Farewell to a friend
Volume 11, No. 43, May 18, 2006
By Cpl Andrew Hetherington

Fond memories: LCpl Alex Rhodes and Cpl Cameron Wagstaff talk about their mate Jake while Chaplain Tim Booker listens.Photo by LAC Rodney Welch.

"THERE will always be a Pte Jake Kovco, he will always be remembered and he will always be missed. Lest we forget."
These were some of the heartfelt words 3RAR CO Lt-Col Mick Mumford spoke at Pte Jacob "Jake" Kovco's funeral service in the small town of Briagolong, Victoria, on May 2.

More than 200 people seated inside the Briagolong Mechanics Institute hall and another 300 people standing outside heard moving tributes to the fallen soldier. Mourners included family, friends, Prime Minister John Howard, Defence Minister Brendan Nelson, CDF ACM Angus Houston and CA Lt-Gen Peter Leahy.

Pte Kovco's wife Shelley said her husband's goal in his career was to eventually become a member of the SASR.
"He was the best soldier, the best father, he will never be replaced," she said.

Other tributes during the service spoke of Pte Kovco's sense of humour, dedication to his duty, his professionalism as a soldier, sniper and member of 3RAR.

Lt-Col Mumford said after enlisting in the Army in 2002 and being selected for the infantry, Pte Kovco chose a challenging career path in which he had reached its highest level.

"The infantry is the heart and soul of the Army and Jake made an ideal infantryman - hard working, dedicated, loyal and occasionally a bit mischievous. Not just being content with being an infantryman he volunteered to be a paratrooper in 3RAR," he said.

"That was the job Jake wanted and that was the life that he enjoyed. Jacob was one of our most highly trained paratroopers, a rifleman, a heavy weapons expert, a member of our sniper cell, he had reached the pinnacle of his trade as an infantryman."

Pte Kovco's job in Iraq was to protect and not to kill. Lt-Col Mumford said he was an integral part of the Secdet team and 3RAR and would be sadly missed. He said Pte Kovco's name would be inscribed with the names of 273 fallen members of 3RAR on stone memorial tablets at the head of the battalion's parade ground.

In an emotional tribute to his mate, LCpl Alex Rhodes spoke of his friendship with Jake and how inspiring he was to other soldiers.

"There was another side of Jake that came out when there was a job to do, a professional soldier who was dedicated to everything he did, who was an inspiration to us all," he said.

"I just want to say to Jake, mate, soft winds, clear skies and soft landings. We are going to miss you."

After the service Pte Kovco was taken to the cemetery at Sale, where his Australian flag-draped coffin was placed on a gun-carriage by members of 3RAR and driven to the graveside as members from AAB-Melbourne led the carriage playing Chopin's Funeral March.

Before Pte Kovco was lowered into his final resting place, members of his family and his friends paid their last respects as 14 members of 3RAR fired volleys in his honour, a bugler played the Last Post and three aircraft of the RAAF Roulettes made a low-level flypast.

Services for Pte Kovco were also held by 3RAR soldiers deployed in Iraq and the Solomon Islands.