Posted on 11/05/2003 5:37:32 PM PST by Dog
SBS HERO DIES IN AL QAEDA BATTLE
Nov 5 2003
Target a 'hornet's nest'
By Tom Newton Dunn, Defence Correspondent, And Nathan Yates
A SPECIAL forces soldier was shot dead and four injured in a top secret mission in Iraq.
Special Boat Service Corporal Ian Plank, 31, was gunned down in a battle with al-Qaeda terrorists.
Four SAS soldiers were also wounded by guerrillas linked to Osama bin Laden's terror network.
Cpl Plank and his team attacked a rebel hideout in the desolate wastes in the north of Iraq on Friday night.
Dozens of enemy fighters were killed in the attack but Cpl Plank and the others were hit as the guerrillas returned fire.
An SAS insider said last night: "The guys were attacking a target they had been aware of for some time but they had no idea how many of them were in there. It was a hornet's nest."
News of the shoot-out was kept secret because of the sensitive nature of the mission.
Tony Blair led the tributes to Cpl Plank's bravery last night.
His spokesman said: "The Prime Minister is deeply saddened.
"We have always been aware that the work our troops do in Iraq is both dangerous and valuable and the Prime Minister has always been very aware of the risks our soldiers run at the same time as he believes their work is to be valued highly."
Unmarried Cpl Plank, of Poole, Dorset, was described as an "exceptional soldier" who had been a Royal Marines Commando before joining the SBS.
Colonel Jerry Heal, Director of the Royal Marines, said: "Ian Plank was an extremely popular and greatly admired member of the Royal Marines, widely respected for his professional excellence, commitment and determination.
"He was particularly well known for his resilience and robustness under pressure when his leadership, example and sense of humour were especially valued.
"He embodied all the personal and professional qualities associated with the Royal Marines and he enriched the lives of those who knew him, both socially and in the workplace.
"His positive outlook, bright disposition and zest for life will be remembered with deep pride and affection by all who knew him and most of all by his family and those members of the Royal Marines and others with whom he served around the world."
Cpl Plank was the first special forces soldier to be killed in Iraq since the ill-fated Bravo Two Zero patrol in the first Gulf War.
The botched mission to hunt for Scud missiles resulted in the deaths of three SAS soldiers. In the early days of the latest war a similar disaster was narrowly averted when two SBS men in Iraq escaped to neighbouring Syria.
They trekked 100 miles through the desert, dodging enemy troops for days after an ambush near Mosul in April.
In Syria they were taken into custody and held for five days until Mr Blair sent Foreign Office Minister Mike O'Brien to Damascus to negotiate their release. The activities of the Special Boat Service are so secret that officials will rarely discuss them.
The Ministry of Defence would not even confirm Cpl Plank's unit, instead describing him only as a Royal Marine.
However no Royal Marines are currently deployed in Iraq.
An MoD spokesman said Corporal Plank's death was not announced earlier for "operational reasons".
Outgoing Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith told of his sadness at Cpl Plank's death.
He said: "We deeply regret the death of Corporal Ian Plank.
"The work that he and other soldiers have been doing in providing peace and genuine freedom for the Iraqi people has not been acknowledged enough. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
"Let us hope and pray that his actions were not in vain."
Liberal Democrat defence spokesman Paul Keetch said: "This tragic death shows once again that British service personnel remain under constant threat in Iraq.
"While US forces have taken many casualties over recent months, we must not forget the brave and dangerous work that our armed forces are undertaking to restore peace and stability.
"Our thoughts go out to the family, friends and comrades of Cpl Plank."
Cpl Plank's death brings the number of British soldiers killed in Iraq to 52. Of those, 19 have been killed since the end of major combat operations on May 1.
At least 139 American soldiers have been killed by hostile fire since President George Bush declared the war at an end.
Around 377 US service members have died since the beginning of military operations in Iraq.
Sixteen were killed and 21 wounded at the weekend when their helicopter was shot down in the deadliest single attack on US forces since the start of the war.
Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said last night it was "difficult to speculate" precisely how many troops would still be needed in Iraq this time next year.
He told MPs: "No one can pretend the security situation in parts of Iraq, particularly around Baghdad, is anything other than very difficult."
I'd like to know more about this.
They're killing the vermin that would kill our families.
With the enemy beneath my feet,
With my nation's flag on my shoulder,
With my weapon (smoking) in my hand,
my brothers to bring me home,
and the American flag on my casket.
I can't think of a better way to go ;) (well, I can think of alot of WORSE ways to go)
| Special Boat Service Corporal Ian Plank, 31, was gunned down in a battle with al-Qaeda terrorists. Four SAS soldiers were also wounded by guerrillas linked to Osama bin Laden's terror network. Cpl Plank and his team attacked a rebel hideout in the desolate wastes in the north of Iraq on Friday night.
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