|
| |
Aussies honour fallen comrade
By WOFF Cal Lippiatt
Volume 49, No. 15, August 23, 2007 |
| |
|
 |
|
| SALUTE: Members of TG633.2 form an honour guard for a fallen comrade in the MEAO. |
|
It is 10.30pm in the Middle East and the temperature is about 28C, with a humidity of 90 per cent.
Task Group 633.2 is formed up at the edge of the flightline as an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) member nation C-130 taxis into position.
The assembled personnel maintain a sombre silence as the Hercules shuts down and we wait to move onto the tarmac to take up our positions.
This is the seventh ramp ceremony of which I have been a part since arriving in the MEAO last March.
We are here to pay our respects to an ISAF soldier who was killed yesterday in Afghanistan. The whole of TG633.2 once again turns out to support our coalition partners.
The Hercules has shut down now, the honour guard is in position and the bearer party boards the plane through the forward crew door.
We march on to our all-too-familiar position behind the honour guard.
The assembly is bought to attention and the command is given: “To our fallen comrade; salute,” as the bearers slow-march down the ramp, a flag-draped coffin on their shoulders.
We all salute.
The ceremony finishes with prayers and the soldier is driven away. The parade is dismissed, and task group personnel head off to work or to their quarters.
There will be another ceremony in a day or two when an A330 aircraft will take him home. Once again, we will be there on the tarmac to farewell him, and to support our coalition partners. |
| |
|
