S2E26b – Daniel Keighran, VC- Courage Under Fire - a podcast by Ben Pronk, DSC & Tim Curtis

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

 

Further episodes of The Unforgiving60

Further podcasts by Ben Pronk, DSC & Tim Curtis

Website of Ben Pronk, DSC & Tim Curtis