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Friday September 3, 2010

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Our Afghanistan heroes

Posted by: Neil Mitchell Program | 14 October, 2009 - 1:31 PM

Fathers, sons and brothers, together they fought and died
That we may live in peace together, while at home their mothers cried.
When that final bugle calls them to cross that great divide
Those comrades will be waiting when they reach the other side. 

- Ken Bunker "A Tribute to ANZAC Day"

UPDATE, JUNE 8, 2010: 

Brisbane soldier Darren Smith, 25, in a picture taken at a Defence Force event last year.

Brisbane soldier Darren Smith, 25, in a picture last year

REPORT: Brisbane father Darren Smith was one of two soldiers on their first tour of Afghanistan killed in a roadside bomb blast.

The 25-year-old combat engineer and his comrade, whose name is yet to be made public, were among 10 NATO soldiers killed in what has been described as the deadliest day for coalition forces this year.

Sapper Smith spoke only last month of the ''great feeling to be working for your country''.

The other soldier killed was Jacob Moerland, 21, who - like Smith - was a sapper which is a military engineer specialising in disarming mines and other explosives.

Jacob Moerland and fiancee Kezia Muccahy.

Jacob Moerland and fiancee Kezia Muccahy.

HONOUR ROLL:

Below are the images of Australian soldiers who have given their lives to defend Australian ideals.

Neil Mitchell and 3AW encourages you to leave a message below to support our troops.

  

Private Benjamin Ranaudo. 22 years old.
1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.
Killed July 18, 2009.
11th Australian soldier to be killed in Afghanistan.
Member of the Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force.
Killed by a bomb when preparing to search a compound north of Tarin Kowt.

 Sergeant Brett Till. 31 years old.
Incident Response Regiment.
Killed March 19 2009.
10th Australian soldier to be killed in Afghanistan.
An explosive ordnance disposal technician and was on a route clearance task in southern Afghanistan when improvised explosive device (IED) he was trying to defuse exploded.

Corporal Mathew Hopkins. 21 years old.
7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.
Killed March 16 2009.
9th Australian soldier to be killed in Afghanistan.
A member of the mentoring and reconstruction taskforce, killed in firefight with Taliban near village, 12 kilometres north of Tarin Kowt.

Private Gregory Michael Sher. 30 years old.
1st Commando Regiment.
Killed January 4 2009.
8th Australian soldier to be killed in Afghanistan.
South African-born , from the Sydney-based 1st Commando Regiment, killed as a result of indirect rocket attack in Oruzgan Province.

 

 

http://afghanistan.pigstye.net/images/articles/MichaelFussell_1_original.jpg

Lieutenant Michael Fussell. 25 years old.
4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.
Killed November 27, 2008.
7th Australian soldier killed in Afghanistan.
Killed during an operation against Taliban insurgents in Oruzgan Province after an improvised explosive device (IED) was detonated.

 

Signaller Sean McCarthy. 25 years old.
Special Air Service Regiment (SASR).
Killed July 8, 2008.
6th Australian soldier killed in Afghanistan.
Killed after wounded by improvised explosive device. Two other Australian soldiers and one soldier from another country wounded. Signaller McCarthy was born in New Zealand.

Lance Corporal Jason Marks. 27 years old.
4RAR commando unit.
Killed April 27, 2008.
5th Australian soldier killed in Afghanistan.
Killed in battle with Taliban fighters in Oruzgan Province. Four other commandos wounded.

 

 

 

Private Luke Worsley. 26 years old.
Special Operations Task Group.
Killed November 23, 2007.
4th Australian soldier killed in Afghanistan.
Killed by small arms fire while participating in a planned and deliberate attack by our forces against Taliban leaders and their supporters in Oruzgan Province.

 

 

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SAS Sergeant Matthew Locke. 33 years old.
Special Air Service Regiment.
Killed October 25, 2007.
3rd Australian soldier killed in Afghanistan.
Killed by Taliban fighters in Oruzgan Province.

 

Trooper David Pearce. 41 years old.
Reconstruction Task Force.
Killed October 8 2007.
2nd Australian soldier killed in Afghanistan.
Killed and another soldier seriously injured in roadside bomb attack in Oruzgan Province.

 

 

Sergeant Andrew Russell. 33 years old.
Special Forces Task Group.
Killed February 16 2002.
1st Australian soldier killed in Afghanistan.
Killed when the vehicle in which he was travelling struck a landmine in southern Afghanistan.

Blog comments Your Say

  • Prime Minister, we need less rotation & greater emphasis on securing areas, training/arming local defense. We are spreading our troops too thinly. You can't operate effectively if your troops are under constant threat. It's not being realistic. If it means greater concentration of troops & working under joint US control, so be it, but at least start taking care of our own troops. The terrain favours the Taliban, particularly when forested areas are built so close to army bases. At the moment the Taliban are winning the psychological war. We need every ounce of technology to win this war, including satellite surveillance. Our soldiers are just surviving in a siege mentality. We can't even guarantee the safety/security of our own troops~! Time to commit or get out~!

    Lenny Monday 12 July, 2010 - 12:32 PM

  • cannon fodder.........................what about the tens of thousands of Afghan/ Iraqi civilians......................................where's their mourning? .. i voted Rudd thinking Australians would come home. NZ got this one right

    Bernie Cleary Saturday 12 June, 2010 - 5:44 PM

  • To the hard working men and women of the ADF. Keep up the good work. To the family of the two diggers killed, all of Australia feels your pain. These men who I have never met I would count as brothers. RIP Old Diggs and to the rest of our boys over there. Give em Hell.

    Andrew Friday 11 June, 2010 - 11:25 AM

  • Just wanted to send my thoughts and prayers to all who have been affected by the recent passing of our troops. Its a tough and fighting battle but you are doing us proud in trying to bring peace. May the Lord's protection be upon you all. God Bless
    Kylie xo

    kylie Wednesday 9 June, 2010 - 5:09 PM

  • Sincere condolences to the family and friends of all the young people who have lost their lives in the line of duty. My heart breaks for them. Seeing those young faces on the television screen tears at your heart, their lives should be starting not ending. I can't help but think of my own children who are safe, thanks to these young people and their ultimate sacrifice. Words seem inadequate. RIP

    Sheree Wednesday 9 June, 2010 - 1:03 PM

  • My son's regiment is training to go to Afghanistan and every time a soldier is killed I put myself in the family's shoes and think "there but for the grace of God go I ". I have raised him for 18 yrs and he may sacrifice his life for WHAT ?

    leonie gusman Wednesday 9 June, 2010 - 11:54 AM

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