Corporal Mark Donaldson, is the first recipient of the Victoria Cross for Australia, awarded for gallantry, the highest award in the Australian honours system. Then Trooper Donaldson was a member of the Special Air Service Regiment when he exposed himself to enemy fire to protect injured troops and then rescued an interpreter under heavy enemy fire in the Battle of Khaz Oruzgan during Operation Slipper, the Australian contribution to the War in Afghanistan.-