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From march to August 2006 Kroon, still a lieutenant, was dispatched to the Afghan province of Uruzghan. His job was [[reconnaissance]] and to map out the area so [[Task Force Uruzgan]] could be established. During a patrol lasting nine days Kroon encountered a group of [[Taliban]] soldiers. In the resulting battle, while heavily outnumbered, he was forced to request [[final protective fire|air support on his own position]] by a [[Lockheed AC-130|Lockheed AC-130 gunship aircraft]]; he ordered his men to take cover and guided the American bombers to the position. Later, his platoon was forced to take cover in an Afghan house and swatted a number of attacks during the night on their position. No men fell under Kroon's command; the resulting Taliban losses were severe.<ref>[http://www.nov-officieren.nl/Oudesite/Carre/Carre%202009/Januari/Ca200901021.pdf Leiderschap onder extreme omstandigheden], F.A. Ebbelaar, Carré, 2009, nr. 1, pp. 24-25</ref> |
From march to August 2006 Kroon, still a lieutenant, was dispatched to the Afghan province of Uruzghan. His job was [[reconnaissance]] and to map out the area so [[Task Force Uruzgan]] could be established. During a patrol lasting nine days Kroon encountered a group of [[Taliban]] soldiers. In the resulting battle, while heavily outnumbered, he was forced to request [[final protective fire|air support on his own position]] by a [[Lockheed AC-130|Lockheed AC-130 gunship aircraft]]; he ordered his men to take cover and guided the American bombers to the position. Later, his platoon was forced to take cover in an Afghan house and swatted a number of attacks during the night on their position. No men fell under Kroon's command; the resulting Taliban losses were severe.<ref>[http://www.nov-officieren.nl/Oudesite/Carre/Carre%202009/Januari/Ca200901021.pdf Leiderschap onder extreme omstandigheden], F.A. Ebbelaar, Carré, 2009, nr. 1, pp. 24-25</ref> |
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In all combat situations under his command he did not lose any men. |
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During daylight Kroon and his men emerged to retrieve intelligence from the deceased Taliban soldiers to establish their identity. Kroon's men, very agitated and full of adrenaline, started acting unprofessionally, kicking bodies and firing rounds at wounded enemies. Kroon straightened his men out and ordered the wounded to be treated and the dead to be covered. Kroon later said in an interview to understand the behaviour of his men but he, as a leader, was making sure the platoon acted professionally. The leadership and ability to correct his battle-hardened group of commandos was later commended by his superiors. |
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Kroon saved the life of an American soldier, a partner in the coalition, by relieving their unit in battle so the injured soldier could be retrieved and treated. All this while the gunner of his vehicle was wounded. In all combat situations under his command he did not lose any men. |
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These actions and his general behaviour as a leader were the reason both his subordinates and superiors recommended him for the award. After two years of research by the department of defense, the DoD recommended to Her Majesty Queen Beatrix to award Kroon the Military William Order. On May 29, 2009, the first in over fifty years, Kroon will be made Knight 4th class of the Military William Order.<ref>[http://www.defensie.nl/missies/nieuws/isaf/2009/02/10/46127423/Eerste_Militaire_Willems_Orde_in_50_jaar Eerste Militaire Willems-Orde in 50 jaar], Ministerie van Defensie, 10 februari 2009</ref> |
These actions and his general behaviour as a leader were the reason both his subordinates and superiors recommended him for the award. After two years of research by the department of defense, the DoD recommended to Her Majesty Queen Beatrix to award Kroon the Military William Order. On May 29, 2009, the first in over fifty years, Kroon will be made Knight 4th class of the Military William Order.<ref>[http://www.defensie.nl/missies/nieuws/isaf/2009/02/10/46127423/Eerste_Militaire_Willems_Orde_in_50_jaar Eerste Militaire Willems-Orde in 50 jaar], Ministerie van Defensie, 10 februari 2009</ref> |
Revision as of 22:29, 28 May 2009
Marco Kroon | |
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Service/ | Korps Commandotroepen |
Years of service | 1989-present |
Rank | Captain |
Battles/wars | Bosnian War Afghanistan War Iraq War |
Awards | Military William Order |
Captain Marco Kroon (Den Bosch, 15 July 1970) is a Dutch soldier serving with the Korps Commandotroepen.
