NZDF names three soldiers killed in Afghanistan (NZ loses first female soldier since Vietnam)

stuff.co.nz ^ | 20th August 2012

[naturalman1975]

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has named the three soldiers killed in Afghanistan on Sunday.

They are Corporal Luke Tamatea, 31, Lance Corporal Jacinda Baker, 26, and Private Richard Harris, aged 21.

The three were killed during an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) incident in the North East of Bamyan Province.

Ms Baker is the first female Kiwi soldier to have died in Afghanistan.

[naturalman1975]

Peace, not war, shall be our boast,
But, should foes assail our coast,
Make us then a mighty host,
God defend our free land.
Lord of battles in Thy might,
Put our enemies to flight,
Let our cause be just and right,
God defend New Zealand.

[naturalman1975]

Ms Baker is the first female Kiwi soldier to have died in Afghanistan.

Ms Baker? Ms??

That's Lance Corporal Baker. She earned that stripe, she earned that rank. Journalists need to be better educated.

[naturalman1975]

If you go to my profile page, you can see a tribute to all ANZACs - Australian and New Zealanders - killed serving their countries (of birth and adopted) in the War on Terror.

[fortheDeclaration]

RIP brave allies.

[patriot08]

Nice tribute page.

[bd476]

Honoring New Zealand's Bravest

Reuters

U.S. and New Zealand soldiers, left, lower a New Zealand flag at a NATO base in Bamiyan, Afghanistan. New Zealand troops, including special forces, have served in Afghanistan since shortly after the U.S. invasion in 2001.

New Zealand's fallen soldiers

Left to right:

Corporal Luke Tamatea, 31, Lance Corporal Jacinda Baker, 26 and Private Richard Harris, 21

Fallen soldier had reassured grandmother

What a very sad day – killed in Afghanistan were Lance Corporal Jacinda Baker, 26, Private Richard Harris, 21, and Corporal Luke Tamatea, 31.

Jacinda Baker was the first New Zealand female to be killed in action since 1966. Richard Harris had joined the army whilst still a teenager. Corporal Tamatea was a father of four.

Our colleagues from Maori Television's Te Kaea have just spoken with Luke Tamatea's grandmother, Loraine O'Brien.

She told them her grandson had sought to reassure her the last time they spoke continues here: Fallen soldier had reassured grandmother

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

NZ soldiers killed in Afghanistan named

Mon, 6 Aug 2012

Lance Corporal Pralli Durrer and Lance Corporal Rory Malone

The families of the two New Zealand soldiers killed in Afghanistan over the weekend have both spoken of the important work the two men felt they were doing during their first stint in the war-torn Bamiyan province. Lance Corporal Pralli Durrer and Lance Corporal Rory Malone, both 26-years-old, died on Saturday night (NZT) about half-way through their deployment with the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Bamiyan. Lance Corporal Durrer, who was from Christchurch, had an aunt and grandfather as next-of-kin, as both his parents are dead.

The families of the two New Zealand soldiers killed in Afghanistan over the weekend have both spoken of the important work the two men felt they were doing during their first stint in the war-torn Bamiyan province... Read more here: NZ soldiers killed in Afghanistan named

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.

[Pat4ever]

RIP, brave warriors and honored allies. May God comfort your grieving families, friends and comrades at arms.

[oh8eleven]

NZ loses first female soldier since Vietnam
Your title suggests that NZ had women soldiers in VN and that at least one of them died there.
I didn't see any reference to that in the story. ???

[donozark]

I’m reminded of the REDGUM song-”I was only 19.” Available for watching on you tube. Tragic loss...

[donozark]

New Zealand lost 55 KIA and 212 WIA in Vietnam War. An nurse was KIA.

[naturalman1975]

Lieutenant Leslie Cowper, a Nurse with the Royal New Zealand Nursing Corps died of tuberculosis at Saigon on 2nd May 1967. She contracted the disease while serving with the New Zealand Surgical Team Vietnam at Qui Nhon, and her death was classified as a death on active service.

[oh8eleven]

55 KIA and 212 WIA
Not to nitpick, but govt site claims 37 KIA and 187 WIA.

[Dr. Ursus]

We toured NZ four years ago. Beautiful country with great
people.We hope to tour Australia next year.

[naturalman1975]

http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/cenotaph/RecordDetail.aspx?OriginalID=18329&c_all=1&Ordinal=1

Lieutenant Cowper's entry in the database from the Auckland War Memorial

[donozark]

Some difficulty in coming up with precise count. Just as there is with determining how many Canadians were KIA/WIA in Vietnam while serving in US Military. Some Canadians had already become US citizens when KIA/WIA. Others had not. There was a US Marine on the New Zealand Roll of Honor. Of New Zealand extraction.

Anyway, some gave all, all gave some...

[oh8eleven]

Thx ...

[Kathy in Alaska]

Last Post

RIP

Corporal Luke Tamatea
Lance Corporal Jacinda Baker, Medic
Private Richard Harris
Lance Corporal Pralli Durrer
Lance Corporal Rory Malone

Flowers of the Forest - click