Fed: Report details death of Aust soldier in Afghanistan

AAP General News (Australia)
08-29-2008
Fed: Report details death of Aust soldier in Afghanistan

By Max Blenkin

CANBERRA, Aug 29 AAP - An Australian commando killed in Afghanistan died instantly
from a single gunshot to the head in the opening moments of an enemy ambush, a defence
inquiry has found.

Lance Corporal Jason Marks, 27, a member of the 4RAR Commando Battalion, was the fifth
Australian soldier to die in Afghanistan since 2002. A sixth has since died.

Defence said another four soldiers received gunshot wounds in the exchange of fire on April 27.

One soldier suffered three gunshot wounds to his lower back and left leg as went to Marks' aid.

A number of the enemy also were killed and wounded in the attack.

The ambush came as members of the Australian special operations task group conducted
an operation south-east of their base at Tarin Kowt in Oruzgan Province.

The Australian soldiers left their vehicle and patrolled on foot along a valley track
to clear away any improvised explosive devices.

An enemy group then opened fire from concealed positions within trees and buildings
using automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades.

Marks was fatally wounded within the first 60-90 seconds of the exchange. At the time
of his death, he was wearing body armour but no helmet.

The fatal bullet struck his head at a place which, in any case, would not have been
protected by a helmet, defence said.

The wound also was such that no medical intervention could have saved his life.

"Lance Corporal Marks was killed conducting a combat operation in an extremely demanding
environment," vice-chief of the Australian Defence Force, Lieutenant General David Hurley,
said.

"A thorough inquiry was undertaken into his death.

"The inquiry officer looked at equipment, training, the operational situation and available
support on the day of the incident to ascertain if there was anything that could have
been done to prevent Lance Corporal Marks' death."

The report said intelligence had indicated there was only a small number of enemy in
the valley and had dismissed significant enemy ground action.

That the enemy managed to evade coalition reconnaissance was testimony to their skill
rather than any weakness in planning for this operation, the report said.

AAP mb/rl/cjh/nf

KEYWORD: MARKS

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