Blog Post #5: Elevation

http://kokodahistorical.com.au/diggers-stories/leslie-c-bull-allen-mm-uss

Corporal Leslie “Bull” Allen was a stretcher-bearer for the Commonwealth of Australia during World War II. He was known for his size and courage in battle to save his brothers in arms. Allen had already taken risks to save men before while serving in the Middle East but came to fame for his efforts on Mount Tambu in New Guinea during the fight against Japanese forces. Despite being diagnosed with anxiety during his service, Leslie Allen would overcome fear to go on and receive a Military Medal (British & Commonwealths award) and a Silver Star (American award) for his bravery.

The Battle for Mount Tambu was a combined effort of Australian and United States soldiers in part of a larger campaign to remove the Japanese from the island. The Australians and Americans would fight uphill battles against well-defended Japanese troops. On Mount Tambu, Allen would charge back and forth through enemy fire to reach wounded Americans and carry them back to safety. It was not ordered nor expected of him to put himself at risk but did so anyway for his comrades. Allen went up the mountain twelve times and came back down twelve times to carry twelve men to safety.

Leslie Allen’s story is particularly inspiring to me because it is one of those stories that shouldn’t seem possible. Someone took a risk not once, but twelve times and came out unscathed to save others. My reaction in this way correlates with the elevation outcome of awe. Awe is the reaction to something that cannot be immediately understood (Stellar, 2005). Allen himself might have felt compassion toward the wounded men. Compassion, Stellar describes, is the “feeling concern for another’s suffering accompanied by the motivation to help and is experienced toward a variety of targets ranging from others who suffer emotionally to those in immediate danger.” Knowing that there were dying men not far from him, Allen had to set fear aside and do what was right.

Reading about someone who suffers with anxiety putting others above himself, even when his life is at risk, makes me want to become a better person and exemplify the same kind of strength Allen had to carry on even though he was probably terrified. Thomson and Siegel’s 2005 journal article describe this as one of the effects of elevation, witnessing someone else perform good deeds. As I’m sure Allen inspired the men beside him, his story inspired me and increases my desire to better myself. I hope everyone can find the strength within themselves to help others whose lives are at risk, God forbid, should they ever be put in such a position.