Post by Willow on Jun 24, 2013 20:12:59 GMT 9.5
CORPORAL Cameron Stewart Baird, the 40th Australian soldier killed in Afghanistan, was awarded one of the nation's highest decorations in 2007 for a desperate attempt to save a mortally wounded mate under heavy fire.
The special forces soldier from the Sydney-based 2nd Commando Regiment was killed on Saturday leading a team of commandos in a raid on an insurgent position in the Khod Valley area of Oruzgan Province.
Corporal Baird was on his fifth tour of Afghanistan after service in Iraq and East Timor
Also wounded were a second commando and a Royal Australian Air Force airman who was with a Joint Terminal Attack Control Team trained to call in air attacks if the troops ran into trouble.
The three were hit by small arms fire.
Corporal Baird was a member of the Special Operations Task Group and was from the Sydney-based 2nd Commando Regiment.
An ADF statement said Corporal Baird was survived by his parents, brother and his partner.
Repatriation of his body to Australia is under way.
"The family of Corporal Baird has requested their privacy be respected during this difficult time," Defence said in a statement today.
The ADF statement said Corporal Baird was an outstanding special forces soldier who exemplified what it meant to be a commando.
"His leadership in action was exemplary, constantly inspiring those around him to achieve greater things. Corporal Baird was an extremely dedicated and disciplined soldier, always striving for excellence in everything he did,'' the ADF statement said.
"Corporal Baird died how he lived at the front, giving it his all, without any indecision. He will forever be remembered by his mates and the soldiers he served with.''
The veteran commando was awarded the Medal for Gallantry for his actions in November 2007 when his company attacked a Taliban stronghold.
The then lance corporal's platoon came under heavy fire from close range and one of the soldiers was badly hit.
"Displaying complete disregard for his own safety, Lance Corporal Baird led other members of his team forward under heavy fire from machine guns and assault rifles to recover the wounded team member back to a position of cover,'' the medal citation said.
"He then re-entered the compound and continued to engage the enemy.
"Even though under constant fire, Lance Corporal Baird continually moved amongst his team members coordinating their fire, and throwing grenades to neutralise the enemy machine gun positions.''
Once that close quarter battle was won, Lance Corporal Baird again led his team forward and began clearing buildings of the enemy, room by room.
"Lance Corporal Baird continued to lead the fight, killing several enemy and successfully completing the clearance,'' the citation said.
"Throughout the action, Lance Corporal Baird displayed conspicuous gallantry, composure and superior leadership under fire.
"He was personally responsible for killing several enemy combatants during the clearance, ensuring the momentum of the assault was maintained, and undoubtedly preventing further members of his section from becoming casualties.''
The attacks in Oruzgan Province are designed to take the pressure off both Afghan troops and police, and coalition forces preparing to withdraw from Afghanistan.
About 1000 of Australia's 1650 military personnel there are due home by Christmas.
General Hurley said the members of the Australian Special Operations Task Group and the Afghan Provincial Response Company were conducting a joint operation to disrupt a network that had been behind much of the insurgent activity in Oruzgan province.
"Such operations are important to support the Afghan national security forces as they take responsibility for security, and to enable the safe extraction of ISAF forces," General Hurley said.
"On behalf of the men and women of the Australian Defence Force, I extend my deepest sympathies to the soldier's family," the ADF chief said.
"We share their loss, and we feel their pain, and we will support them through the difficult days ahead. My thoughts and prayers are also with our wounded personnel and their families, and I wish them a speedy recovery."
General Hurley said the news would be particularly difficult for the families of all of Australia's fallen soldiers, many of whom had gathered on Saturday at the opening of Australia's first national memorial for Afghanistan, in Yungaburra, north Queensland.
"I know that they will continue to draw comfort and strength from each other this morning," General Hurley said. "Each one of our fallen soldiers has made a difference. Their dedication to service, and to our nation, should be a great source of pride.
"I intend to see their work honoured, and see our mission through to completion."
General Hurley said many believed Australia's role in Afghanistan was coming to an end, but the special forces mission still had 18 months to go until the end of 2014.
"As the Prime Minister, the minister and I have said on a number of occasions, we will be there beyond that. So there's still a lot of work to be done."
Julia Gillard said the latest death would come as a shock for those lulled into a false sense that there would be no more lives lost as Australia prepares to withdraw most of its troops from the region by the end of this year. "Every death, every loss in Afghanistan hits the nation hard," Ms Gillard said yesterday.
"I think not only will the nation be hit hard today, but for many this will be a very painful reminder that the risk is not over, the danger is not gone."
Defence Minister Stephen Smith said the soldier's death was a devastating and "gut-wrenching" blow.
"Suffice to say, he was a commando, he was an elite soldier, (he) made a substantial contribution," Mr Smith said.
The soldier was "tragically and terribly lost", he added.
The commando was the latest in a grim series of medal holders killed in action.
SAS Regiment Sergeant Matthew Locke and Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith were together in a heavily outnumbered patrol that fought a pitched battle against insurgents on a mountain top in Afghanistan late one afternoon in 2006. Both received the Medal for Gallantry for their heroism.
