AN "extremely proud" mother and father have spoken about their daughter's army success after she was awarded the Meritous Service Medal - one of only 18 in the country this year.

And to top off the achievement, Carolyn Moldrik - injured in a bomb attack in Northern Ireland - will be promoted to Captain from a Warrant Officer in April.

"We're extremely proud of Carolyn, and she's done a wonderful job being a mum as well as being in the army," said her mother, Marian Deakin, from St Dunstan's Close, Battenhall.

Mrs Moldrik joined the Women's Royal Army Corps in 1983, after going to Nunnery Wood High School and working briefly for a firm of Worcester solicitors.

"When she said she wanted to join I just laughed. I didn't think she would last five minutes, but how wrong can you be? She's done extremely well," said her dad, John Deakin.

During her career, Mrs Moldrik witnessed the fall of the Berlin Wall.

In 1992, she became one of the first members of the Women's Services to have a baby - Alex, now aged 12 - and remain in the Army. She later had a daughter, Ellie, now six.

In October 1996, she was injured by a bombing incident at Thiepval Barracks in Lisburn, Northern Ireland. Despite her injuries, she helped complete the list of casualties the double bomb blast caused.

Devoted

Besides the high-flying army career, Mrs Moldrik, aged 40, has devoted her spare time to helping raise money for the Northern Ireland Kidney Association.

Her husband Rick, in the Army Air Corps, was diagnosed with serious kidney problems and he needed a transplant in 1997.

She is currently serving as Staff Assistant at the one remaining British Army hospital in Northern Ireland. She plans to move to Preston, Lancashire, when she takes up her new post as Welfare Officer with the 5th General Support Medical Regiment.