A ROYAL Marine dubbed "Harry's hero" yesterday told how the prince had sent him a good luck message before he and a comrade collected medals for services in Afghanistan.
Ben McBean, 21, who lost an arm and a leg earlier this year, said walking up to collect his medal was the proudest day of his life.
He added that Prince Harry, who had previously paid tribute to him after they met on a flight to England, had sent
him the message on the eve of the ceremony.
Marine McBean and Marine Mark Ormrod, who also lost limbs in a landmine blast, were cheered on by thousands of family members, friends and wellwishers as they stood with their 40 Commando unit at Norton Manor Camp in Taunton, Somerset.
After the ceremony, Marine McBean, from Plymouth, told how he had kept in contact with the prince via e-mail since they flew home together in March.
Marine McBean, who has only been back walking for three weeks, said: "Today has been the proudest of my life. I've been out to battle, I got blown up and now I've got a medal in my hand to show for it."
Speaking of his friendship with the prince, he added: "We speak all the time – often about completely random things. He wished me luck for today."
Marine Ormrod, who trained alongside Harry, lost both legs and an arm when he stepped on a mine on Christmas Eve while serving in Helmand Province.
The 24-year-old, also from Plymouth, walks unaided using new "bionic" legs after three months of intensive training.
Marine Ormrod said walking up to collect his medal had always been "the driving force" behind his remarkable recovery after stepping on a landmine.
He said: "It was awesome. It was one of the biggest targets I had set myself – and to be walking for this has been such an achievement. I really had to work hard to receive my medal."
Marine Ormrod hit the headlines in April when he chatted to the prince as Harry visited a rehabilitation centre in Epsom, Surrey.
Marines from 40 Commando took on the responsibility for Battle Group North in Afghanistan's Helmand Province from September 2007 until April, where they operated from forward bases in the Gereshk and Sangin valleys. They conducted numerous operations including the taking of Musa Qala.
As the Marines gathered in front of the cheering crowd yesterday, two Harrier TR9s flew over the barracks to mark the start of the ceremony.
The troops were led past friends and family by a military band as Marine Ormrod, of Charlie Company, and Marine McBean, of Echo Company, looked on from the sidelines.
When they were escorted out to their companies with barely a stumble, to receive their medals, an huge cheer went up from the waiting crowd.
The full article contains 480 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
