Australian soldiers have been fighting in Afghanistan since 2001 – not long after Al Qaeda terrorists murdered 2977 innocent victims at the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in New York, the Pentagon in Washington DC, and the crash site of the downed United Airlines flight 93 in Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001.
Since then, 21 brave Australian Diggers have lost their lives while serving our country in the Middle East.
Each death is a tragedy beyond description; each leaves a family stricken with grief and immeasurable loss; some of these great and selfless men are survived by children who weren’t even born when they deployed. They also leave behind their fellow soldiers who forge ahead, knowing that their work honours the memories of their fallen mates.
Thankfully, we have the voices of the wives and girlfriends, like Mrs Beckie MacKinney, the widow of Lance Corporal Jared “Crash” MacKinney who was killed in action in Afghanistan while serving with the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.
Lance Corporal Jared MacKinney with his wife, Beckie, and daughter Annabell (picture courtesy Defence.gov.au)
Commander of the Joint Task Force 633, Major General John Cantwell said MacKinney was killed by Taliban insurgents while “protecting and supporting his mates” in a firefight in the Deh Rawud region of Uruzgan province on August 24. He was 28 years old.
Mrs MacKinney, who buries her husband today, is due to give birth to hers and Jared’s second child, a son, in a couple of weeks. Her words will break your heart, and it is important that we hear them. And remember them. And keep them in our hearts.
The long journey without Jared has begun for Annabell and me, and soon also little Noah Jared who is due to come into the world in a fortnight. Noah will never get to meet his father but he will come to know him for the incredible man he was through our love and memories.
So many people have helped our families through the dark times of the last few days, people we know and also many people we have never met, who wanted to help ease our pain.
On behalf of the families I would like to very sincerely thank them for their best wishes and generous support. I would like you to know that it made a very real difference. In the next few weeks I hope I can personally thank as many of you as I can
To Jared’s mates in Afghanistan and back home – we were all very proud of Jared and the work he loved doing. I want to thank you for your caring and the incredible messages of support and I know Jared would want me to tell you that we are very proud of you and fully support you in the job you are doing for us all.
I would also like to express our appreciation to the media for the very sensitive manner in which they have covered the tragic events of the past few weeks, and also their ongoing respect for our privacy.
We have reached the deepest depths of despair since we were told of Jared’s death, but we have also been helped and comforted by the support and extraordinary generosity of spirit of old friends, new friends, and strangers who cared.
Lance Corporal Jared MacKinney from the 6RAR, killed in action in Afghanistan on August 24, 2010, (picture courtesy Defence.gov.au)
Mrs MacKinney’s statement was released via the Army. More than 700 people are at Crash MacKinney’s funeral in Brisbane today, including his fellow Diggers from the 6RAR, the Chief of Defence, Angus Houston, the Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Opposition leader Tony Abbott.
His courage was infinite. His mates and family will never forget him, and neither should our nation or the Defence Force for whom he made the ultimate sacrifice.
Lest we forget.
Grant Kirby, 35
Tomas Dale, 21
Jason Brown, 29
Nathan Bewes, 23
Tim Aplin, 38
Ben Chuck, 27
Scott Palmer, 27
Darren Smith, 25
Jacob Moerland, 21
Brett Till, 31
Gregory Michael Sher, 30
Michael Fussell, 25
Sean McCarthy, 25
Jason Marks, 27
Luke Worsley, 26
Matthew Locke, 33
David Pearce, 41
Andrew Russell, 33
