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Posthumous medal for Army bomb hero
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A bomb disposal hero who defused 13 Taliban improvised explosive devices (IEDs) by hand in 36 hours of continuous activity has been awarded a posthumous George Medal.
Captain Daniel Shepherd, 28, of the Royal Logistic Corps, was killed attempting to disarm an IED at Nad-e-Ali in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, in July last year.
He was among more than 150 servicemen and women, many of whom served in Afghanistan last year, to be awarded honours.
Capt Shepherd, from Lincoln, personally cleared 13 IEDs from a drugs bazaar without the use of a bomb disposal robot, protective suit or specialist electronic equipment.
He did it by hand over 36 hours while under sporadic enemy fire.
His medal citation reads: "He was an inspiration to his team. His personal actions directly and demonstrably saved the lives of innumerable Afghans, coalition and British forces before he made the ultimate sacrifice."
Six Conspicuous Gallantry Crosses were announced, including one for Sergeant Marc Giles, of the Mercian Regiment, who rescued a seriously wounded Afghan soldier by throwing him across his shoulders and running across an area under enemy fire.
Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe, 39, from Kirtlington, near Oxford, former commanding officer of 1st Battalion the Welsh Guards, who was killed in Afghanistan last July, was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service posthumously.
