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Ryan pictured during a tour of duty in Afghanistan
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Modesty of Army hero who saved pals’ lives
30/ 4/2008
A HEROIC soldier from Failsworth honoured after saving the lives of two colleagues in Afghanistan said it was "just a normal day at the office".
Lance Corporal Ryan Mumford dragged his pals to safety after the tower they were in was blasted with grenades.
The 26-year-old former St Augustine’s pupil received a Joint Comm-anders Commen-dation for gallantry following action in Helmand Prov-ince with the 2nd Batt-alion of the Royal Regim-ent of Fusiliers.
During the two-and-a-half month tour of duty, his company endured almost relentless attacks.
The citation on his commendation reads: "Aware that they were in this room and without regard for his own personal safety, L/Cpl Mumford took it upon himself to run in and drag both soldiers to safety. Fortunately neither was seriously wounded, however both were in severe shock. Immediately after L/Cpl Mumford’s incredibly brave and selfless act the room was hit again by a further two rifle rounds.It is highly likely that if L/Cpl Mumford had not pulled the soldiers out of the building so quickly they would have been seriously wounded or killed."
The tour was the second served by L/Cpl Mumford in Afghan-istan. He has also served in Iraq and Northern Ireland during eight years with the Army. He was presented with his commendation during a St George’s Day parade.
L/Cpl Mumford has been married to wife Lindsay for two years and his mum Patricia lives in Failsworth
He said: "It was just a normal day at the office – that’s what it was like all the time. I don’t deserve the commendation any more than anyone else I was fighting with. We felt constantly threatened there. We never took off our armour. When I saw the first grenade land I knew there were two men manning the machine gun in that room and that I had to do something."
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