They met as teenagers on combat training on the rough and ruggedterrain of Benbecula.
They came together again on the killing fields of Iraq.
Two brave young Territorial Army soldiers from the North-east inthe thick of battle.
Privates Alan George from Fraserburgh, and Hugh Lancaster, fromKeith, were to prove they had true grit.
Especially that black night in April when the comrades-in-armshelped rescue maimed and under-fire US troops.
Along with others in the 7th Battalion of the Royal Regiment, Alanand Hugh braved being shot by snipers' bullets as they swooped topluck the casualties to safety.
They were part of an air ambulance armed escort scrambled afterthe US troops' vehicle was smashed open by a roadside bomb.
Alan recalled: "These poor Americans had shrapnel and multiplegunshot wounds, missing legs and arms.
"The insurgents were still in the area. Still firing. But thewounded were going to die if we didn't keep moving - and movingfast."
Now safely back at their homes after their six-month tour of duty,Alan and Hugh - both 20 - have been jointly nominated in the Herocategory of our Aberdeen's Champion awards.
But the lads are modest about their bravery.
Alan, who works on mum and dad Moira and Carlton's livestock farmat Lonmay, said: " You didn't think about the danger. You just did itto help save those guys' lives."
Hugh - son of fruit-grower Chris and his wife Sue - is about tostart work as a civilian at RAF Kinloss.
The Keith lad said: "I reckon me and Alan and the other members ofthe unit will always be friends.
"It's a sort of brotherhood."
m.simpson@ajl.co.uk
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