successfully repelled the attack. On 19 August, a large Improvised Explosive Device on a District road detonated under the rear vehicle of his patrol, instantly killing the three occupants. He secured the scene and ensured the remaining members of the patrol remained focused. Staff Sergeant McGee demonstrated leadership beyond the level expected of his rank and displayed outstanding comradeship in dealing with the tragic loss of four comrades and attending to the well-being of the remaining members of his patrol.

KNOWN AWARDS

New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration

New Zealand Operational Service Medal

New Zealand General Service Medal - Afghanistan - Primary

NOTES

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THE PRO PATRIA PROJECT