John McAleese

Man, 62 years old...it had to be grief...what a shame...

I hear of service families like this that tragedy befalls and then I see "others", such as your rioters/looters, and I get really pissed (that's angry in Yank-speak).

At least he's with his son again...

Sad news.

Have fun in the firing range in the sky Braveheart!!

Last Word had a brief section on McAleese tonight:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b013r2hb

According to his friend one of his many nicknames was Baldrick :-)

Nice tribute.

This is what "Andy McNab" said of him:
John (Mac) McAleese was an SAS legend , a word I don't use lightly. His was an outstanding soldier, winning the Military Medal and proving himself time and time again, during the Falkland’s war, the Iranian Embassy Siege in London, and Northern Ireland.

I remember feeling honoured to meet him when I joined B Squadron of the SAS and first met him in the jungles of South East Asia. As I walked up to him, he was practising his golf swing with his assault rifle, and he smiled at me, the new boy. With a deep Scottish accent that I could just about make out, he greeted me with a simple ‘’alright mate?’.

For the next ten years I had the privilege of going on operations with him in South East Asia, the Middle east and Northern Ireland. I learnt a lot. .John was what the SAS called a 'complete solider'. He could overcome whatever problem was thrown at him, and that was because he had the one quality that is prized in all soldiers: determination. It gave him the drive to keep going when others would stop, and that meant that men wanted to follow him.

John Mac's son, Paul, who was tragically killed in Afghanistan two years ago spoke of his father with the same adulation that we all did. I spent a night out with Paul just before he deployed to Afghanistan, and he spoke of how much he wanted to be like his Dad and join the SAS. As a soldier himself, Paul understood the incredible professionalism of his father. Just like the rest of us.

I remember John giving orders to a patrol I was part of in Northern Ireland. We were about to ambush an Active Service Unit of the IRA who were going to attempt to kill a joint Police and Army patrol with RPGs. As always, John's plan was direct and crystal clear, which tended to make them highly successful. At the end, one of our patrol, asked a stupid question: ‘John, what if the ASU get past our guys when they are trying to cut them off?'. He picked up his HK assault rifle and said gravely, ‘No one can run faster than Misters Heckler and Kock.’ That phrase went on to become famous throughout the Regiment just as John was. An SAS legend.

By Andy McNab

A true warrior and a great hero.

Put to rest Yesterday (22nd appropriate date) at Hereford Cathedral,it was busy ,coffin draped with Union flag and a large wreath with regimental motto on the top,coffin was carried by old friends from the Embassy days, Rest in Peace.

RIP indeed.

Teapot