Prince Harry rejects 'hero' reports on return from front line
Prince Harry and fellow soldiers returned to the UK yesterday
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Prince Harry has returned back to the UK after being withdrawn from Afghanistan due to details of his deployment being leaked in the international press. |  |
Sunday, 02, Mar 2008 08:16
Prince Harry has dismissed reports calling him a hero and revealed how the bravery of his fellow soldiers in Afghanistan was "humbling".
Harry was withdrawn from Afghanistan on Friday, returning to the UK yesterday, after details of his 10-week deployment in the Helmand Province were leaked by the international media.
He has claimed however that he would like to return to the frontline "very, very soon" and said the experience has been one of the happiest times of his life.
The prince told reporters after he landed at RAF Brize Norton yesterday that his achievement was in no way comparable to that of his fellow soldiers.
"I wouldn't say I'm a hero," he said.
"There were two injured guys who came back on the plane with us who were essentially comatose throughout the whole way.
"One had lost two limbs – a left arm and a right arm – and another guy who was saved by his mate's body being in the way but took shrapnel to the neck," Harry said.
"Those are the heroes, those were guy who had been blown up by a mine that they had no idea about, serving their country, doing a normal patrol."
On fighting the Taliban, Harry said: "You do what you have to do, what's necessary to save your own guys. If you need to drop a bomb, worst case scenario, then you will, but that's just the way it is.
"It's not nice to drop bombs and give that position to people to have to do but as I say, to save lives that's what happens."
Harry said his fellow troops were "gutted" that he had been pulled out but said that he was thankful to the British media for maintaining the blackout regarding his deployment.
He also added that he hoped the situation would now allow his brother Prince William to be able to see action on the front line.
The prince said he was happy to be home but also wished he was still out in Afghanistan with his fellow soldiers.
"I suppose deep down inside it's quite nice [to be back], I'm looking forward to having a bath … but no, I would like to have stayed back with the guys."
Harry's military future is now uncertain but he admitted that he had already spoken to his commanding officer about a return to the front line.
"I would love to go back and I've already mentioned it to him that I want to go back very, very soon."