Another Digger lost

Scimitar · 09-27-2011, 22:18

Only reported a few minutes ago...

Quote:

A New Zealand SAS Trooper received head wounds from insurgent small arms fire, while in support of the Afghan Army Crisis Response Unit, outside Kabul today. He died a short time later at a US Army medical facility. The Troopers name has yet to be released.

This second loss by the 1NZSAS follows hard on the tight-knit communities first KIA in support of the war on terror, the death of Cpl Douglas Grant, killed in action while also in support of the Afghan Army CRU less then six weeks ago, on August 19th.

This is surely hard felt in the small New Zealand Special Operations community of at most a Company of line troopers and maybe that again of, HHC, training group, and anti-terrorist commando soldiers.

This 16 man SAS troop is only two months into its rotation, however John Key the New Zealand Prime Minister in answer to calls from the liberal members of parliament to withdraw the unit, has reiterated that two deaths so early in a rotation, will not deter "these professionals" from continuing their important mission.

Rest easy Digger,

Prayers out to the family and the Regiment.

Kia marohirohi, Kia kaha, Kite mau te rongo, Maumahara te aroha
(Be strong, Drive on, Find peace, Remember the love)

Quote:

We are the Pilgrims, master; we shall go
Always a little further: it may be
Beyond that last blue mountain barred with snow
Across that angry or that glimmering sea

rdret1 · 09-28-2011, 00:51

RIP Soldier.

09-28-2011, 00:53

Rest easy soldier.

mark46th · 09-28-2011, 08:37

Rest in Peace....

Bad Tolz · 09-28-2011, 11:41

Rest in peace Mate.

greenberetTFS · 09-28-2011, 12:45

God Bless,Rest in Peace Warrior...........

He was just a simple soldier and his ranks are growing thin
But his presence should remind us; we may need his like again,
For when countries are in conflict, then we find the soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.
If we cannot do him honor while he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage at the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline in the paper that might say:
OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING, FOR A SOLDIER DIED TODAY. (author unknown)

The passing of our soldiers often go unnoticed and unsung by most of the world, remembered only by family and friends. Wish it were not so. May he RIP, his family will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Big Teddy

Scimitar · 09-28-2011, 22:39

Dominion Post

Quote:

Wellington soldier Lance Corporal Leon Smith, who died in Afghanistan yesterday, was the first medic to treat SAS soldier Doug Grant before his death.

Smith, in his mid 30s, died after being shot in the head during a raid on a compound in Wardak, southwest of the Afghan capital Kabul.

It was revealed today that Smith, who joined the Special Air Service (SAS) in 2008, spent almost 11 of the past 24 months on operations and was employed as an advanced medic. He was the first medic to treat Corporal Doug Grant, another SAS soldier who was killed in Afghanistan last month.

In a statement today, Smith's family said he was proud to serve with the SAS.

"He believed in what he was doing and we supported him in what he did."

Smith was loved by his family and comrades. He was a wonderful grandson, son, brother and friend to many.

The family asked for privacy.

His body will be bought back to New Zealand next week. The family have not yet decided on funeral arrangements.

Smith grew up in Wellington and later moved to Auckland. He enlisted in the Royal New Zealand Navy in 1997 and joined the SAS in 2008. He first served in Afghanistan in 2010.

Defence Force Lieutenant General Rhys Jones said he personally met Smith a few weeks ago in Afghanistan.

He said he was a bright and brave man who fully understood the dangers of his job.

General Jones said the amount of time Smith had spent in Kabul was a reality of a small Defence Force pulling its weight.

''There is a need to put people with certain skills into Afghanistan to meet our mission requirements.''

Lce Cpl Smith was the youngest of three brothers, and his combat death had devastated them, the family's neighbour Harriet Fowler told The Dominion Post.

When Mrs Fowler saw army personnel visiting the Smith's home yesterday she feared the worst, having heard news a New Zealand SAS soldier had been killed in Afghanistan.

''I said to my husband I don't think it's good news, I think it might be Leon,'' she said.

Ad Feedback A former workmate of Lce Cpl Smith said he was the kind of man who always looked out for others.

Darren West worked with Lce Cpl Smith at the Johnsonville Pools several years ago when they were both working as lifeguards.

He last saw his friend six months ago when he bumped into him on the street.

Lce Cpl Smith was "an all round good dude" who always leapt at any opportunity that came his way.

"He lived at home then, just down the road from the pools, and I know he was really close to his family, he looked after them.

"And he was always up for a laugh."

Mr West said his friend was a good guy to have around in a stressful situation.

"He was pretty good to me, one time I had to rescue a little girl who almost drowned, me and a couple of other guys. It was pretty traumatic and he hung around after, to make sure we were all okay.

"I guess that kind of thing was probably why he was good for the military."

Mrs Fowler remembered Lce Cpl Smith as a quiet child, who grew into a pleasant man.

''He used to steal cabbages out of my garden,'' she laughed.

Lce Cpl Smith attended Onslow College from 1992-1996. Current principal Peter Leggat said records showed he had been an all round achiever.

"He was a very good sportsman, he won awards for rugby and was a volleyballer as well.

"And also from our records it looks like he was very capable academically."

THE OPERATION

General Jones said Smith was one of 15 SAS and 50 Afghan soldiers from its local crisis response unit, which is mentored by the New Zealand elite soldiers, involved in operation against insurgents believed to have been planning a bombing attack in Kabul.

He was shot as troops prepared to isolate a compound in order to carry out arrests and searches, he said. People within the compound had started shooting and he was shot in an exchange of rifle fire.

''The operation was carried out in response to time sensitive information being obtained about a compound housing a suicide bomber.''

Intelligence indicated that along with the suspected suicide bomber, there were weapons and suicide vests within the compound.

Smith had climbed a ladder to see into the compound. He was involved in an exchange of fire with an insurgent who was later found with gunshot wounds to the head and who later died. Another insurgent had fired at Smith, hitting him in the head.

A young girl sustained minor fragmentation wounds to the stomach. She has been treated and is expected to be released today.

The dead insurgent was identified as a person of interest in the warrant. Another insurgent was arrested. He was unharmed.

General Jones said preparation for the mission took place over 48 hours and was not an immediate response to a family dispute, as had been speculated by a Kabul-based journalist.

''Unless it was a humdinger of a dispute, the time taken to compile the information, to actually get the legal authority, indicates this was a measured and legal response, not a response to a neighbour giving information in a time off.''

Two of the insurgents found at the compound were named on the search warrant.

Threats of attacks on Kabul often came from Wardak and the SAS were frequently in the province, General Jones said.

General Jones said the Defence Force described the role of the SAS in Kabul as ''mentoring'' the local police crisis response unit because that was the term used by the United States.

''But it is a discussion to say, okay it's like being a driving instructor. You're in the car, if there's a crash, you're going to get hurt.''