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Courage Under Fire
'
A man selfless in the face of threat. Courageous in the face of terror. Generous in the face of suffering. And humble in the face of an honour bestowed.' Dame Quentin Bryce
On 24 August 2010, in battle in Afghanistan, Corporal Daniel Keighran risked his life in a hail of gunfire to save his fellow soldiers. His actions saw him awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia, making him the 99th Australian to receive our country's highest award for bravery.
Courage Under Fire tells of Daniel's unlikely journey to become one of Australia's most celebrated soldiers.
Growing up was tough for Daniel. When he was eleven, his father showed up in his life, for the first time, with a gunshot wound to the stomach. He relocated his son, daughter and their mother 400 kilometres away from their loving grandparents and a coastal home to a shack with a dirt floor in outback Queensland. From then on, Daniel fought to maintain a sense of order and purpose amid the chaos of family violence and criminal activity.
Inspired by his much-loved grandfather, a WWII veteran, Daniel joined the army. There he found the structure that was missing from his teen years. Although just 17, Daniel adapted quickly to the demands of life in the military, always willing to learn, always wanting to grow, always seeking to emulate the example of his grandfather.
Courage Under Fire is an outstanding military memoir, packed with tales of multiple tours, accounts of extraordinary camaraderie, and a reflection on the unseen cost of service. Most of all it is a testament to the idea that anything is possible if you know what you stand for.
PRAISE FOR COURAGE UNDER FIRE
'One of Australia's most reluctant heroes. A raw, honest, humorous and inspirational story of a modern soldier and the burden of heroism.' Mark Donaldson VC
'From a tough upbringing in outback Queensland to selfless courage on the battlefield in Afghanistan to save his mates, this book tells the inspirational story of a soldier's soldier.' Air Chief Marshal Sir Angus Houston AK, AFC (Ret'd)
'Daniel Keighran would say that he was an ordinary man, just a soldier doing his job. From the occasional chaos and sometimes drama, of his upbringing, in the Army he became remarkable. His gallantry and willingness to put his life on the line is an inspiration to every other man and woman in uniform and to the wider Australian community. His humility and self-effacement since his award only adds to our admiration of this exceptional man.' General Sir Peter Cosgrove AK, AC(Mil), CVO, MC (Ret'd)
'Courage Under Fire reveals the character of a man who wears humility more comfortably than his medals. Leadership can't be taught, but it can be learned. The power is in the story. To read this one is to be a better person and a better leader.' Dr Brendan Nelson AO
'Daniel Keighran's story, from humble beginnings to national celebrity, is one of personal character, extraordinary courage and deep compassion for his mates. His story will make all Australians proud.' Major General John Cantwell AO, DSC (Ret'd)
'The Royal Australian Regiment, to which Dan belonged, has the motto "Duty First". He is the epitome of what that requires of those who serve in its ranks. He is a great Australian with a great Australian story to tell.'
Lieutenant General David Morrison AO (Ret'd)
On 24 August 2010, in battle in Afghanistan, Corporal Daniel Keighran risked his life in a hail of gunfire to save his fellow soldiers. His actions saw him awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia, making him the 99th Australian to receive our country's highest award for bravery.
Courage Under Fire tells of Daniel's unlikely journey to become one of Australia's most celebrated soldiers.
Growing up was tough for Daniel. When he was eleven, his father showed up in his life, for the first time, with a gunshot wound to the stomach. He relocated his son, daughter and their mother 400 kilometres away from their loving grandparents and a coastal home to a shack with a dirt floor in outback Queensland. From then on, Daniel fought to maintain a sense of order and purpose amid the chaos of family violence and criminal activity.
Inspired by his much-loved grandfather, a WWII veteran, Daniel joined the army. There he found the structure that was missing from his teen years. Although just 17, Daniel adapted quickly to the demands of life in the military, always willing to learn, always wanting to grow, always seeking to emulate the example of his grandfather.
Courage Under Fire is an outstanding military memoir, packed with tales of multiple tours, accounts of extraordinary camaraderie, and a reflection on the unseen cost of service. Most of all it is a testament to the idea that anything is possible if you know what you stand for.
