Sergeant Brett Wood killed in Afghanistan, five other Australians wounded
4 replies, posted
[quote] A 32-YEAR-old Digger described as "a magnificent soldier'' by his top commander has died in one of the worst days for our troops fighting in Afghanistan.
Sergeant Brett Wood, a married commando on his third deployment, became the 24th Australian killed since 2001 when a roadside device exploded.
Sgt Wood had been awarded the medal of gallantry for bravery in Afghanistan in 2006.
It was Sgt Wood's third deployment to Afghanistan. He also had served in Iraq, East Timor and Bougainville.
The Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, revealed the fatality and said he had been "a magnificent soldier'' who had been through "some incredible operational experiences''.
[b]'You have done your country proud'[/b]
Defence has released a statement from Elvi Wood, Sgt Wood's widow, describing her husband as a "much loved son, grandson and brother who inspired his family with his dedication and generosity".
"On behalf of Brett’s immediate family, his friends and myself - I would like the Australian public to know what a brilliant husband, son, brother, friend and soldier Brett Mathew Wood was.
"Brett was extremely proud to be part of the 2nd Commando Regiment and he considered many of his colleagues to be his second family. He was an excellent soldier, a true leader and a friend to all in his unit.
"The care and support we have received today from the Defence Force as well as Brett’s colleagues simply reinforces how well respected Brett was.
"I have not only lost my husband, I have lost my best friend. The past six years with him were the happiest of my life and it was the biggest honour ever to become his wife and to be part of his family.
"Brett, you have done your country proud and you will always be remembered.
[b]PM refuses to withdraw[/b]
Two other soldiers were seriously wounded during the same bomb clearance operation which took Sgt Wood. One received life-threatening wounds.
Three other Australian troops were wounded in a separate incident, a firefight with insurgents. They are expected to be treated as out-patients and brought to 174 the number of Australians wounded in Afghanistan.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard said the tragedy would not hasten a withdrawal from Afghanistan and said the objective remained to prevent the country being a base for international terrorism, even with the removal of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
"The death of bin Laden does not mean that al-Qaeda is dead,'' the Prime Minister said in Canberra.
[b]Decorated warrior[/b]
She said of Sgt Wood, a 15-year Army veteran: "Our hearts go out to his wife who would be struggling to absorb this very dreadful news. Our hearts also go out to his family and friends as they seek to come to terms with his loss.
"He was a young man who had dedicated his life to the defence of this nation. This is a very difficult day for the nation, but most particularly a very difficult day for his family.''
Ms Gillard also acknowledged the five wounded soldiers and pledged they would receive the best of medical care.
She said so much bad news would make some wonder why Australia is in Afghanistan and whether any progress is being made.
The Prime Minister quoted Victoria Cross Winner Ben Roberts-Smith who said: "We are making a difference in Afghanistan.''
However, the Prime Minister warned that the warmer months in the northern hemisphere - "the fighting season'' - will see offensives by insurgents "which will challenge us''.
[b]Nation grieves[/b]
One of the many who are mourning the loss of Sgt Wood is Lynden Twining, whose son, David, was Sgt Wood's best friend in the early years of his army career.
The pair signed up on the same day, became mates on the bus to basic training at Puckapunyal and had consecutive soldier identification numbers.
The two men served together in 4RAR as Commandos, both did tours of duty in East Timor and had both started SAS training together.
In October 2001, David Twining was killed in a car accident near Holsworthy Army Base in Sydney.
"What broke my heart at David’s funeral was seeing Brett walk behind the hearse with David’s medals on a cushion," Ms Twining told the Herald Sun.
"Now all I can think about is that some other soldier will have to carry Brett’s medals behind his hearse."
[b]Rising toll[/b]
Defence Minister Stephen Smith said it was a tragedy for Sgt Wood's family and a terrible reminder for the families of the other 23 soldiers who have died in Afghanistan.
Sgt Wood is the third Digger to have been killed in Afghanistan this year. Corporal Richard Atkinson, 22, and Sapper Jamie Larcombe, 21, were killed during separate incidents in February.
The tragedy comes as the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force said that a roadside bomb attack killed four foreign soldiers in eastern Afghanistan overnight.
"Four International Security Assistance Force service members died following an improvised explosive device attack in eastern Afghanistan today," ISAF said.
"It is ISAF policy to defer casualty identification procedures to the relevant national authorities."
ISAF did not give further details of who was involved, what exactly happened or where it occurred, in line with policy.
A total of 184 international troops have been killed in Afghanistan so far this year, according to a tally kept by the independent website icasualties.org. That compares with a tally of 711 for last year.
Troop commanders have warned of another hard period ahead after the Taliban announced the start of their spring offensive at the end of last month.
The US commander of foreign troops on the ground, US General David Petraeus, warned in a memo released on Saturday that fighting was at a "pivotal moment" and ISAF soldiers faced "difficult situations" ahead.
There are around 130,000 international troops in Afghanistan, some 90,000 of them from the US. [/quote]
[url]http://www.news.com.au/national/sergeant-brett-wood-killed-in-afghanistan-five-other-australians-wounded/story-e6frfkvr-1226061638995[/url]
[QUOTE=PrusseluskenV2;30022484]Brett is board in norwegian.. now I feel bad for laughing at his name. :smith:[/QUOTE]
Haha, Board Woo- Aww :smith:
I am saddened by this news, perhaps we will get out of Afghanistan faster now...
snip because that was dumb
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