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Dominion Post

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.''