PRAISE FOR COURAGE UNDER FIRE
'One of Australia's most reluctant heroes. A raw, honest, humorous and inspirational story of a modern soldier and the burden of heroism.' Mark Donaldson VC
'From a tough upbringing in outback Queensland to selfless courage on the battlefield in Afghanistan to save his mates, this book tells the inspirational story of a soldier's soldier.' Air Chief Marshal Sir Angus Houston AK, AFC (Ret'd)
'Daniel Keighran would say that he was an ordinary man, just a soldier doing his job. From the occasional chaos and sometimes drama, of his upbringing, in the Army he became remarkable. His gallantry and willingness to put his life on the line is an inspiration to every other man and woman in uniform and to the wider Australian community. His humility and self-effacement since his award only adds to our admiration of this exceptional man.' General Sir Peter Cosgrove AK, AC(Mil), CVO, MC (Ret'd)
'Courage Under Fire reveals the character of a man who wears humility more comfortably than his medals. Leadership can't be taught, but it can be learned. The power is in the story. To read this one is to be a better person and a better leader.' Dr Brendan Nelson AO
'Daniel Keighran's story, from humble beginnings to national celebrity, is one of personal character, extraordinary courage and deep compassion for his mates. His story will make all Australians proud.' Major General John Cantwell AO, DSC (Ret'd)
'The Royal Australian Regiment, to which Dan belonged, has the motto "Duty First". He is the epitome of what that requires of those who serve in its ranks. He is a great Australian with a great Australian story to tell.'
Lieutenant General David Morrison AO (Ret'd)
384 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2020
5 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 6, 2023
This is a warts and all look at the life of Daniel Keighran, from his life in country Queensland, where he would spend time fishing with his grandfather in the local river. His grandfather was, until joining the Australian Army, the only male role model for young Dan.
Dan served two tours in Afghanistan, where his cool head under pressure led him to receive the Victoria Cross, Australia's highest military award. Life for Dan, both in and out of the forces, hasn't always been easy, and the effects of which are clearly evident as the story evolves.
A great read. The story of a true hero.
Dan served two tours in Afghanistan, where his cool head under pressure led him to receive the Victoria Cross, Australia's highest military award. Life for Dan, both in and out of the forces, hasn't always been easy, and the effects of which are clearly evident as the story evolves.
A great read. The story of a true hero.
May 25, 2021
Daniel Keighran was the 99th Australian awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award in the Australian (and Imperial) honours and awards system for valour in the presence of the enemy during combat.
On 24 August 2010, Keighran was part of a small combined Australian-Afghan combat team from Mentoring Task Force – One that pushed into the village of Derapet in an area of Uruzgan province in Afghanistan that was openly hostile to any previous coalition presence. Ambushed by a far superior enemy force, the combat team sought cover in a nearby aqueduct while Keighran took to the nearby high ground to establish a forward line of troops and identify where the fire was coming from. The situation deteriorated when Corporal Jared McKinney, an Australian soldier from the quick reaction force sent to support them, was mortally wounded as they moved into an exposed area, putting he and the combat first aiders who rushed to treat him in grave danger. Seeing this, Keighran repeatedly ran out into the storm of Taliban fire, the rounds snapping about him as he drew fire away from McKinney and those providing him with medical care. A US Blackhawk helicopter eventually landed to extract McKinney who subsequently died of his wounds; the combat team were able to break contact and withdraw to their patrol base without incurring any further losses.
And so ended the engagement at Derapet. Keighran saw out the rest of his Afghanistan tour, returned to Australia, discharged from the Army and returned to civilian life, finding work as a blaster at a Kalgoorlie gold mine. Having moved on in his private and professional life, Keighran was stunned to have the Chief of Army fly to Kalgoorlie to tell him he had been recommended the Victoria Cross for Australia for his actions two years earlier. Reluctantly accepting the award on behalf of his combat team, Keighran was plucked from the relative obscurity of the Australian Defence Force and thrust into the public spotlight where he became first and only member of the Royal Australian Regiment to have been awarded the Victoria Cross.
Courage Under Fire is not a retelling of the engagement at Derapet, although Keighran’s humble and self-effacing version of it is included in one short chapter towards the end. It’s the story of Dan’s life eloquently articulated by veteran writer Tony Park that spans Keighran’s tough and chaotic upbringing in rural Queensland, the stabilising influence of his grandfather, and finding solace and stability in the Australian Army and the brotherhood of the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (6RAR), as recounted through vignettes of operational service in Iraq, East Timor and two trips to Afghanistan. It also offers a rare insight into the burden of the Victoria Cross and the personal toll it takes on the few who wear it.
