Queen's Birthday Honours: Beyond the call of duty

Staff Sergeant Robert Victor Keith McGee. Photo / NZDF

Staff Sergeant Robert Victor Keith McGee
NZ Distinguished Service Decoration for services to the NZ Defence Force

Displaying leadership skills beyond his rank and compassion for fellow soldiers were two of the reasons behind the Queen's Birthday Honour for Staff Sergeant Rob McGee.

While a patrol commander with the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Bamyan Province, Afghanistan, Mr McGee's patrol came under fire. He showed excellent leadership, suppressing enemy positions and successfully extracting two injured solders. One serviceman was killed. He was involved in two further events in which three soldiers died. Mr McGee was rewarded for displaying leadership skills beyond those expected of his rank, his comradeship in dealing with the loss of fellow soldiers and attending to the wellbeing of the remaining patrol members.