The legendary Gurkha soldier

We need that guy on the border too.

I met some Gurkhas in a bar in the Canadian Rockies years ago. I got the impression they were not impressed by the Rockies, which one of them called "hills." Compared to Mt. Everest and such, I suppose the Rockies might appear to be a tad puny. None of those guys were taller than 5-foot-4 or so, but their demeanor and bearing sent a message–"Mess with me and risk your life"–in a subtle, yet convincing manner. When our little party broke up, they gave me some beetlenut to chew on and a small rock of hash. From these simple tokens, our bonds of friendship were secured.

The one story I heard about them was. They were being called for basically a suicide mission to be dropped behind enemy lines from an airplane, only half volunteered. The British officer, taken aback by the other half's apparent cowardice after hearing so much about their gallantry asked why. He was told the other half would go if they were allowed to uses parachutes.

I can see it being a big deal if he cut his head off while he was still alive but come on. They wanted proof and they got it. And he probably saved some lives by doing what he did.

I was friends with a Brit who told stories about training with these guys when he was in the Brit military. He said they did not use parachutes.....the plane would fly low and they would jump and roll.