Above all, Courage Under Fire is a raw and honest portrayal of one man’s ability to face the myriad of challenges presented in life and the way purpose and resilience can be found in overcoming them. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
On 24 August 2010, Keighran was part of a small combined Australian-Afghan combat team from Mentoring Task Force – One that pushed into the village of Derapet in an area of Uruzgan province in Afghanistan that was openly hostile to any previous coalition presence. Ambushed by a far superior enemy force, the combat team sought cover in a nearby aqueduct while Keighran took to the nearby high ground to establish a forward line of troops and identify where the fire was coming from. The situation deteriorated when Corporal Jared McKinney, an Australian soldier from the quick reaction force sent to support them, was mortally wounded as they moved into an exposed area, putting he and the combat first aiders who rushed to treat him in grave danger. Seeing this, Keighran repeatedly ran out into the storm of Taliban fire, the rounds snapping about him as he drew fire away from McKinney and those providing him with medical care. A US Blackhawk helicopter eventually landed to extract McKinney who subsequently died of his wounds; the combat team were able to break contact and withdraw to their patrol base without incurring any further losses.
And so ended the engagement at Derapet. Keighran saw out the rest of his Afghanistan tour, returned to Australia, discharged from the Army and returned to civilian life, finding work as a blaster at a Kalgoorlie gold mine. Having moved on in his private and professional life, Keighran was stunned to have the Chief of Army fly to Kalgoorlie to tell him he had been recommended the Victoria Cross for Australia for his actions two years earlier. Reluctantly accepting the award on behalf of his combat team, Keighran was plucked from the relative obscurity of the Australian Defence Force and thrust into the public spotlight where he became first and only member of the Royal Australian Regiment to have been awarded the Victoria Cross.
Courage Under Fire is not a retelling of the engagement at Derapet, although Keighran’s humble and self-effacing version of it is included in one short chapter towards the end. It’s the story of Dan’s life eloquently articulated by veteran writer Tony Park that spans Keighran’s tough and chaotic upbringing in rural Queensland, the stabilising influence of his grandfather, and finding solace and stability in the Australian Army and the brotherhood of the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (6RAR), as recounted through vignettes of operational service in Iraq, East Timor and two trips to Afghanistan. It also offers a rare insight into the burden of the Victoria Cross and the personal toll it takes on the few who wear it.
Above all, Courage Under Fire is a raw and honest portrayal of one man’s ability to face the myriad of challenges presented in life and the way purpose and resilience can be found in overcoming them. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
November 24, 2020
I hate to Rate a memoir but what a wonderfully humble human Daniel keighran is!
December 9, 2021
The story of a young man who suffered a tough upbringing in his early years, joined the army as a teenager, and won the Victoria Cross.
Daniel Keighran had a dysfunctional life as a youngster. His grandfather had been an inspiration during those early years. He loved and respected his grandfather who challenged him to discover who he really was. Later in life he often reflected on what his granddad would have thought or said.
When he joined the army he felt he not only had mates, but a family as well. It was this connection that compelled him to feats of gallantry which led to the award of the Victoria Cross.
Despite his lack of early education, post army, Daniel went on t0 study and carved a new career for himself. A lot of time was spent giving talks in which he emphasised the importance of team-work, and his belief that will and determination will help you get ahead.
A really inspirational story about the success of "an ordinary soldier".
' A man selfless in the face of threat. Courageous in the face of terror. Generous in the face of suffering. And humble in the face of an honour bestowed.' Dame Quentin Bryce
On 24 August 2010, in battle in Afghanistan, Corporal Daniel Keighran risked his life in a hail of gunfire to save his fellow soldiers. His actions saw him awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia, making him the 99th Australian to receive our country's highest award for bravery.
Courage Under Fire tells of Daniel's unlikely journey to become one of Australia's most celebrated soldiers.
Growing up was tough for Daniel. When he was eleven, his father showed up in his life, for the first time, with a gunshot wound to the stomach. He relocated his son, daughter and their mother 400 kilometres away from their loving grandparents and a coastal home to a shack with a dirt floor in outback Queensland. From then on, Daniel fought to maintain a sense of order and purpose amid the chaos of family violence and criminal activity.
