30/09/2009 - A hero soldier from Port Glasgow saved the lives of 16 American Marines — while being bombarded with mortar bombs and bullets in Afghanistan.

Corporal Scott Cox, of the Royal Highland Fusiliers, swung into action after the US troops came under fire from Taliban rockets which immobilised their Armadillo jeep, wounding three soldiers.

The fearless 26-year-old, who was commanding a British Mastiff, an armoured patrol truck, twice risked his own life to tow the stricken troops to safety and on the second attempt, against the backdrop of screaming men and flying mortars, he managed to rescue them.

His bravery during his tour of duty in Afghanistan in 2009 had been recognised in a new book called Desperate Glory by Sam Kiley.

(Image: Newsquest)

Corporal Scott’s mum, Janette Thomson, who lives in Glen Avenue, was delighted by his achievement.

Janette said: “I am really proud of him. He’s a hero. I really wish he had some sort of recognition.

“He put his own life at risk. If it had not been for his heroism the outcome would have been unthinkable.

“There were 16 American soldiers in that jeep — that’s a lot of lives to save — and there’s their families and future generations.”

As well as the glory, the mum-of-five also knew the agony of wondering if her boy will come home safe.

She said: “I worry about him every time I hear about boys being killed on the news.”

Scott, who was then based at Catterick Barracks where he lived with his wife, Nicola, and two children, Scott, three, and 18-monthold Victoria, who was only days old when he was preparing to go to Afghanistan.

During his six-year army career, Scott had carried out three tours of Iraq and was set to return to Afghanistan in 2011.