Fed: Another soldier wounded in fighting in Afghanistan =2

AAP General News (Australia)
04-30-2008
Fed: Another soldier wounded in fighting in Afghanistan =2

Defence today released further details of the action which led to the death of Lance
Corporal Marks, 27, from Sydney.

Defence head Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston said Sunday night's operation by the Special
Operations Task Group was a deliberate, company-level clearance of an area suspected to
contain a Taliban extremist group.

"During the course of this clearance, the lead platoon in the company was engaged by
up to 20 Taliban extremists in three to four groups, armed with small arms and rocket
propelled grenade launchers," he said in a statement.

"The enemy was operating from well-prepared positions that were dug in and with overhead
protection.

"The Taliban fired from numerous locations including from positions on higher ground,
killing Lance Corporal Marks and wounding four of his colleagues."

Air Chief Marshal Houston said other elements of the commando company positioned themselves
to support the platoon under fire, with the battle continuing for three hours.

He said the four wounded soldiers remained in hospital in Tarin Kowt with gunshot and
fragment wounds to their limbs.

"They are continuing to receive excellent care at the field hospital. Decisions in
relation to their follow-on treatment and rehabilitation will be guided by specialist
medical advice," he said, adding there was a possibility they might be transferred to
medical facilities outside Afghanistan.

Air Chief Marshal Houston said arrangements for the repatriation of Lance Corporal
Marks to Australia were now in place.

Australian soldiers will gather for the ramp ceremony in Tarin Kowt, at which his casket
will be placed aboard a RAAF C-130 aircraft, on Thursday morning.

"Jason's comrades will bid him farewell from the operational theatre before the Royal
Australian Air Force transports him home to his loved ones. He will be escorted by Australian
army soldiers during his journey," Air Chief Marshal Houston said.

Another ramp ceremony, attended by family and friends, will be conducted on his return
to Australia. Details are yet to be announced.

AAP mb/sb/sp

KEYWORD: AFGHAN AUST 2 CANBERRA

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