We have lost another Digger

Hi Kev,
a very sad post.
Howard and his government should be held responsible.

They make these decisions so let them be accountable for there actions.

I've got a relly in Iraq, and another one in Afganistan. The poor dead guy is Special Forces so it wasn't my relly.
Something tells me that we'll lose more young lives before we get out.
Old soldiers never die..
THE YOUNG ONES DO.

All these things have a cost , and I am proud of every one of those volunteers , and those that went before them in other conflicts.

Robin Miller

Vale sas guy :( and condolences to his family


Boc

Kev
Your follow up 2 was very well said , I feel no one could better your reply , , Thewre was also a couple of other good ones there too , good onya Mates .
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Is John Howard responsible for these too ,

Doug

Soldiering can be a very dangerous profession. Those that choose such career go into it in the knowledge that possibly sometime dueing their period of service they may be called to serve in a hostile environment. Same applies to Fire fighters, Police, Miners (particularly underground) and I'm sure that there are many others you can include.
What greater glory for a soldier that to die for his country. Can't ask for more than that. As for the politics - nothing to do with it.

Hi Kev,

Very sad news.

The attached recent speech from our Governor-General, His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffery AC CVO MC, himself a former SAS soldier, is an excellent insight to these wonderful group of men. Please do not let politics sour the work these men do, nor the respect that should be shown at such a difficult time for his family, friends and fellow troopers. Who Dares Wins.

GG SAS 50th Anniversary Speech

My condolences to his family.

Lest we forget.

Hugh

After 23 years as a Reg and now a 'choco' I feel for him and his family. Everytime I hear that one of the fellas has been taken out or injured I immediately feel something as I have some mates over there as well.

We are a volunteer force and each and everyone of us knows the risk and we take it.

I am thank full that I came home at the end of my deployments and I wear my medals proudly because I earnt them the hard way.

Whilst none of my mates have been killed I have lost two to suicide who were unable to adjust after East Timor.

Remember Politicians make wars not soldiers - we only do our duty and we do it well.

If given another chance I too would love to go over there or any where else that we are currently serving and do my job - I love it. Even after getting out of uniform I still work for Defence as a civvy.

RIP digger.

Karl

This extract is from the Defence Media Centre.

CPA 397/07 Thursday, 25 October 2007


SPECIAL AIR SERVICE SOLDIER KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN

An Australian soldier from the Special Air Service Regiment has been killed in Oruzgan Province earlier today.

The soldier was on a patrol when he was severely wounded by small arms fire from Taliban extremists.

Chief of the Defence Force Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston said other members of the patrol reacted to the incident by extracting the soldier from further danger and providing immediate first aid.

"A Coalition helicopter immediately responded to a call for assistance from the Australian patrol and evacuated the soldier to a nearby medical facility," Air Chief Marshal Houston said.

"Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of his mates and the aero-medical team, the soldier succumbed to his wounds."

Air Chief Marshal Houston said Defence was now doing everything it possibly could to support the family of the soldier and his mates in Afghanistan.

"We have recently informed the soldier's family and are doing everything we can to assist and support them through this very difficult time."

"This is a tragic day for the ADF and our thoughts are with family of the soldier, his patrol colleagues who did everything they could to save him, and the wider Special Operations community."

No other Australian troops were wounded in the incident. Further details of the operation will not be released as it is ongoing at this time.

Personal details of the soldier involved will not be immediately released at the request of his family. Defence, with the permission of his family, will seek to release further details about the soldier in the coming days.

lest we forget

Kev, I really have tried to understand the level of professionalism that the forces of our nation display and I can say we all should be proud of their work. The work they have done in Timor, in Aceh, and Afghanistan as well as more recently Iraq has been extraordinarily professional.

We employed a young neighbour and I was particularly mindful of his work for us when I wrote his reference to join the Engineers. He too has grown into the level of prosessionalism. I admire it greatly and really regret the loss of our Digger. The Australian soldier is without peer in his profession.

Im with Kev here. Its all fime to say that its the governments fault but you gotta remember that they have signed treaties with countries purely for protection,ie, either of them go to war and there will be back up - if govt say no to the Iraq war and refused to go and then we were attacked to a country - you would blame the govt for not going cos no one would come for back up...

They are a team,aust/usa/england....they are together for each other.....

Its a reality that the Aussie troops are in a dangerous place but they are doing their job and fine good job t that. I take my hat off to anyone that goes into a combat zone (yes you Zev....my hats off to you....) . This is why they joined in the first place - they knew exactly what they were doing and what chances there were about being called up for something like this.

I could ramble on and on....waffle...yeah lets waffle....LOL....Ill go onto bat for anyone in the defences.

I live in the town where the Sea Kings are at home (Albatross) and have a close friend who was there when one crashed killing all his mates....they do the best they can with what they got. Simple.

Kiwi

A little perspective from a serving soldier.

We don't enlist and spend years and years training just to be bench warmers sitting here in doing exercises in Australia.

How would you feel if you spent several years training to be a tradesman and then to be told, "sorry mate its too dangerous to be a plumber".

A tragic as it is. These blokes die doing what they signed up and trained for. We all know the risks but just hope it won't happen. Just like the police. More cops are shot or killed than soldiers on operations overseas by an enemy.

We actually appreciate the opportunities given to us by the Howard Government to test our training and skills on real operations. Unfortunately there are risks and threats that the normal Joe on the street doesn't have to deal with.

More Aussies die on our roads in one year than soldiers have died on operations and training since the vietnam war.

The last thing we want is a bunch of tree hugging do gooders that don't understand our job to ask to "bring the soldeirs home".

I am also a retired ex regular soldier from the 60s/70s era, and have nothing but respect for the current ADF people. The following is a brief tribute to the soldier in question taken from the Defence Media List.


Department of Defence Media Mail List
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CPA 399/07 Friday, 26 October 2007


TRIBUTE TO SERGEANT MATTHEW LOCKE

The Chief of Defence Force Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston today paid tribute to Sergeant Matthew Locke who died yesterday whilst on operations in Afghanistan.

"Sergeant Matthew Locke was everything you would expect of an Australian soldier. He was courageous, dedicated and very professional. He took great pride in being an Aussie digger, displaying the characteristics of loyalty, mateship and determination for which Australian soldiers are renowned, Air Chief Marshal Houston said.

"Sergeant Locke died whilst working with our coalition partners and Afghan forces to drive the Taliban from their sanctuaries and create an enduring security presence in the area. Operation 'Spin Ghar' was to target and clear Taliban from the area around Tarin Kowt in Oruzgan Province.

"Sergeant Locke had extensive operational experience in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan and was one of the finest soldiers in the Australian Army.

"Sergeant Locke will be greatly missed by his brothers in arms. He was admired and respected by all who served with him. His energy, enthusiasm and sense of humour made him a popular figure in the Special Air Service Regiment.'

"In 2006, his courage was recognised with a Medal of Gallantry, one of the ADF's highest honours. With complete disregard for his own safety, Sergeant Locke braved heavy enemy fire to neutralise the Taliban advancing on the Australian position and in doing so saved the lives of his mates. His courage on that day was but one example of the extraordinary valour we have come to expect from the Special Air Service.

"The thoughts and prayers of the entire Defence organisation are with the family, friends and comrades of Sergeant Locke. We will do everything we can to support them through this difficult time," Air Chief Marshal Houston said.

Media Note: A photo of Sergeant Matthew Locke is available at http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/