This Is Why We Stand: Sir Adrian Carton de Wiart

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I have the deepest admiration for the people of England and their proud history. My thoughts and prayers are with our greatest ally in this world after yesterdays terror attack in London. Regardless of the odds or circumstances, the United Kingdom has never backed down against any foe. I wanted to offer a tribute to a legendary soldier who epitomized that unwavering sprit. Sir Adrian Carton de Wiart was a British Army officer who served in the Boer War, World War One, and World War Two. Today he is remembered as the “unkillable soldier.” During the course of those wars, Wiart was shot in the face, head, stomach, ankle, leg, hip, and ear. He survived two plane crashes, tunneled out of a prisoner of war camp, and tore off his own fingers when a doctor refused to amputate them. He lost his hand during the Battle of the Somme during World War One. Wiart was then seen pulling the pins of grenades out with his teeth and hurling them at the enemy with his one good arm. During the battle for the village of La Boiselle, three other commanding officers were killed. Wiart took charge of all units fighting in the area and led them from the front, holding off the enemy. He was awarded Great Britain’s highest military honor, the Victoria Cross for his actions at La Boiselle. His words echoed his bravery, “We are told that the pen is mightier than the sword, but I know which of these weapons I would choose.” Carton de Wiart is a reminder that there is no force on earth that can stop us when we have the courage to stand and fight. As Americans, we stand together with our English brothers. We are allies until the end.