He is assigned to Special Operations and will be the first Dutch soldier since 1955 who will receive the Military William Order, the highest military honour in the Netherlands. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands will award Captain Kroon the knighthood on 29 May 2009 for his' "Bravery, Loyalty and Leadership beyond the call of duty". It is comparable in prestige to the US Medal of Honor or the UK Victoria Cross, but far less awarded.
Military career
Kroon finished high school in 1989 at the Sint-Janslyceum (Den Bosch). Subsequently he started in the same year his military career as a marine in the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps. In 1991 he was dispatched for Operation Provide Comfort, a humanitarian operation for Kurds in northern Iraq. After this he was transferred for a year to Marine Barracks Savaneta in Aruba. In 1993 he was sent out a second time as assistant section leader in a Marine platoon for the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) in Cambodja. After this second mission he transferred to the Army at which he started infantry NCO training at the Dutch Royal Military Academy in Weert.
After graduating he became platoon commander at the 17th Armored Infantry Battalion in Oirschot. With this unit he left for a mission in Bosnia for six months leading an infantry group.
In 1998 he transferred to the Korps Commandotroepen in Roosendaal. After successfully earning his Green Beret he fulfilled a management position in the corps. In 2000 he once again left for Bosnia. This time as a member of the Joint Commissioned Observer mission. After this mission he left again for the Royal Dutch Military Academy in Breda. This time to become an officer. Post-graduation he returned to his unit, the 17th Armored Infantry Battalion, and left for Bosnia for the third time now as platoon commander in the Stabilization Force (SFOR) mission.
In 2004 he returned to the Special Forces in Roosendaal as platoon commander at the 108th Commando Company. Here he had several management positions and was dispatched once again to Iraq in 2004 for mission Stabilisation Force Iraq and three times to Afghanistan (2005, 2006 en 2007).
He is currently a staff officer at the intelligence centre of the special forces, training other commandos, testing equipment and tactical procedures.
Military William Order
From march to August 2006 Kroon, still a lieutenant, was dispatched to the Afghan province of Uruzghan. His job was reconnaissance and to map out the area so Task Force Uruzgan could be established. During a patrol lasting nine days Kroon encountered a group of Taliban soldiers. In the resulting battle, while heavily outnumbered, he was forced to request air support on his own position by a Lockheed AC-130 gunship aircraft; he ordered his men to take cover and guided the American bombers to the position. Later, his platoon was forced to take cover in an Afghan house and swatted a number of attacks during the night on their position. No men fell under Kroon's command; the resulting Taliban losses were severe.[1]
In all combat situations under his command he did not lose any men.
These actions and his general behaviour as a leader were the reason both his subordinates and superiors recommended him for the award. After two years of research by the department of defense, the DoD recommended to Her Majesty Queen Beatrix to award Kroon the Military William Order. On May 29, 2009, the first in over fifty years, Kroon will be made Knight 4th class of the Military William Order.[2]
Personal
He lives with his wife in ’s Hertogenbosch and has two children. His wife runs a café in which, besides his full-time job at Defense, he helps out frequently.
See also
References
- ^ Leiderschap onder extreme omstandigheden, F.A. Ebbelaar, Carré, 2009, nr. 1, pp. 24-25
- ^ Eerste Militaire Willems-Orde in 50 jaar, Ministerie van Defensie, 10 februari 2009
External links
- Hoge onderscheiding voor bijzondere acties, RTL Nieuws, 2 feb 2009
- Marco Kroon in DWDD, De wereld draait door, 12 feb 2009
- Kenniscentrum SO opgericht in 1997