thedrifter
01-17-09, 07:32 AM
Friendly-fire inquiry after marines from Scots base die in Afghanistan
Published Date: 17 January 2009
By FRANK URQUHART and SHÂN ROSS
AN INVESTIGATION was under way last night into whether two British servicemen based in Scotland died in Afghanistan as a result of "friendly fire", the Ministry of Defence said.
Captain Tom Sawyer, 26, of the Royal Artillery, and Corporal Danny Winter, 28, of the Royal Marines – both based at RM Condor in Arbroath – were caught up in a so-called "blue-on-blue" explosion north-east of Gereshk in central Helmand on Wednesday.
They were on a joint operation with Danish forces and the Afghan National Army to clear a known Taleban stronghold when the explosion happened. Two other members of their patrol were also injured. It is understood the suspected friendly fire incident did not involve fast jets or other international forces.
Capt Sawyer, from Hertfordshire, was due to celebrate his 27th birthday next Tuesday. He is survived by his wife Katy, whom he married in March last year.
His family said in a statement: "Tom was the best husband, son and brother we could ever have asked for. He deeply loved his family and friends and his infectious personality touched all those who knew him.
"Dedicated to the army and his lads, he was loyal, loud and loving. He will leave a big hole in all of our lives but will always be remembered as our hero."
Cpl Winter, who was born near Manchester and lived in Stockport, joined the Royal Marines in October 1996 and quickly came to specialise in heavy weapons. Friends described him as a loyal and dedicated Royal Marine who "worked hard and played even harder". A passionate Manchester United fan, he leaves behind his partner, Amanda.
Lt Col Jim Morris, the commanding officer of 45 Commando, paid tribute to both of the servicemen.
He said: "The tragic loss of Captain Tom Sawyer has been deeply felt throughout the whole of 45 Commando group. He has served with 45 Commando group throughout two operational tours to Afghanistan and has lived and worked with us at home in Arbroath and abroad for the last two-and-a-half years – he is truly considered to be one of our own."
He added: "Corporal Danny Winter was an exceptional Royal Marine. He was brave, committed, extremely determined and operationally experienced.
"His loss has been deeply felt across the whole of 45 Commando and his ultimate sacrifice will always be remembered."
The two deaths took the number of British servicemen and women who have died in Afghanistan since the start of operations in October 2001 to 141.
Defence Secretary John Hutton said: "It was with great sadness that I learned of the deaths of Captain Tom Sawyer and Corporal Danny Winter, one a proven mentor and leader and the other a non-commissioned officer of great professionalism and experience.
"Both died doing jobs they loved and for a cause vitally important to their country. We owe them a debt, and at this sad time our thoughts and prayers are with their loved ones and colleagues."
SAS soldier awarded VC after acting as decoy to save patrol
PINNED down by a maelstrom of machine-gun bullets and rocket-propelled grenades in a Taleban ambush, SAS Trooper Mark Donaldson made a move that seemed to defy all logic.
The 29-year-old Australian deliberately exposed himself to insurgent fire in an attempt to draw the enemy's attention away from his wounded comrades.
For his actions during the battle last year in Afghanistan's Uruzgan province, Trooper Donaldson was yesterday awarded the Victoria Cross – the highest military honour in the British Commonwealth.
He is the first Australian in 40 years to receive the award. Trooper Donaldson, who was feted by Kevin Rudd, the Australian prime minister, at the award ceremony in Canberra, said he was just doing his job.
The man known to mates as "Donno" declared that receiving the nation's highest military honour in Afghanistan would not change him. "I'm trained to fight and that's all we do – it's instinct and it's natural," the soldier said after the event.
"You don't think about it at the time. You just do what you've got to do," he said. "Every single one of those soldiers there serving the nation are heroes, not just myself."
Trooper Donaldson, who was wounded in combat three weeks before the battle that earned him the rare medal, said he hoped to return this year to Afghanistan, where 1,000 Australian troops are serving. Eight of his countrymen have died in the conflict.
According to military officials, Taleban insurgents had opened fire on a patrol of Australian, US and Afghan troops on 2 September, as the soldiers returned to base after killing at least 13 militants the previous day.
Trooper Donaldson's citation described the attackers as "well entrenched, co-ordinated and effective fighters". Trooper Donaldson, of the Australian SAS, moved quickly to counter-attack, darting from place to place as he trained fire on the enemy.
He then decided to break cover in the hope of protecting the wounded. "This selfless act alone bought enough time for those wounded to be moved to relative safety," his citation read.
The patrol had made valiant efforts to manoeuvre their Humvees out of the trap. But, with the casualties taking up all available space inside, all Trooper Donaldson could do was run alongside his vehicle, and pray he did not take a bullet.
As they made their way out, he spotted a severely wounded Afghan interpreter. He broke cover again, crossing 90 yards of open ground to grab the interpreter and carry him back to the patrol.
Throughout the two-hour running battle that covered more than two miles, Trooper Donaldson also administered first aid to wounded soldiers between exchanges of gunfire with the enemy. More than a dozen coalition troops were wounded; none, however, died.
"Generations of schoolchildren will now know of the story of Trooper Mark Donaldson," said Mr Rudd. "It is a story of a hero, one which will be told in classrooms, workplaces and watering holes for many years to come."
Mr Donaldson's wife, Emma, who attended the ceremony along with their daughter, Kaylee, two, said she would not ask her husband to be more careful. "He was married to the army before he married me, and I support him all the way," she said.
"(Trooper Donaldson's] life now is changed forever," said Keith Payne, 75, the last Australian to win the VC, while serving in Vietnam in 1969.
