Post by Chips on Jul 17, 2010 7:58:37 GMT 9.5
Lance Corporal Mason Edwards
TRAGEDY: Lance Corporal Mason Edwards died at Cultana, outside Port Augusta, training for his third tour of duty in Afghanistan.
HE lost his life in the line of duty, serving his country, but Lance Corporal Mason Edwards' family fears he is the forgotten soldier of the Afghanistan war.
The special forces commando was shot in the head during live-fire "battle inoculation" in October.
But this tragic death wasn't on the front line. He died on our own shores at the Cultana military training base outside Port Augusta.
Corporal Edwards was preparing for his third mission in the war-torn country.
But at Cultana, the most dangerous training our military uses to simulate the realities of war was so real it claimed one of our own.
As the eulogies for the 17 Diggers killed in Afghanistan continue to echo across the nation, Corporal Edwards's story has been lost. And that is something his family wants changed.
"I suspect because he wasn't killed in Afghanistan, the nation will forget him," his mother, Julie Mackay, said from Brisbane. "I think it's important that he isn't forgotten.
"Because he didn't happen to die in that country, he doesn't have the same recognition and he's not counted as one of the soldiers lost in the Afghanistan campaign.
"And we wonder whether he will become the forgotten soldier."
The family has remained silent for the eight months since Corporal Edwards's death.
But the death of one of his closest mates, Private Ben Chuck, one of three Australian soldiers killed in a helicopter crash in Kandahar last month, prompted them to speak.
"Mason's name won't appear on the Wall of Remembrance in Canberra with his mates because he wasn't killed in active service," Ms Mackay said.
"That's a real sadness for us because his name won't be near his mates. And no political leader was at Mason's funeral, as opposed to every other soldier killed in Afghanistan."
The 30 year-old soldier from the Sydney-based 2nd Commando Regiment has been universally remembered as a "strong, but gentle man" who was dedicated to serving his country.
Before his death, he was days away from receiving a medal of commendation for his previous tour of duty.
Born in Birmingham, England, Corporal Edwards spent most of his life in Queensland.
He joined the army in January, 2004, and later specialised in special forces demolitions, mortars, direct fire support and weapons and heavy weapons.
The Defence Department's own media release said he was held in the highest regard because of his strength of character, integrity and uncompromising work ethic.
"I think it's a testimony to who Mason was when 150 of the soldiers travelled from Sydney to Brisbane for his funeral - at their own expense - and usually they release about 30 or 40 guys," Ms Mackay said.
"There was a lot of grief because of the way Mason was killed and also because of the person he was."
And there are no better words than his own to express his dedication, selflessness and loyalty - in a letter Corporal Edwards hoped would never see the light of day.
"I want everyone to know that I love this line of work, the unit and the guys I work alongside," he wrote while in Afghanistan.
The family praised the support from the Defence Department, and say they expect an official report into Corporal Edwards' death within weeks.
They took part in the inquiry, but do not wish to detail their knowledge of what happened on that night.
As Ms Mackay says, their only hope is that no other family will be put through the trauma they've dealt with.
"Our real interest is what recommendations are going to be made ... recommendations about what went wrong on that night to make sure it won't happen again."
A statement from Defence said each Brigade had a plaque or monument in recognition of those who have died in training.
Rest here with your mates Mason Edwards.
TRAGEDY: Lance Corporal Mason Edwards died at Cultana, outside Port Augusta, training for his third tour of duty in Afghanistan.
HE lost his life in the line of duty, serving his country, but Lance Corporal Mason Edwards' family fears he is the forgotten soldier of the Afghanistan war.
The special forces commando was shot in the head during live-fire "battle inoculation" in October.
But this tragic death wasn't on the front line. He died on our own shores at the Cultana military training base outside Port Augusta.
Corporal Edwards was preparing for his third mission in the war-torn country.
But at Cultana, the most dangerous training our military uses to simulate the realities of war was so real it claimed one of our own.
As the eulogies for the 17 Diggers killed in Afghanistan continue to echo across the nation, Corporal Edwards's story has been lost. And that is something his family wants changed.
"I suspect because he wasn't killed in Afghanistan, the nation will forget him," his mother, Julie Mackay, said from Brisbane. "I think it's important that he isn't forgotten.
"Because he didn't happen to die in that country, he doesn't have the same recognition and he's not counted as one of the soldiers lost in the Afghanistan campaign.
"And we wonder whether he will become the forgotten soldier."
The family has remained silent for the eight months since Corporal Edwards's death.
But the death of one of his closest mates, Private Ben Chuck, one of three Australian soldiers killed in a helicopter crash in Kandahar last month, prompted them to speak.
"Mason's name won't appear on the Wall of Remembrance in Canberra with his mates because he wasn't killed in active service," Ms Mackay said.
"That's a real sadness for us because his name won't be near his mates. And no political leader was at Mason's funeral, as opposed to every other soldier killed in Afghanistan."
The 30 year-old soldier from the Sydney-based 2nd Commando Regiment has been universally remembered as a "strong, but gentle man" who was dedicated to serving his country.
Before his death, he was days away from receiving a medal of commendation for his previous tour of duty.
Born in Birmingham, England, Corporal Edwards spent most of his life in Queensland.
He joined the army in January, 2004, and later specialised in special forces demolitions, mortars, direct fire support and weapons and heavy weapons.
The Defence Department's own media release said he was held in the highest regard because of his strength of character, integrity and uncompromising work ethic.
"I think it's a testimony to who Mason was when 150 of the soldiers travelled from Sydney to Brisbane for his funeral - at their own expense - and usually they release about 30 or 40 guys," Ms Mackay said.
"There was a lot of grief because of the way Mason was killed and also because of the person he was."
And there are no better words than his own to express his dedication, selflessness and loyalty - in a letter Corporal Edwards hoped would never see the light of day.
"I want everyone to know that I love this line of work, the unit and the guys I work alongside," he wrote while in Afghanistan.
The family praised the support from the Defence Department, and say they expect an official report into Corporal Edwards' death within weeks.
They took part in the inquiry, but do not wish to detail their knowledge of what happened on that night.
As Ms Mackay says, their only hope is that no other family will be put through the trauma they've dealt with.
"Our real interest is what recommendations are going to be made ... recommendations about what went wrong on that night to make sure it won't happen again."
A statement from Defence said each Brigade had a plaque or monument in recognition of those who have died in training.
Rest here with your mates Mason Edwards.