Written 5 months ago by Angel Croitor

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Taoiseach Enda Kenny has announced that the men of “A” company will be awarded medals for their bravery and courage during the Siege of Jadotville.

John Gorman, from Horseleap, is one of the men from said company that spoke to Will Faulkner on Midlands Today about the tremendous feeling that comes with being recognised appropriately after almost 50 years. His spearheaded the campaign to change the public perception of their surrender at Jadotville that was regarded as ‘cowardly’.

‘All I wanted Will was it announced before anymore of us went.’

In the prior years to this award John says that he got a lot of opposition to his campaign that wanted to remove the connotation of the company and their efforts at Jadotville. John didn’t give up regardless of the years of negative press and public opinion.

‘But as I said if a door doesn’t open I keep knocking and if a phone doesnt answer I’ll keep ringing. I had to be that way about it because if you’re too nice you get nothing.’

Listen to Mr. Gorman as he highlights the relief, the struggle, and the condition of some of the men that are still alive after returning from the Siege of Jadotville in 1961.

 

 

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