Inspired by his much-loved grandfather, a WWII veteran, Daniel joined the army. There he found the structure that was missing from his teen years. Although just 17, Daniel adapted quickly to the demands of life in the military, always willing to learn, always wanting to grow, always seeking to emulate the example of his grandfather.
Courage Under Fire is an outstanding military memoir, packed with tales of multiple tours, accounts of extraordinary camaraderie, and a reflection on the unseen cost of service. Most of all it is a testament to the idea that anything is possible if you know what you stand for.
Daniel Keighran had a dysfunctional life as a youngster. His grandfather had been an inspiration during those early years. He loved and respected his grandfather who challenged him to discover who he really was. Later in life he often reflected on what his granddad would have thought or said.
When he joined the army he felt he not only had mates, but a family as well. It was this connection that compelled him to feats of gallantry which led to the award of the Victoria Cross.
Despite his lack of early education, post army, Daniel went on t0 study and carved a new career for himself. A lot of time was spent giving talks in which he emphasised the importance of team-work, and his belief that will and determination will help you get ahead.
A really inspirational story about the success of "an ordinary soldier".
' A man selfless in the face of threat. Courageous in the face of terror. Generous in the face of suffering. And humble in the face of an honour bestowed.' Dame Quentin Bryce
On 24 August 2010, in battle in Afghanistan, Corporal Daniel Keighran risked his life in a hail of gunfire to save his fellow soldiers. His actions saw him awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia, making him the 99th Australian to receive our country's highest award for bravery.
Courage Under Fire tells of Daniel's unlikely journey to become one of Australia's most celebrated soldiers.
Growing up was tough for Daniel. When he was eleven, his father showed up in his life, for the first time, with a gunshot wound to the stomach. He relocated his son, daughter and their mother 400 kilometres away from their loving grandparents and a coastal home to a shack with a dirt floor in outback Queensland. From then on, Daniel fought to maintain a sense of order and purpose amid the chaos of family violence and criminal activity.
Inspired by his much-loved grandfather, a WWII veteran, Daniel joined the army. There he found the structure that was missing from his teen years. Although just 17, Daniel adapted quickly to the demands of life in the military, always willing to learn, always wanting to grow, always seeking to emulate the example of his grandfather.
Courage Under Fire is an outstanding military memoir, packed with tales of multiple tours, accounts of extraordinary camaraderie, and a reflection on the unseen cost of service. Most of all it is a testament to the idea that anything is possible if you know what you stand for.
January 26, 2021
Well, this is a well written book about a kid from the country growing up in difficult circumstances, to say the least. The kid went on to a career in the Australian Army and would later win the highest award for bravery in the Australian armed forces.
I really enjoyed the book. It's a genuinely good, easy read. There's ups and downs and poignant, happy and sad moments but the book doesn't get bogged down or stuck too much on one point.
I am thankful to Daniel for this window into his tough life and for his service. I highly recommend this book.
I really enjoyed the book. It's a genuinely good, easy read. There's ups and downs and poignant, happy and sad moments but the book doesn't get bogged down or stuck too much on one point.
I am thankful to Daniel for this window into his tough life and for his service. I highly recommend this book.
June 4, 2021
A man who is as humble, as his childhood was extraordinary (compared to most people his age), if nothing else, this man deserves his VC for the life he lived.
Showing signs of the bravery he would use to be given the VC when a child, I was engaged with his story from the beginning.
Sad that the award came with the loss of a colleague, I am pleased it has given him opportunities that he has utilised.
Showing signs of the bravery he would use to be given the VC when a child, I was engaged with his story from the beginning.
Sad that the award came with the loss of a colleague, I am pleased it has given him opportunities that he has utilised.
June 12, 2021
Fascinating look at what goes into earning the nation’s highest military honour and what happens next.
February 10, 2022
Awesome book on a great soldier and human being, I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to know anything about East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan.
June 8, 2023
Dan is my 2nd-cousin and, although I have never met him, I feel that I know him after reading his story. What an amazing life he has already lived - both the good and the bad.
January 11, 2025
An amazing memoir of DK, and he was humble enough to even sign my copy, highly recommend this autobiography.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews