Tuesday, February 28, 2023

"Bull" Allen the Medic Hero of Mount Tambu

 

News from the front: August 1943 New Guinea, our brave photographer catches the Australian Medic Hero of the Battle of Mount Tambu Corporal "Bull" Allen in the act of rescuing a wounded American soldier. Through the heat of this bloody battle against the Japanese, Bull single handedly carried over his shoulder 12 wounded GI's to safety for medical treatment. A grateful US Army has awarded Leslie "Bull" Allen the Silver Star (the second highest military award in the US) for his heroic actions under fire. 1st Lady Ellenor Roosevelt has acknowledged the bravery of Corporal Allen as she his written Allen a personal note of thanks for his selfless act of bravery. With men like, this victory of the Japanese Empire is surely assured.

The Battle of Mount Tambu was a month-long fight that was part of the brutal Salamaua-Lea Campaign from April 22 to September 16, 1943. In the battle the Allies suffered less than 1200 casualties while the Japanese took over 8000. In the firefight where Allen saved the 12 American soldiers, his own unit was not involved in the action. But after seeing two American medics killed trying to rescue their comrades, Allen took it upon himself to save as many as he could. Risking his own life a dozen times through a hail of rifle, machine gun and mortar fire, he doggedly carried each man to safety. It didn't matter that they were not men from his own unit or even country, Allen did his duty as a man helping other men.

Allen had previously seen combat in the Syrian and North African Campaigns and was awarded the British Military Metal for his bravery as a stretcher bearer. After the New Guinea Campaign, he may have suffered from what would now be called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) which may have led to him being reduced in rank after striking an officer. In 2013 a move was made to posthumously award this brave man the Victoria Cross, Britian's highest military medal, as of today no such award has been made.

The below link is about the campaign to honor Bull Allen the Victoria Cross":

Call for World War II hero Leslie 'Bull' Allen to be posthumously awarded Victoria Cross - ABC News

This is a metal piece I painted in 2019.
This actual photo of Allen rescuing an America soldier is attributed to Gordon Herbert Short.

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