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| Soldier’s
remains recovered Volume 50, No.4, March 22, 2007 |
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MV Seahorse Standard, which was fitted with special deep sea survey and recovery equipment provided by the US Navy, conducted the difficult task during March 6-13. Trooper Porter was one of six soldiers and four crew aboard the Black Hawk which sank off Fiji on November 29 when attempting to land on HMAS Kanimbla (CMDR Ray Bannister). Quick response from Kanimbla’s ship’s company resulted in the rescue of nine of the ten ADF personnel before the helicopter sank, but the pilot, CAPT Mark Bingley, later died of injuries. Defence Minister Dr Brendan Nelson said the recovery of Trooper Porter’s body and the Black Hawk was “an excellent outcome to what has been a most complex and challenging task”. Letter from Mrs Melissa Bingley To the men and women of the Australian Army, Navy and Air Force and in particular, to the deployed members of Operation Slipper, Commanders, Officers and enlisted members of 6 SQN RAAF Amberley, Land Command, 4RAR Commandos, 1st Division, 5th Aviation Regt, SAS Regt, 16th Bde, 1st Avn Regt, 3rd Bde, 1 and 2 RAR, HMAS Kanimbla and my beloved 171 Avn SQN, I just wanted to say thank you all so very much for your messages of love and support that so many people sent after Mark’s accident. Your words and gestures have given me so much strength to cope with the most horrible of circumstances. Mitchell will also gain a lot of strength and pride when he looks over these messages that I have kept. I have been overwhelmed with the outpouring of compassion you have each shown us and it has restored my faith in humanity. I am so very proud of Mark, his achievements and how he served his country. But I miss my husband so very much, the life we shared and the future we had planned with Mitchell. My wonderful memories and treasured photos keep his spirit close to my heart and are giving me strength on those trying days. If you have some special memories that you would like to share with myself and Mitchell please email to memories_of_mark@hotmail.com Thank you again for your love and support. Melissa Bingley Wife of Captain Mark Bingley |
