LIEUTENANT COLONEL COVERS SOLDIER WITH HIS OWN BODY WHEN LATTER DROPS GRENADE

Noyan Tapan

Dec 17, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 17, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian president Serzh
Sargsyan has signed a decree on awarding a Medal for Valour to the
deputy commander of military unit No 25836 of the RA defence ministry,
Lieutenant Colonel Samvel Martirosian for bravery and devotion in
performing his official duties.

During practical exercises on combat grenade throwing at the
shooting-range of the military unit on December 12, a sergeant dropped
a grenade which exploded. At that moment Lieutenant Colonel Martirosian
covered the sergeant with his own body, saving his life.

Serzh Sargsyan handed the high state award to Samvel Martirosian on
December 17. Thanking him for his service, the Supreme Commander of
the RA Armed Forces stated: "I am glad and proud that the number
of officers ready to display an example of valour and bravery if
necessary is growing in our army. The profession of a serviceman is
such that his life may be endangered even in the peaceful time".

S. Sargsyan considered it especially praiseworthy that a serviceman
endangers his own life in order to save a subordinate person –
a soldier.

"This is how a commander should behave," he underlined.