Posted on 03/19/2009 7:54:07 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
ANOTHER Australian soldier has died in Afghanistan - the second this week - as he tried to protect his mates from a roadside bomb.
As the body of Corporal Mathew Hopkins was being flown home, Australian Defence Force Chief Angus Houston tonight revealed an unnamed Digger had became the 10th Australian to die in Afghanistan since 2002.
Air Chief Marshal Houston offered his thoughts and prayers to the soldier's family, but said he was aware his words would do little to ease their pain.
"I want them to be aware from the outset that their loved one died protecting his mates and was willing to sacrifice himself in order to safeguard others," he said.
"I can think of no more admirable action nor one more more worthy of our gratitude and respect than that of this fine soldier today."
The latest fatality follows the death on Monday of 21-year-old Corporal Hopkins, killed during an intense firefight with Taliban insurgents.
Air Chief Marshal Houston praised the latest soldier killed as a skilled professional who had died trying to protect his mates from a dangerous improvised explosive device.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
May God bless you, Corporal Hopkins.
God bless him, his family, and the fighting Australians.
Prayers for this brave Aussie and his family...
RIP.
Thank you, Australia, for the many real, rough, tough soldiers that you have sent to join ours in so many conflicts—even when our other allies would not do the same. I’ll always remember you.
I corrected a tiny error in that.
Thank you, Australia, for the many real, rough, tough soldiers that you have sent to join ours in so many conflicts—even when some of our other allies would not do the same. I’ll always remember you.
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