Willie Apiata was born on the 28 of June 1972 in Mangakino, New
Zealand, his early years were spent in Waima in Northland. before
his family moved to Te Kaha when he was 7. He went to Te
Whanau-a-Apanui Area school in Te Kaha. At the age of 15 he left Te
Whanau-a-Apanui Area School.
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Willie Apiata won 8 medals in his military career. The Victoria
Cross for New Zealand. New Zealand Operational Service Medal. East
Timor Medal. United Nations Mission in East Timor Medal (UNAMET).
New Zealand General Service Medal for Afghanistan. NATO Medal for
the Non-Article 5 ISAF Operation in Afghanistan. New Zealand
Defence Service Medal. Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee
Medal.
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Willie Apiata Gained the VC by carrying a wounded Corporal 70
meters to safety under heavy fire in Afghanistan. Surprisingly
neither of them was hit. After getting the corporal to shelter
lance corporal Apiata rearmed himself and rejoined the fight in
counter-attack. He became one of the only living Victoria Cross
holders. Three other SAS soldiers got bravery medals from the same
mission.
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Willie Apiata enlisted in the NZ army on the 6 th of October
1989 in the territorial Force of the Royal NZ Infantry Regiment. He
failed to join the SAS in 1996, but his second attempt in 2001 was
successful. Apiata was sent back to Afghanistan with the NZSAS in
2009 when the New Zealand government returned troops to that
country. Around July 2012 Willie Apiata left full time military
service, though he did not resign fully and remains with the NZSAS
Reserves.
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There are no other living New Zealand recipients of the
Victoria Cross Apiata has donated all of his medals, including his
VC, to New Zealand. In 2008 he succeeded Sir Edmund Hillary as the
"most trusted New Zealander. In April 2008, Apiata donated his
Victoria Cross of New Zealand, medal to the NZSAS Trust, so that
the medal is protected for future generations.
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Info from wikipedia.com. Pictures from images.google.com. Music
called take me to church by Hozier. By Matthew
