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The three soldiers decorated for their bravery on active service in Afghanistan have been talking to ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Hereford and Worcester about their experiences in the war zone.

The 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters) served in Afghanistan on Operation Herrick from March to October 2007.

Private Paul Willmott from Pershore - awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross

He told ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Hereford and Worcester that coming under fire for the first time was an unforgettable experience:

Private Paul Willmott

"I was still scared, not knowing what was going to happen, but once I got into it I was fine.Ìý

"It's just basically that your skills and drills kick in, when you hear rounds actually being fired back at you.Ìý

"It's just unreal – you can't really explain what it's like."

The Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC) is a second highest military decoration a soldier can be awarded.

It is given "in recognition of an act or acts of conspicuous gallantry during active operations against the enemy".

Warrant Officer First Class Charles KimberlinÌý from Worcester – awarded the Military Cross

"I was a liaison officer to a Czech special-forces unit – a 14 man strike unit, working on operations about seven kilometres forward of the British Lines. (We were) locating, identifying and then striking enemy targets…

"During one of those strikes a rocket propelled grenade landed quite close by, and one of my Czech colleagues had his foot blown off.

"I was involved in surpassing enemy positions forward of him, allowing him to be extracted, before being extracted myself.

He told Howard Bentham at Breakfast about what it was like to come under fire:

"Once my colleague was injured it seemed to focus everybody, including myself - the switch was flicked, and it was almost automatic to get that guy out, whether you were at risk or not."

WO Kimberlin says serving in Afghanistan is the toughest challenged he's faced in a long army career:

"I've served in Afghanistan on a previous tour, and I've also served in Northern Ireland... and also in Sierra Leone during the war there.Ìý

"I'd say that in 21 years serving, Afghanistan is the hardest fighting I've ever seen.

"I'm immensely proud, not only to have been awarded what I've been awarded, but also to have served with all the guys out there, whether they've been awarded medals or not.

He's adamant that the operation has made life better for ordinary people in Afghanistan:

"I've seen out there the improvements that have been made, once the ground has been cleared, and the civilians have been allowed to start to live their lives normally again.Ìý

"I know there's a lot in the press at the moment that it's a slow process… but it is working, so as a personal point of view I think it's worthwhile."

The Military Cross is the third highest military decoration given to officers and other ranks of the British Army.

It's given in recognition of "an act or acts of exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy on land to all members, of any rank …".

Territorial Army soldier Lieutenant Arron Browne from Worcesershire – mentioned in dispatches

"We had quite an exciting tour – we initially went out there peacekeeping…ÌýÌý

"We've had ambushes from the Taliban, some quite extreme heavy-fought ambushes…

Lieutenant Arron Browne

"I've had a LandÌý Rover disintegrate underneath me, and walk away from it... even jumping into trenches and finding Taliban in them, and having to engage those Taliban, at close range.Ìý

"So we've had the full spectrum, as well as being in platoon houses that were being attacked on a daily basis, with Taliban mortar, rocket fire, machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades.

He says his award is not for one particular act of bravery:

"It's actually for a number of events – it's down for five major engagements.

"I led a fire platoon and we were at the forefront of the company moves – we also acted as a reconnaissance group – so we were... usually the first to find trouble and fight our way through it.

He also says he was surprised to get the award:

"It came out of the blue – anything for gallantry is a big award and I'm quite shocked by it…Ìý

"There are certain individuals who are picking it up, but it should really be going to a group, rather than just myself."