I'm proud that he gets it.
Posted on 10/27/2007 12:38:18 AM PDT by naturalman1975
CHIEF of Army Lieutenant-General Peter Leahy described soldier Sergeant Matthew Locke, killed by the Taliban in Afghanistan, as a genuine hero.
"The nation today has lost a genuine hero. The army has lost a gallant and respected soldier," he said.
"Our Special Air Service Regiment have lost a comrade and a mate and his family have lost a loving husband and father.
"I can express my deep sympathy to the family of Sergeant Matthew Locke and express our desire to support them as much as we can through these difficult and tragic days."
Lt-Gen Leahy said Sgt Locke was an inspirational leader who knew his duty and task.
"It's a very sad day that the nation has lost a man of this calibre," he said.
"Over the next few days we will continue to support the family, we will continue to ensure that Sgt Locke's body is brought home with dignity and respect.
"We will also work with the Australian population to pay respect to this gallant soldier."
Lt-Gen Leahy said Sgt Locke was shot in the chest during an operation conducted in co-operation with the Afghan National Army and international security forces in Afghanistan.
"They were conducting aggressive operations against the Taliban," he said.
"He was shot in the chest and despite the effort of his mates to revive him we weren't able to revive him."
Lt-Gen Leahy said Sgt Locke's fellow soldiers would have done everything they could to save his life.
"The soldiers of the special services regiment are very highly trained in combat medical procedures and they would have taken every effort and expended all their energy to try and save him," he said.
"He would have got the best care almost immediately."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
I'm proud that he gets it.
RIP.
Rest in Peace, Warrior.
Does the Marine Corp fund supported by Rush give to our loyal Austalian allies as well?
All our Special Forces from UK, US and Australia have contributed far more than we will every know.
I do not know.
I do know our coalition partners receive battlefield logistics support, but I would assume their after care would be a point of national pride for them to provide for themselves.
Our USMC has taken a fair share of the casualties and has valiant effort has been spent to build upon our tradition of caring for our own.
Sergeant Locke’s widow will received a compensation payout, and then a War Widows pension for the rest of her life, unless she remarries.
Any children will receive war orphans pensions under the Veterans Childrens Education Scheme, until they finish their schooling, or reach the age of 25, whichever comes first.
In addition to this official government support, Australia has an organisation called Legacy, established by veterans of the First World War in 1923 that provides care and support for the families of those servicemen killed in war, or who later die because of war-related factors.
The family of Sergeant Locke will be looked after.
It hasn't yet been updated to reflect Sergeant Locke's death as I write this, but it illustrates how things work. There is an active appeal for the family of Trooper David Pearce who fell a couple of weeks ago.
Legacy paid for my school uniforms and my school books from the age of nine. And I am a Legatee, myself today.
I knew you looked after your own as well or better than we do ours, but didn’t know the details.
Thanks for the info.
Hero bump
(Australia)
Sergeant Matthew Locke, late of the Australian Special Air Service Regiment; this Retired Yank Army Major Salutes you.
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