The Victoria Cross Recipient Who Bravely Charged Into a Cornfield to Take on the Taliban

The Victoria Cross is the UK military's most prestigious award, symbolizing unparalleled bravery amid the chaos of battle. Unfortunately, many recipients are only honored after their deaths, having made the ultimate sacrifice in the acts of bravery that earned them this distinction. Corporal Bryan Budd was one such individual, displaying exceptional courage during a daring assault against Taliban forces.

With only five days remaining before his anticipated return home, one might expect Budd to be focused on reuniting with his loved ones. However, his selflessness led him to put the safety of his comrades over his own. Following the proud legacy of the British Parachute Regiment, this experienced soldier fought with unwavering determination until the very end.

Stories like these often invoke a blend of sorrow for those lost and profound admiration for those who exhibit such extraordinary bravery.

Bryan Budd was a professional soldier

Hailing from Belfast, Northern Ireland, Bryan Budd harbored a lifelong dream of becoming a soldier. In 1996, he realized this aspiration by joining the Parachute Regiment, driven by a deep dedication to serve with elite units on the battlefronts.

Determined to excel, Budd chose a non-conventional path, passing rigorous tests to earn a spot in the esteemed 16 Air Assault Brigade’s Pathfinder Platoon. The Pathfinders, responsible for critical reconnaissance in hostile environments, paved the way into combat zones. This important role allowed Budd to participate in operations across various regions, including the former Yugoslavia, Sierra Leone, Macedonia, Iraq and, ultimately, Afghanistan .

Increased Taliban activity in Helmand province

In 2006, Bryan Budd was deployed with the 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment (3 PARA) as part of a British force sent to Helmand province, Afghanistan. At that time, the region was notorious for intense combat, with Sangin becoming a major hotspot.

In response to the Western military presence, the Taliban escalated their aggression and fortified their positions. They shifted from engaging primarily from a distance to directly confronting troops in a bid to control rural Afghanistan. For Budd's final mission, this meant close-quarters combat in the middle of cornfields.

According to his Victoria Cross citation, on July 27, 2006, while his unit was under heavy fire from militants on a rooftop and many of his comrades were injured and needed evacuation, Budd realized that the suppressive fire was preventing rescue efforts. Courageously stepping out from cover, he charged towards the building under a hail of bullets.

Budd's daring assault forced the Taliban to retreat across an open field, where precise fire from British marksmen completed the mission. His bravery allowed for the safe evacuation of his fellow soldiers and marked the first of two extraordinary acts of valor.

Bryan Budd was just five days from home

While deployment dates can frequently change at the last minute, reports indicate that Bryan Budd was set to return home on August 25, 2006. On August 20, he was in Sangin, where his unit was defending a remote outpost. Due to its strategic position, it faced daily attacks from the Taliban and needed strong defense, which included regular patrols around the perimeter.

During one of these patrols, Budd was guiding his men through dense vegetation made up of tall corn. Despite the reduced visibility, he spotted a large group of Taliban fighters about 30 meters ahead. To maintain an advantage, Budd executed a flanking maneuver aimed at eliminating the enemy.

However, when the Taliban spotted the nearby mobile patrol, a fierce firefight broke out.

Taliban insurgents versus the British Parachute Regiment

With three of his men injured, Bryan Budd once more recognized the need to take charge and launched the attack alone. He dashed through the cornfield and confronted the enemy. Despite being wounded in the skirmish, he continued the assault, allowing his comrades to regroup under his cover.

His actions successfully silenced the Taliban fighters and ensured the wounded could be evacuated safely.

However, when his unit withdrew, Budd was nowhere to be found. Initially reported as missing in action (MIA), a rapid response team was assembled to search for him. As they scoured the dense vegetation with air support holding off the Taliban, Budd's body was discovered in the field alongside three dead insurgents.

Bryan Budd met a tragic end

For his actions on August 20, 2006 and a few days prior, Bryan Budd was awarded the Victoria Cross. He was one of less than 20 to receive the honor since the end of the Second World War . A subsequent examination might have proven that the fatal shot came from a 5.56 mm NATO weapon, which indicated friendly fire. However, that only occurred because he saw fit to close in and destroy the enemy.

On not one, but two occasions, Budd deemed it advisable to launch a counterattack and gift violence to the enemy, rather than receive it. An unexpected counterattack disrupts enemy momentum, but often at a great cost to those who pursue it. Budd will rest in the hall of history that recognizes him as a warrior who understood that battle is fought one moment at a time, with little disregard for when you might be going home.

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If it's indeed the case that Bryan Budd would have returned home with his family in just five days, then history owes him the recognition for conducting such a feat and sacrificing his life for his comrades.