Navy Aircrewman Honoured at NSW Government House
6 May 2009
Nowra-based Aircrewman, PO Benjamin Sime, has been awarded the prestigious Medal for Gallantry by the New South Wales Governor in recognition of outstanding heroism during a terrorist attack in the Middle East.
POA Sime’s achievement was recognised in this year’s Australia Day Honours, however, yesterday he was actually presented his Medal for Gallantry by Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, the Governor of New South Wales during a ceremony at Government House.
In 2004, while deployed on HMAS Stuart during Operation Catalyst, POA Sime was in a Navy Seahawk helicopter conducting a surface search when terrorists launched a coordinated attack on two Iraqi oil terminals. Several American sailors from USS Firebolt were critically injured.
POA Sime jumped 10 feet from the Seahawk aircraft into the water to assist one of the badly injured sailors until a rescue boat arrived.
POA Sime was modest in receiving this award.
“Receiving the medal is a very proud occasion for both me and my family,” POA Sime said.
“Serving in the Royal Australian Navy is a great honour and all sailors should be proud of the work they do.”
The citation for POA Sime’s award reads “Petty Officer Sime gave a selfless and spontaneous display of gallantry on April 24, 2004, under the most hazardous operational circumstances following a coordinated terrorist attack against Iraqi oil terminals, during which sailors from USS Firebolt were critically injured.
Petty Officer Sime showed outstanding courage and remained dedicated to supporting a sailor in his care without regard to his own safety. His efforts and his achievements were of the highest order and were in the finest traditions of the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Defence Force.”
POA Sime joined the Navy in 1995 and has been deployed on numerous ships including HMAS Hobart, HMAS Stuart and HMAS Canberra. He currently works as a Seahawk Senso Instructor at 816 Squadron, HMAS Albatross.
Gallery
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