Posted on 03/29/2002 10:32:23 AM PST by phasma proeliator
W O R L D N E W S S T O R Y
US Navy SEAL killed in Afghan explosion
29 March 2002
WASHINGTON: An elite US Navy SEAL Special Operations fighter has been killed and another wounded in an apparent landmine blast in southern Afghanistan, spotlighting the danger for Western troops fighting a six-month-old war there.
Officials at the Pentagon and US Central Command in Tampa, Florida, said the two elite Special Operations troops, among 6,000 US troops in Afghanistan, were on a small-unit training exercise south of Kandahar when the explosion occurred at about 8:30am Afghan time.
The Pentagon said that Navy Chief Petty Officer Matthew Bourgeois, 35, a hospital corpsman from Tallahassee, Florida, became the 31st American military death of the war. Navy Sea, Air Land (SEAL) troops are among the most highly-trained in the military.
The injured Navy man was not identified, but officials said his injuries were not life-threatening.
"This demonstrates that Afghanistan continues to be a very dangerous place for US and allied troops operating there." Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman told Reuters.
The US military said it was not clear whether the explosion was from a landmine or an explosive booby-trap set by al Qaeda and Taliban fighters being hunted by Western and Afghan forces.
A total of 31 US troops have now died in direct combat or accidents in and around Afghanistan in support of a US-led war against terrorism sparked by September 11 attacks on America.
US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was scheduled to brief reporters on Thursday on operations in Afghanistan.
Rumsfeld has stressed repeatedly that peace has not come to the country despite a US-led overthrow of the Taliban leadership and military successes against al Qaeda fighters of fugitive militant leader Osama bin Laden.
BLAST KILLED DANISH, GERMAN PEACEKEEPERS
Three Danish and two German troops involved in a separate international peacekeeping effort in Afghanistan were killed on March 6 in an explosion at a munitions site in the capital, Kabul. That occurred as the soldiers were destroying old Soviet-made SA-3 anti-aircraft missiles.
Thursday's incident also occurred as a team of about 100 British Marines and Air Force personnel toiled at Bagram Air Base to pave the way for Britain's largest combat mission since the 1991 Gulf War.
With 1,600 soldiers from the 45 Commando Group and supporting units set to arrive soon, bulldozers and other heavy equipment emblazoned with the Union Jack have cleared a vast patch of land for a new suburb of tents at the air base.
The additional British troops are being sent to join American and other allied forces supporting Afghan government troops in a fight against regrouping al Qaeda and Taliban.
Bagram is the launch pad for US-led operations against Taliban and al Qaeda in eastern Afghanistan, and big helicopters will carry the British Marines into combat in "Operation Jacana."
"The service member was killed after apparently stepping on an enemy ground-placed munition," Central Command spokesman Sgt. Matthew Smith said of Thursday's incident south of Kandahar.
Marine Lt. Col. Dave Lapan, a Pentagon spokesman, said in Washington the military was not sure yet whether a landmine or some other type of explosive booby-trap was involved.
"They were involved in routine small-unit training at the time," Lapan told Reuters, adding that the highly-trained troops were not searching for al Qaeda guerrillas or Taliban fighters when the incident occurred.
Not really. It spotlights the fact that Afghanistan is laced with mines, a greater danger to the adults and children of the country in general, rather than our soldiers in specific. A great and tragic problem for the Afghan people for years to come.
Navy Seal Chief Petty Officer Matthew Bourgeois (left), of Tallahassee, Florida, was killed in an explosion during a training exercise near Qandahar, Afghanistan Thursday morning, according to the Department of Defense. His wife Michelle and baby son Matt, 7 months, are also shown in this undated family portrait. REUTERS/Handout
I feel very sad for his son (especially) and for his wife.
Statement by family of SEAL killed in AfghanistanThe statement that family friend Marci Labrum read Friday on behalf of Michelle Bourgeois, widow of Chief Petty Officer Matthew J. Bourgeois:
It is with sincere regret that we share the loss of Matt Bourgeois. He has touched all of our lives whether it is as a husband and father, friend or hero. He was truly devoted to his family, teammates and country. We want to thank everyone for the kind sentiments and gifts. The support and strength within our community has been extremely well received.
He had perseverance and determination, which made him excellent at his job. He was always striving to be the best; hence this made him an astounding SEAL. Matt knew it was a difficult and dangerous job, but that never deterred him. He loved being a SEAL and working with his teammates, no matter in what circumstances. Matt was quick-witted and sharp. He could bring a smile to your face with a comical phrase, in a snap of a second.
Matt would want everyone to remember him as a loving husband and father, a loving son and brother, a true friend and warrior, who never once questioned his commitment and integrity for his family and country.
We want to extend our thoughts and prayers to all those who are fighting and serving our country. We share a common goal of unity and peace. We hope all our troops will come home safely.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.