Thread: stand silent for a minute- another brave soldier lost

I can not say enough about these guys and girls who serve in the armed forces.
I can walk freely and speak my mine because of them and others before them.
My thoughts go out to the families of all who have lost someone.
To all the Vets on this list I say THANK YOU and so does my family.
Have a beer on me.
And if I ever have the honour to meet you I'll buy the beer.

Jukebox

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Stand at ease, soldier. Your work is done.

Many thanks from a grateful nation.

RIP

Originally Posted by Basil135

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Stand at ease, soldier. Your work is done.

Many thanks from a grateful nation.

RIP

We owe these fine soldiers heaps. May he rest in peace.

On the day after the body of slain soldier, Sgt Brett Wood was brought back home...

Vale.

Two Australian soldiers killed
Tuesday, May 31, 2011 » 08:19am



Two Australian soldiers have been killed in separate incidents in Afghanistan.

Their deaths bring to 26 the number of diggers to die in Afghanistan since operations began in 2001. (**27 IF YOU INCLUDE THE 1 AUSTRALIAN KILLED FIGHTING WITH UK FORCES**)

The incidents on Monday coincided with the arrival home of the body of Sergeant Brett Wood who was killed in Afghanistan more than a week ago in a bomb blast which also injured two other soldiers.

Defence force chief Angus Houston said it was 'a very bad day' for the Australian Defence Force.

'It was with immense sorrow that I am here this morning to announce the death of two Australian soldiers in Afghanistan in two separate incidents overnight,' he told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday.

The first soldier was killed when he was shot by an Afghan National Army soldier while both were on guard duty on Monday evening.

The second soldier, an army lieutenant, died when a Chinook helicopter crashed a few hours after the first incident.

The other five Australian soldiers in the helicopter were evacuated from the crash site and taken to hospital in Kandhar in a satisfactory condition.


In Flanders’ Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders’ Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders’ Fields.

Oh! You who sleep in Flanders’ fields,
Sleep sweet – to rise anew;
We caught the torch you threw;
And holding high we kept
The faith with those who died.
We cherish, too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valour led.
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies,
But lends a lustre to the red
Of the flower that blooms above the dead
In Flanders’ Fields.

And now the torch and poppy red
Wear in honour of our dead
Fear not that ye have died for naught
We’ve learned the lesson that ye taught
In Flanders’ Fields.

LEST WE FORGET

I thought I must have heard the news wrong at first - an ANA soldier. Its just incomprehensible.

Fear not that ye have died for naught
We’ve learned the lesson that ye taught

I'm not sure we are learning any more.

its Memorial Day today here in the USA..

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSMlIM9zLio]YouTube - ‪Soldier homecoming surprise mix‬‏[/ame]

Tuesday, May 31, 2011 » 06:40pm

Lance Corporal Andrew Jones and Lt. Marcus Case have been named as the latest diggers to die in Afghanistan.

Defence has named the latest diggers to die in Afghanistan as Lance Corporal Andrew Jones and Lieutenant Marcus Case.

Lance Corporal Andrew Gordon Jones, 25, was shot dead by a member of the Afghan National Army while Lieutenant Marcus Sean Case, 27, died in a helicopter crash in the war-torn nation on Monday.

Lance Corporal Jones was born in Melbourne and was on his first deployment to Afghanistan after serving in East Timor.

'Lance Corporal Jones was a loyal, reliable and trustworthy soldier who was dedicated to serving his country,' Defence said in a statement.

'He was a team player who loved his job. He had a quiet personality but enjoyed a joke with his mates.'

Lance Corporal Jones' family includes his parents, two younger siblings and girlfriend.

Lieutenant Case was also born in Melbourne and on his first deployment to Afghanistan and was in the country as a pilot of an unmanned surveillance plane.

He had previously served in East Timor and Malaysia as part of the co-operative defence relationship with Kuala Lumpur.

'Lieutenant Case was keen and motivated, and was excelling as a pilot,' Defence said.

'Lieutenant Case lived life to the fullest, taking every opportunity that was given to him and making the most of it. He was always the go-to-man who was able to get the job done.'

'Lieutenant Case leaves behind his parents and five siblings. He was the youngest of six children,' Defence said.

'His family is receiving support from Defence.'

The bodies of both men will begin the journey back to Australia and in the coming days will be farewelled by their colleagues in Afghanistan in a ramp ceremony.

VALE - Sergeant Todd Langley, 4/7/2011
Another brave soul lost, another family group and mates devestated.

Tuesday, July 05, 2011 » 09:21am

An Australian soldier has died in Afghanistan, bringing to 28 the number of diggers killed in the conflict since 2001.

The announcement today was made by the defence force's new chief, General David Hurley, who took over the role on Monday.

Sergeant Todd Langley, 35, was serving with a special operations task group in southern Afghanistan when he was killed on Monday morning local time.

He died on the battlefield. Sergeant Langley was from the Sydney-based 2nd Commando regiment.

He died from a gun shot wound to the head during an engagement with insurgents in southern Afghanistan on Monday morning.

A second soldier was wounded and is in a serious condition. General Hurley described Sgt Langley as a exceptionally experienced and decorated soldier, and a devoted family man.

Sgt Langley was on his fifth deployment to Afghanistan and had undertaken two deployments to East Timor.

His army mates had described him as a 'true leader,' General Hurley said.

'He was a brave and professional soldier who never took a backward step and, despite their grief, his comrades say he will continue to inspire them,' General Hurley told reporters in Canberra.

The Fallen Soldier.

Don't weep for me
O' Land wide and free
it was my time to fall
'Twas for my country's call
'Twas for the land that I loved,
That I gave my all
And for the land that I loved,
I did freely give
And in her freedom
And her courage
I'll continue forever to live

(apologies to Patricia Krull whose poem I adapted)