Ellie
Published Date: 17 January 2009
By FRANK URQUHART and SHÂN ROSS
AN INVESTIGATION was under way last night into whether two British servicemen based in Scotland died in Afghanistan as a result of "friendly fire", the Ministry of Defence said.
Captain Tom Sawyer, 26, of the Royal Artillery, and Corporal Danny Winter, 28, of the Royal Marines – both based at RM Condor in Arbroath – were caught up in a so-called "blue-on-blue" explosion north-east of Gereshk in central Helmand on Wednesday.
They were on a joint operation with Danish forces and the Afghan National Army to clear a known Taleban stronghold when the explosion happened. Two other members of their patrol were also injured. It is understood the suspected friendly fire incident did not involve fast jets or other international forces.
Capt Sawyer, from Hertfordshire, was due to celebrate his 27th birthday next Tuesday. He is survived by his wife Katy, whom he married in March last year.
His family said in a statement: "Tom was the best husband, son and brother we could ever have asked for. He deeply loved his family and friends and his infectious personality touched all those who knew him.
"Dedicated to the army and his lads, he was loyal, loud and loving. He will leave a big hole in all of our lives but will always be remembered as our hero."
Cpl Winter, who was born near Manchester and lived in Stockport, joined the Royal Marines in October 1996 and quickly came to specialise in heavy weapons. Friends described him as a loyal and dedicated Royal Marine who "worked hard and played even harder". A passionate Manchester United fan, he leaves behind his partner, Amanda.
Lt Col Jim Morris, the commanding officer of 45 Commando, paid tribute to both of the servicemen.
He said: "The tragic loss of Captain Tom Sawyer has been deeply felt throughout the whole of 45 Commando group. He has served with 45 Commando group throughout two operational tours to Afghanistan and has lived and worked with us at home in Arbroath and abroad for the last two-and-a-half years – he is truly considered to be one of our own."
He added: "Corporal Danny Winter was an exceptional Royal Marine. He was brave, committed, extremely determined and operationally experienced.
"His loss has been deeply felt across the whole of 45 Commando and his ultimate sacrifice will always be remembered."
The two deaths took the number of British servicemen and women who have died in Afghanistan since the start of operations in October 2001 to 141.
Defence Secretary John Hutton said: "It was with great sadness that I learned of the deaths of Captain Tom Sawyer and Corporal Danny Winter, one a proven mentor and leader and the other a non-commissioned officer of great professionalism and experience.
"Both died doing jobs they loved and for a cause vitally important to their country. We owe them a debt, and at this sad time our thoughts and prayers are with their loved ones and colleagues."
SAS soldier awarded VC after acting as decoy to save patrol
PINNED down by a maelstrom of machine-gun bullets and rocket-propelled grenades in a Taleban ambush, SAS Trooper Mark Donaldson made a move that seemed to defy all logic.
The 29-year-old Australian deliberately exposed himself to insurgent fire in an attempt to draw the enemy's attention away from his wounded comrades.
For his actions during the battle last year in Afghanistan's Uruzgan province, Trooper Donaldson was yesterday awarded the Victoria Cross – the highest military honour in the British Commonwealth.
He is the first Australian in 40 years to receive the award. Trooper Donaldson, who was feted by Kevin Rudd, the Australian prime minister, at the award ceremony in Canberra, said he was just doing his job.
The man known to mates as "Donno" declared that receiving the nation's highest military honour in Afghanistan would not change him. "I'm trained to fight and that's all we do – it's instinct and it's natural," the soldier said after the event.
"You don't think about it at the time. You just do what you've got to do," he said. "Every single one of those soldiers there serving the nation are heroes, not just myself."
Trooper Donaldson, who was wounded in combat three weeks before the battle that earned him the rare medal, said he hoped to return this year to Afghanistan, where 1,000 Australian troops are serving. Eight of his countrymen have died in the conflict.
According to military officials, Taleban insurgents had opened fire on a patrol of Australian, US and Afghan troops on 2 September, as the soldiers returned to base after killing at least 13 militants the previous day.
Trooper Donaldson's citation described the attackers as "well entrenched, co-ordinated and effective fighters". Trooper Donaldson, of the Australian SAS, moved quickly to counter-attack, darting from place to place as he trained fire on the enemy.
He then decided to break cover in the hope of protecting the wounded. "This selfless act alone bought enough time for those wounded to be moved to relative safety," his citation read.
The patrol had made valiant efforts to manoeuvre their Humvees out of the trap. But, with the casualties taking up all available space inside, all Trooper Donaldson could do was run alongside his vehicle, and pray he did not take a bullet.
As they made their way out, he spotted a severely wounded Afghan interpreter. He broke cover again, crossing 90 yards of open ground to grab the interpreter and carry him back to the patrol.
Throughout the two-hour running battle that covered more than two miles, Trooper Donaldson also administered first aid to wounded soldiers between exchanges of gunfire with the enemy. More than a dozen coalition troops were wounded; none, however, died.
"Generations of schoolchildren will now know of the story of Trooper Mark Donaldson," said Mr Rudd. "It is a story of a hero, one which will be told in classrooms, workplaces and watering holes for many years to come."
Mr Donaldson's wife, Emma, who attended the ceremony along with their daughter, Kaylee, two, said she would not ask her husband to be more careful. "He was married to the army before he married me, and I support him all the way," she said.
"(Trooper Donaldson's] life now is changed forever," said Keith Payne, 75, the last Australian to win the VC, while serving in Vietnam in 1969.
Ellie