Sergeant Locke was killed in 2007 in an ambush in the Chora Valley.
Corporal Roberts-Smith went on to earn the Victoria Cross
The special forces soldier from the Sydney-based 2nd Commando Regiment was killed on Saturday leading a team of commandos in a raid on an insurgent position in the Khod Valley area of Oruzgan Province.
Corporal Baird was on his fifth tour of Afghanistan after service in Iraq and East Timor
Also wounded were a second commando and a Royal Australian Air Force airman who was with a Joint Terminal Attack Control Team trained to call in air attacks if the troops ran into trouble.
The three were hit by small arms fire.
Corporal Baird was a member of the Special Operations Task Group and was from the Sydney-based 2nd Commando Regiment.
An ADF statement said Corporal Baird was survived by his parents, brother and his partner.
Repatriation of his body to Australia is under way.
"The family of Corporal Baird has requested their privacy be respected during this difficult time," Defence said in a statement today.
The ADF statement said Corporal Baird was an outstanding special forces soldier who exemplified what it meant to be a commando.
"His leadership in action was exemplary, constantly inspiring those around him to achieve greater things. Corporal Baird was an extremely dedicated and disciplined soldier, always striving for excellence in everything he did,'' the ADF statement said.
"Corporal Baird died how he lived at the front, giving it his all, without any indecision. He will forever be remembered by his mates and the soldiers he served with.''
The veteran commando was awarded the Medal for Gallantry for his actions in November 2007 when his company attacked a Taliban stronghold.
The then lance corporal's platoon came under heavy fire from close range and one of the soldiers was badly hit.
"Displaying complete disregard for his own safety, Lance Corporal Baird led other members of his team forward under heavy fire from machine guns and assault rifles to recover the wounded team member back to a position of cover,'' the medal citation said.
"He then re-entered the compound and continued to engage the enemy.
"Even though under constant fire, Lance Corporal Baird continually moved amongst his team members coordinating their fire, and throwing grenades to neutralise the enemy machine gun positions.''
Once that close quarter battle was won, Lance Corporal Baird again led his team forward and began clearing buildings of the enemy, room by room.
"Lance Corporal Baird continued to lead the fight, killing several enemy and successfully completing the clearance,'' the citation said.
"Throughout the action, Lance Corporal Baird displayed conspicuous gallantry, composure and superior leadership under fire.
"He was personally responsible for killing several enemy combatants during the clearance, ensuring the momentum of the assault was maintained, and undoubtedly preventing further members of his section from becoming casualties.''
The attacks in Oruzgan Province are designed to take the pressure off both Afghan troops and police, and coalition forces preparing to withdraw from Afghanistan.
About 1000 of Australia's 1650 military personnel there are due home by Christmas.
General Hurley said the members of the Australian Special Operations Task Group and the Afghan Provincial Response Company were conducting a joint operation to disrupt a network that had been behind much of the insurgent activity in Oruzgan province.
"Such operations are important to support the Afghan national security forces as they take responsibility for security, and to enable the safe extraction of ISAF forces," General Hurley said.
"On behalf of the men and women of the Australian Defence Force, I extend my deepest sympathies to the soldier's family," the ADF chief said.
"We share their loss, and we feel their pain, and we will support them through the difficult days ahead. My thoughts and prayers are also with our wounded personnel and their families, and I wish them a speedy recovery."
General Hurley said the news would be particularly difficult for the families of all of Australia's fallen soldiers, many of whom had gathered on Saturday at the opening of Australia's first national memorial for Afghanistan, in Yungaburra, north Queensland.
"I know that they will continue to draw comfort and strength from each other this morning," General Hurley said. "Each one of our fallen soldiers has made a difference. Their dedication to service, and to our nation, should be a great source of pride.
"I intend to see their work honoured, and see our mission through to completion."
General Hurley said many believed Australia's role in Afghanistan was coming to an end, but the special forces mission still had 18 months to go until the end of 2014.
"As the Prime Minister, the minister and I have said on a number of occasions, we will be there beyond that. So there's still a lot of work to be done."
Julia Gillard said the latest death would come as a shock for those lulled into a false sense that there would be no more lives lost as Australia prepares to withdraw most of its troops from the region by the end of this year. "Every death, every loss in Afghanistan hits the nation hard," Ms Gillard said yesterday.
"I think not only will the nation be hit hard today, but for many this will be a very painful reminder that the risk is not over, the danger is not gone."
Defence Minister Stephen Smith said the soldier's death was a devastating and "gut-wrenching" blow.
"Suffice to say, he was a commando, he was an elite soldier, (he) made a substantial contribution," Mr Smith said.
The soldier was "tragically and terribly lost", he added.
The commando was the latest in a grim series of medal holders killed in action.
SAS Regiment Sergeant Matthew Locke and Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith were together in a heavily outnumbered patrol that fought a pitched battle against insurgents on a mountain top in Afghanistan late one afternoon in 2006. Both received the Medal for Gallantry for their heroism.
Sergeant Locke was killed in 2007 in an ambush in the Chora Valley.
Corporal Roberts-Smith went on to earn the Victoria Cross