Luitenant Kroon -> Kapitein Kroon -> Willems Orde

[Cees Binkhorst]

REPLY TO: D66 at nic.surfnet.nl

Merkwaardig zoals het nieuws zich soms verspreid.
De Australiers mochten niet weten wat de ware toedracht was, nu staat het
daar in de krant.
Wij hebben wel kunnen zien dat kapitein Kroon de Willems Orde kreeg, maar
ik heb geen achtergrondinformatie gezien.
Nu dus wel, bij de mensen die het niet mochten weten ;)

Groet / Cees

http://www.smh.com.au/world/revealed-brave-allied-commander-saves-our-troops-20090613-c6p9.html?

Revealed: brave allied commander saves our troops
June 14, 2009

When a Dutch soldier was recognised for bravery in Afghanistan, the true
role of the Australian troops was disclosed, writes Tom Hyland.

A VEIL of official secrecy shrouding combat involving Australian SAS
troops in Afghanistan has been lifted for the first time, revealing
details of harrowing fighting that is still withheld by the Australian
military.

The Sun-Herald has obtained a graphic account of desperate encounters in
which Australian and Dutch troops have been surrounded, outnumbered and
almost overrun by Taliban fighters.

The Australian Defence Force keeps a tight grip on all information about
special forces troops, especially the SAS. But an official report on a
Dutch soldier's bravery award paints a detailed picture of the intense
battles they have fought.

The Netherlands Defence Ministry report tells how in one action Australian
and Dutch troops were saved only when the Dutch soldier directed a
devastating air attack on Taliban forces just 30 metres away - a range
that put the allied soldiers at risk from "friendly fire" and showered
them with shrapnel.

The ADF has released only a brief and vague outline of the fighting that
took place in 2006.

In contrast, the Dutch report details weeks of ferocious and chaotic
combat in which up to 300 Taliban were killed, with the loss of only one
coalition soldier.

The report was compiled to coincide with the presentation to Dutch
commando Marco Kroon of his country's highest military award, the Military
Order of William, for acts of "bravery, skill and loyalty" in
Afghanistan's Oruzgan province. Captain Kroon is the first soldier to
receive the award in 54 years.

His bravery included repeatedly risking himself to help beleaguered
Australians.

SAS troops who served with Captain Kroon in 2006 were present when Queen
Beatrix of the Netherlands presented the award in The Hague last month.

The ADF refused permission for The Sun-Herald to interview any of the
Australian soldiers involved.

The 50-page Dutch report includes details that go far beyond anything
released by the ADF. In September 2006, when ADF chiefs gave what they
said was a "full brief" on special forces operations in Afghanistan over
the previous year, the Dutch were not mentioned.

Captain Kroon's award commendation highlights six actions between April
and July 2006, all involving Dutch commandos and the SAS.

The combined force entered Taliban strongholds in the Chora and Baluchi
areas, north-east of the provincial capital, Tarin Kowt. Their aim was to
prevent the Taliban attacking Tarin Kowt, where Dutch and Australian
reconstruction troops were setting up a new base.

The first action was in late April, when 29 troops in then-Lieutenant
Kroon's unit, called Task Force Viper, were sent with a similar number of
SAS to the village of Surk Murgab, 15 kilometres from Tarin Kowt. The
coalition troops came under intense fire, forcing them to call in air
support.

Four days later the Dutch and SAS returned. Again they came under heavy
fire, forcing them to stop the action. But then things went badly for the
SAS - one of their vehicles got stuck and the Taliban "brought heavy fire
to bear on the hapless Australians".

In response, the Dutch diverted the Taliban's attention with intense fire.
This enabled the Australians to recover their vehicle, but it also brought
the Dutch under constant return fire.

A month later, the Dutch and Australians moved further north into the
Chora valley. This time they were caught in the open. "They, too, were
taking heavy fire and were about to break off the action when one of their
commandos was hit. Lieutenant Kroon did not hesitate for a moment and
ordered his men to move forward again."

This drew fire onto the Dutch, allowing the Australians to evacuate their
wounded comrade. (The ADF did not release details of this casualty at the
time.)

Two weeks later, they were back in Chora. Again they encountered the
Taliban, with the Australians taking the brunt. In an open, unarmoured
vehicle, Lieutenant Kroon raced towards the Australians. His vehicle
rolled and when he and his crew crawled from it "mortars and shells hit
right next to it".

Tougher fighting came as the joint force moved to block a Taliban supply
route. The area provided "outstanding cover for ambushes" and they came
under heavy fire from close range, with one shot taking out the sights on
Lieutenant Kroon's weapon.

He then led his troops to the rear - a precarious move, as his troops had
to move through Australian positions in the middle of a firefight,
creating a high risk of the allies firing on each other.

"The entire unit and the Australians finally made it to an emplacement,"
the report says. "With the temperature rising to more than 50C the platoon
fought the Taliban in the full sun for approximately eight hours 
 When
the smoke had cleared, 13 Taliban had been killed."

The final act came in mid-July, alongside an Australia-led offensive
code-named Operation Perth, aimed at driving the Taliban out of the Chora
valley.

In pitch black on the night of July 12, the Dutch and Australians found
themselves "fighting for their lives" - surrounded, out-numbered, their
ammunition running out.

However, the Taliban were within 30 metres of the allies who risked being
hit by the US aircraft's withering fire as Lieutenant Kroon directed the
air attack virtually onto his own position.

The operation was a great success, the report says. The pass entering the
valley was opened and the coalition troops had freedom of movement.

The Dutch report includes a photo of the SAS troops presented to the Dutch
commandos, inscribed "To our brave mates".

The ADF would not comment on whether Captain Kroon has been recommended
for an Australian medal, saying the award nomination process was
confidential.

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