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ianstone
06-23-2010, 12:15 PM
Royal Marine killed in Afghanistan




Commando shot dead on patrol in Sangin – the fourth killed in Afghanistan in four days

Tweet this (http://twitter.com/home?status=http%3A%2F%2Fgu.com%2Fp%2F2hqgz%2Ftw)( 15) (http://topsy.com/tb/www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jun/23/royal-marine-killed-afghanistan)


Mark Tran (http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/marktran)
guardian.co.uk (http://www.guardian.co.uk/), Wednesday 23 June 2010 14.20 BST
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/About/General/2010/6/23/1277298237551/Operations-in-Afghanistan-006.jpg Four Royal Marine commandos have been killed Afghanistan in as many days. Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA
A Royal Marine was killed in Afghanistan (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/afghanistan) today, the fourth commando to die in four days.
The Ministry of Defence said the marine was on patrol in the Sangin district of Helmand province in southern Afghanistan when he was shot thismorning. His family has been told.
Lieutenant Colonel James Carr-Smith, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: "He was on a security patrol, helping to better the lives of ordinary Afghans, when he was killed by small arms fire from insurgent forces. His courage in the face of danger and his selfless commitment will not be forgotten. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him. We will remember him."
The number of British dead since the conflict began in 2001 now stands at 303.
Family and colleagues today paid tribute to Paul Warren, a Royal Marine who was killed in Afghanistan on Monday.
The 23-year-old from Leyland, Lancashire, was one of three servicemen from 40 Commando Royal Marines to die in three days, all in Helmand. He was caught in an explosion during a patrol in Sangin and died from his injuries. His family said in a statement that he was "a loving son, a brother and grandson who made us proud as a family. His cheeky smile will be missed by all who knew him".
Warren, who was born in Preston, joined the Royal Marines in 2006. He served with 45 Commando in Afghanistan in 2008-9 and was deployed again in March as part of Charlie company.
The MoD said Charlie company was responsible for security around patrol base Airport Lounge and had conducted dozens of patrols in support of the local population. The company completed numerous joint clearance operations with Afghan national security forces and uncovered many improvised explosive devices, making the area safer for local people.
Major Ed Moorhouse, commanding officer of Charlie company, said: "Marine Paul Warren was something special in Charlie company, and that is an accolade I use sparingly in the close-knit band of brothers that we are, where all excel in doing their duty in the most challenging of environments in Sangin. In singling out Marine Paul Warren, this accolade rightly describes a man who volunteered and acted as point man for every patrol which his section undertook in Sangin; in my eyes these men, on point, are the bravest of the brave."
Earlier today, the father of the 300th soldier to be killed in Afghanistan (http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jun/22/300th-soldier-richard-hollington-tributes) said he wanted a personal explanation from the prime minister as to why Britain was fighting the war.
Robin Hollington, father of Royal Marine Richard Hollington, told ITV News: "I do not see a huge amount of progress being made and it would be extremely interesting to hear from Mr [David] Cameron or Mr [Liam] Fox [the defence secretary] exactly why we are there because I don't think the public are being told enough to justify what is going on at the moment."
Hollington, who described his 23-year-old son as a lion, said he did not think soldiers in Afghanistan were fighting for Queen and country, but for each other. "They are doing it because, by looking after each other, they have the best chance of coming back alive," he said.

The UK has about 10,000 troops in Afghanistan, of whom 8,000 are based in Helmand, the country's most dangerous province. Since becoming prime minister, Cameron has said that British forces will not remain in Afghanistan "a day longer than is necessary".

Afghanistan: the soldiers killed in action

Our breakdown of military deaths during the operations of the past 10 months

Afghanistan



Editors' picks
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2010/2/14/1266172280995/US-marines-in-Marjah-Helm-002.jpg http://static.guim.co.uk/static/91149/common/styles/wide/images/interactive_140.png (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2010/feb/05/afghanistan-operation-moshtarak-british-soldiers)
A guide to Operation Moshtarak (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2010/feb/05/afghanistan-operation-moshtarak-british-soldiers)




Interactive: A huge mobilisation is under way to clear parts of Helmand province from Taliban control

In pictures: Operation Moshtarak (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/gallery/2010/feb/15/afghanistan-us-military)

Possibly the best links I have found for ages, a good intelligent read.


Bad day at the office does not seem to cut it.
Brave men.
R.I.P. the fallen, as with all the brave coalition forces.

GTFPDQ
06-23-2010, 06:17 PM
Im not picking on you Ian..... But "4 in a row"..... Come on have some sympathy its not a game of footie