Mark Donaldson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mark Donaldson VC
Corporal Mark Donaldson in 2014
Birth name	Mark Gregor Strang Donaldson
Born	(1979-04-02) 2 April 1979 (age 46) Waratah, New South Wales
Allegiance	Australia
Service/branch	Australian Army
Years of service	2002–present
Rank	Corporal
Unit	1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment Special Air Service Regiment
Battles/wars	East Timor Iraq War Operation Falconer War in Afghanistan Operation Slipper Battle of Khaz Oruzgan
Awards	Victoria Cross for Australia

Mark Gregor Strang Donaldson was born on 2 April 1979. He is an Australian soldier. He received the Victoria Cross for Australia. This is the highest award for bravery in Australia.

Mark Donaldson was a Trooper in the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR). He showed incredible courage during a battle in Afghanistan. He put himself in danger to protect injured soldiers. He also rescued a wounded interpreter while under heavy enemy fire. This happened during the Battle of Khaz Oruzgan in 2008.

The Governor-General of Australia, Quentin Bryce, gave him the award. The ceremony was in Canberra on 16 January 2009. In 2010, Mark Donaldson was also named the Young Australian of the Year. He was promoted to corporal in June 2010.

Early Life and Challenges

Mark Donaldson was born in Waratah, New South Wales. He grew up in a small town called Dorrigo. He went to Dorrigo High School until 1996.

When Mark was 16, his father passed away suddenly. Mark and his brother then received support from Legacy. This group helps families of veterans.

In 1998, when Mark was 19, his mother went missing. He stopped his studies and took on many tough jobs. He worked in Australia and other countries.

Joining the Army

Starting His Military Journey

Mark Donaldson joined the Australian Army on 18 June 2002. He trained at the Army Recruit Training Centre in Kapooka. He was a top performer there. He won awards for being the best shot and for his fitness.

He then trained further at Singleton. Again, he won awards for shooting and fitness. He was also named the most outstanding soldier in his group. After this, he joined the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment in Townsville, Queensland.

Becoming a Special Forces Soldier

From February to April 2004, Mark completed the tough SASR selection course. He joined 3 Squadron in May 2004. Since then, he has served in different places. These include East Timor, Iraq (during Operation Falconer), and Afghanistan (during Operation Slipper).

In Afghanistan, he was slightly injured on 12 August 2008. The vehicle he was in hit an explosive device.

His Heroic Actions

The Battle of Khaz Oruzgan

Mark Donaldson earned his Victoria Cross for his actions on 2 September 2008. He was on patrol with Afghan and US forces. They were suddenly attacked by a large enemy group. The attack started with heavy machine gun and rocket fire. Several soldiers were injured.

Mark bravely put himself in the line of fire. He did this to draw the enemy's attention away from the wounded soldiers. This allowed his injured teammates to be moved to safety.

As the patrol tried to leave, they realized an Afghan interpreter was wounded and left behind. Mark immediately ran about 80 meters across open ground. He was under heavy enemy fire. He reached the interpreter and carried him back to the vehicles. There, Mark gave him first aid. The patrol eventually escaped the ambush after two hours.

When asked about what he did, Mark said it was "instinct." He simply saw the interpreter and went to get him.

Receiving the Victoria Cross

News of Mark's bravery first appeared in December 2008. He was known only as "Trooper F" at that time. On 16 January 2009, he officially became the first person to receive the Victoria Cross for Australia. The Governor-General presented him with the medal in Canberra.

The official award statement praised his "most conspicuous acts of gallantry." It highlighted his bravery in a very dangerous situation in Afghanistan. A few days later, Mark lent his Victoria Cross and other medals to the Australian War Memorial. They were put on display for everyone to see. In November 2009, he met Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle.

Life After the Award

Continuing His Service

After receiving his Victoria Cross, Mark Donaldson asked to stay in the SASR. He wanted to keep serving in active duty. His request was approved by the top military leaders.

He served in Afghanistan again for four months in 2009. He also went back for short periods in 2010 and 2013. In 2010, he was promoted to corporal after finishing a leadership course.

In November 2009, Mark Donaldson took part in a special service in London. He and another Victoria Cross recipient, Johnson Beharry, handed a wreath to the Queen. This service honored the last veterans of the First World War.

While he was in London, good news came from Afghanistan. Sarbi, an explosives detection dog, had been found alive. Sarbi had gone missing during the same ambush where Mark earned his medal. Mark said finding Sarbi "closed a chapter" for everyone who served with her.

Mark Donaldson became the Patron-in-Chief of Soldier On Australia in 2014. This charity helps military personnel and their families.

Personal Life

Donaldson with his family and other important people after the award ceremony.

Mark Donaldson is married to Emma. They have a daughter and a son. He wrote a book about his life called The Crossroad. It was published in 2013.

Mark says he doesn't see himself as a hero. He sees himself as a soldier first.

Awards and Recognition

Donaldson's medals on display at the Australian War Memorial in March 2009.

Mark Donaldson has received many awards for his service. The most important is the Victoria Cross for Australia.

He also received the Australian Active Service Medal and the Afghanistan Medal. Other awards include the Australian Service Medal and medals for the Queen's Jubilees. He has a Defence Long Service Medal and the Australian Defence Medal. He also received the NATO Medal for his service in Afghanistan.

His unit, the Special Air Service Regiment, received the Unit Citation for Gallantry. This was for their bravery in Afghanistan. His task force also received the Meritorious Unit Citation.

On 25 January 2010, Mark Donaldson was named the Young Australian of the Year 2010. The Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, and the National Australia Day Council Chair, Adam Gilchrist, presented him with an award. They praised his achievements at a public event in Canberra.