Posted on 11/07/2006 3:53:18 PM PST by SandRat
FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan, Nov. 7, 2006 — If there was any doubt as to the resolve and capability of the Afghan National Security Forces and their determination to protect their homeland from terrorist extremists, an Afghan police officer gave his life to make a strong case to the contrary.
In a display of selfless heroism, Afghan National Police Officer Abbarker died protecting the lives of the Andar District Governor, his fellow police officers and Coalition soldiers.
While guarding the Miri District Center in the District of Ghazni, Abbarker noticed that a man had bypassed the security checkpoint and was attempting to run into the District Center. Abbarker immediately suspected foul play and gave chase to stop the intruder. He tackled the man, forcing him away from the government officials and Coalition forces. As he wrestled to restrain the man and move him farther away from the official party, the intruder detonated a vest packed with explosives, killing himself and the brave Abbarker.
Abbarker's actions cost him his life, but in so doing, he saved the lives of many fellow Afghans as well as Coalition soldiers. Abdul Rhaim, the Andar District Governor, said that Abbarker was a brave soldier and that he had great respect for him and was deeply grateful for the unselfish sacrifice that saved his life and so many others.
"The honor and bravery of this man amazes me," said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Steven Gilbert, Commander of Task Force Iron Grays. "His actions have saved the lives of many fellow Afghans and Coalition forces from the cowardly actions of a suicide bomber and his great sacrifice will not be in vain."
Abbarker should be given a full military funeral at Arlington.
God bless Officer Abbarker, for his selfless heroism.
He is a heroe and a true Afghan Patriot.
(salute)
I LOVE this story. Afghans need this kind of story. They are building their own repository of heroic figures, and stories, that will give their new democracy its history. They need to build a statue of this brave gentleman.
To bad our own educational system is determined to forget OUR historic heroes.
We need to start slapping US heroism medals on these guys' chests - or hand them quietly, and honorably, to their bereaved families. We need to recognize the heroism of our Afghan and Iraqi allies because their military bureaucracies are developing too slowly to do it themselves.
Too bad their ROE don't allow an officer to simply shoot such a person. Lost a good man because of it, in a part of the world where good men are few and far between.
This good man won't be mentioned at all by the MSM.
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