Quotable Quote: “Turns out if you give someone something to shoot at .... they start shooting at it!”- Dan
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Continuing with Part B of our interview with Daniel Keighran, VC.
NB: We recommend listening to Part A first as it is an incredible scene setter.
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In this 2nd episode we talk about the action in Afghanistan where Dan was awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia. His version of events and what he thinks looking back at his actions.
For his role in the action at the Battle of Derapet the citation for the Victoria Cross reads:
‘For the most conspicuous acts of gallantry and extreme devotion to duty in action in circumstances of great peril’.
We then talk discharge from the Army in 2011, when Dan commenced work in the mining industry. Initially working in exploration drilling throughout Western Australia and then as an underground shotfirer (blaster) in a gold mine outside of Kalgoorlie.
It was in his cottage in Kalgoorlie that he received notification that the Chief of Army was coming to visit him. In the tiny lounge at Kalgoorlie Airport, the Chief of Army handed him an envelope…. The contents of that envelope would change his life.
In 2015, Dan returned to his home state of Queensland and completed his MBA- we talk about this and life with a VC, but beyond the military.
Intelligence Summary (INTSUM)
01:30 Dan’s back again in Afghanistan…. Early days and the ‘42 Northing’
05:00 A deliberate decision on risk that they knew would mean contact
06:20 Mentoring the Afghan National Army
08:08 Green on blue attacks
10:10 Crossing the 42 Northing! And what happens next!?
13:20 Troops in Contact
14:45 Dan’s first thoughts and actions in that contact
16:20 Dan send his first radio communications to his Platoon Commander
18:25 How Dan identified enemy positions to enable fire to be brought to bear
20:30 Friendly casualties – Crash gets shot.
Targets from 50-500 metres.
22:45 The situation has fundamentally changed …. And what Dan does then!
24:00 What Dan wasn’t fearful about.
27:20 The hardest thing that Dan had to do that day.
29:45 Out of Afghanistan. Reflections. What was the ‘why’?
32:00 And out of the Army (shortly thereafter).
32:50 Into Kalgoorlie ….. and into mining. Dan’s transition out of the Army.
36:45 General Morrison calls Dan in Kalgoorlie.
38:40 General Morrison arrives in Kalgoorlie…. And Dan is handed ‘that envelope’.
How you find out that you have been nominated for the Victoria Cross.
40:30 Life starts to change…. And Mum’s response.
41:45 Cowboy’s (Dad’s) rig at Government House.
44:00 Public relations for Dan. How did it sit with him?
47:45 Dan is offered a position on the Board of the Australian War Memorial.
50:00 Higher education ….. that Dan hadn’t really thought about.
52:30 Dan’s MBA and its relationship with the book, ‘Courage Under Fire’.
54:30 Why Dan didn’t write his book earlier.
55:00 The supportive nature of other VC recipients. Advice from Mark Donaldson, VC
56:20 ‘This will change your life’- David Morrison said. How has it?
Quotable Quote: “If you give someone something to shoot at they start shooting at it!”- Dan
Music
Thanks to all our artists who allow us use of their music. In this episode:
The Externals – available on Spotify
S1E15a- A Tale of Two Andrews – Two Federal Politicians / But No Politics! Andrew Hastie (MP) and Andrew Leigh (MP)
Special Episode- SAS Leadership with Ben Pronk and Tim Curtis (via Life on the Line Podcast)
@RV5- ANZAC Day, Life on the Line Interview, Sabine Bird, Simon Bailey and Leanne Barron and Questions from Listeners
S1E14- Leanne Barron- When Home is a Battlefield- Combatting Domestic Violence
S1E13 - Simon Bailey- Ordering Your House, Communications and Life!
S1E12- Sabine Bird- World Champion Endurance Cyclist - It Takes More Than Just a Bike
@RV4- Questions from Listeners, Clients and from Ben.... and a Quick Quiz
S1E11- Jason Semple- The Strength of the Thin Blue Line
@RV3 - Questions .... and Reflections on the Brigadier Rupert Hoskin and Rod Bridge Episodes
S1E10- Nick Caldwell- Building Elite Performance- From the Weight Room to the Board Room
S1E9- Rod Bridge - On Loss, Courage, Bravery and Growth
S1E8- Brigadier Rupert Hoskin, AM - Preparing Junior Leaders for the Battlefield
S1E7- Tim Jack Adams- No Nonsense Mindfulness- How's Your Battery?
@RV2- Questions from Listeners
S1E6- Elizabeth Armstrong- Solving the Insoluble: Up Close with Myanmar's Wicked Problems
S1E5- Mission is Nothing. Intent is Everything
@RV1- Questions from Listeners
S1E3b- Leadership is a Contact Sport- & Here's Your Mouthgard!
S1E3a- Leadership is a Contact Sport- & Here's Your Mouthguard!
S1E2- Dr Dan Pronk, The Average 70kg D*ckhead
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