The SAAF Forum

FALLEN SOLDIER: Corporal Doug Grant.

The New Zealand SAS soldier killed in a firefight in Afghanistan was Doug Grant, a Linton-based father of two.

Corporal Grant, 41-years-old and known as Dougie, died after being shot in the chest while he and about 15 other New Zealand troops attempted to free hostages following a Taleban attack at the British Council diplomatic offices on Friday (NZT).

He was married with a seven-year-old daughter and five-year-old son. Prime Minister John Key visited the soldier's widow on Saturday. Grant lived in the small Manawatu town of Tokomaru, between Linton and Levin. The soldier had been in Kabul for only a short time, although it was not his first tour of duty in Afghanistan.

The 35 SAS troops are due to pull out in March next year but the Government is expected to come under international pressure this week to keep them there.

FAMILY RESPONSE

Grant's family, in a statement, said he knew what he was going into in Afghanistan. Grant was a man who didn't make a big deal about his accomplishments. The family were incredibly proud of his achievements, including being a soldier. Grant died doing one of the things he loved.

Grant will be brought back to New Zealand on a commercial flight for a private commemoration in Auckland. He will then be taken to Linton military base for a service. The family said some people might wonder why Grant put himself in harm's way, but he had absolute faith in his friends and colleagues and what he was doing in Afghanistan.

Grant believed in the goal of training local forces for Afghanistan's future. He once wrote in a school essay that he wanted to be in the SAS and he worked towards that goal from then on. He convinced the army he could do the job. Grant served in the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, the Royal New Zealand Engineers and the NZ SAS.

He had previously left the SAS unit and returned to Linton to spend more time with his family, but later rejoined.

OPERATION DETAIL

Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant General Rhys Jones said the New Zealand SAS had been given the task of rescuing hostages.

Grant climbed on to a building next to the British Council, where he was shot by what was believed to be a rifle or light machine gun. The bullet entered through Grant's armpit and went through his heart. He was then evacuated by medics but, in hindsight, would never have recovered from his injuries, Jones said.

There was discussion about whether to cancel the hospital transfer but Grant still had a pulse so it went ahead.

"We are confident that the protection we have ... is world class," Jones said.

www.stuff.co.nz


RIP Doug, gone but not forgotten.

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A plan is simply a basis for change.

How refreshing to read an article (posting) with hotlink where the story is given and told how it happened. No softly-softly or mamsey pamsey approach, just the facts with all relevant detail in straight forward language.

Wonderful to read of a man who loved his calling and reached the top of his profession. Soldiering is what he wanted to do, even went back to it after a break, and carried on where he left off. Many out there forget that some choose to live by the sword and fully accept that you may die by the sword. That is the essence of soldiering.

"For those who fight for it life has a flavour the sheltered will never know".

RIP Corporal Grant.

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Unfortunately NZ SAS have sustained another casualty yesterday.



L/CPL Leon Smith, a former Wellingtonian in his mid thirties, died after being shot in the head during a raid on a compound in the strife-torn province of Wardak, southwest of Kabul.

Defence Force Lieutenant General Rhys Jones said he was one of 15 SAS and 50 Afghan soldiers from its local crisis response unit, which is mentored by the New Zealand elite soldiers, involved in operation against insurgents believed to have been planning a bombing attack in Kabul.

Smith had climbed a ladder to see into the compound. He was involved in an exchange of fire with an insurgent who was later found with gunshot wounds to the head and who later died.

Another insurgent had fired at Smith, hitting him in the head.

It was revealed today that Smith, who joined the Special Air Service (SAS) in 2008, had spent almost 11 of the past 24 months employed as an advanced medic.

In that role he was the first person to treat SAS Corporal Doug Grant, who died in Kabul last month following a mission to rescue hostages from the British Council diplomatic offices.



RIP Leon.

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A plan is simply a basis for change.