First aussie soldier killed in Iraq

[Luv Angel Musik Babee]

Has anyone been watching the news about this soldier? He was a sniper and he shot himself while cleaning his gun. I find that a little strange. You'd think he'd know have to do it safely yeah? What's anyone else's opinion?

[mejane]

I thought the same thing. Unfortunate accident.

[grammyjo]

I'm sorry for your lost. I pray it all ends soon.

Joann

[Beverley]

Me too. Bad thing to happen though.

[michelle_72]

I guess accidents happen but as a sniper it isnt exactly what you would want to be remembered for.

[crashtestwoman]

I personally think that if it was a suicide we,
A: never would have heard about a gun or a shooting, or even that he shot himself.
B: the whole incident would have been covered up to high heaven and
C: No way would as much information been given to the media

Like any job the army is just a bunch of people, some who follow the rules all the time and some that don't. I have a sneeky suspision that maybe the guys were skylarking around and that's when the gun when off.

Unfortunately dead is dead, whichever why you get there.
My sympathies to the bereaved wife and family. I was an Army wife for over 10 years and know that although it's an uncommon occurance you still worry each and every time they go away on manouvers.

Cheers
Debby

[yomamma]

They said something about the gun malfunctioning but who knows.
It is a horrible situation to be in. When you join any forces you know that you will go a war somewhere.

[Supa]

Its actually a fact that more soliders are killed in accidents such as this than in actual combat now days. It is a sad event

[kayleneross]

My hubby was in the war and he said when you cleaned your guns you were always trained to have it unloaded. It was a very said thing for someone so young but I personally think it could of been suicide.

[purple_kitten]

Our aussie soldiers and sailors shouldn't even be over there. My husband is in the navy and he has been there twice. War is stupid it solves nothing.

One thing that could have caused the shot was even with the magazine case off the gun, if a bullet has already loaded in the gun then it could have been that one. When I 1st joined the navy we had styer training which is a type of rifle and we were taught that when cleaning the gun after removing the magazine we had to look down the barrel with it pointing to the ground or up in the sky to check if a bullet was already loaded before going any further. No way were we ever taught to have it facing our heads or anyone else for that matter. The safety must always have been on too unless doing a certain step of the cleaning process.

It seems really sus to me, if he was sniper trained he should have known what he was doing. You would be surprised what they tell the media so they don't catch on to what really happened. There are so many things that the aussie public don't and never will know about our military.

[lOvingKWTP]

I found it a little strange too, my initial thought was hmmm wasn't he supposed to be trained for things like that. But then I just thought accidents happen, and that is a sad one :(

[Barbara]

My hubby was in the war and he said when you cleaned your guns you were always trained to have it unloaded. It was a very said thing for someone so young but I personally think it could of been suicide.

I agree, it does sound very strange

[mejane]

Interesting, another forum (http://www.afteryourwedding.org/phpBB2/) I'm on one of the girls says she actually went to primary school and highschool with the soldier and was quite good friends with his brother.

She says suicide originally went through her mind too, but from what she's heard from people close to the family it is unlikely. He was a father to two kids and very much loved by his family.

It is sad that his family will probably have to deal with the speculation about his death as well.

[yomamma]

I have just read on news.com that they sent home a different body and don"t where his is. More saddness for the family to deal with

[Luv Angel Musik Babee]

Oh wow that sucks. How can you mix up a body though? Serioulsy

[Naomi]

Yeah, just listening to that on the radio - that is so appalling, his poor family. Really bad form by the military.

[~Jodie~]

Chanel 7 Just anounced that John Howard had to ring the family, he got and "Aussie mouthfull" the Army said.

[kayleneross]

How devastating is that sending the wrong body home. Ireally feel for the Family.

[Supa]

Just listening to this now on Sunrise & apparently the grieving widow gave Howard a real good mouthful. Who could blame her ? She has lost her husband & then while standing at the airport waiting to receive his body & grieve even more than she is she gets told guess what we f'd up & sent the wrong casket?! How pathetic. Now his body wont be here until midnight Friday night & they are blaming the contractors that run the mortuarty in Kuwait

[Chockygirl]

And,now it turns out that he wasn't cleaning his gun when he was shot-someone is telling lies and you wonder for what reason?:roll:
A silly game gone wrong?
I don't understand how the military could send home the wrong body-disastrous mistake to make and someone needs their knuckles rapped!!.

[Barbara]

More than their knuckles rapped! I think it is disgusting the way they have handled it and good on her for giving the pm a mouthful. I feel for the family and this horrible time they are having to go though :(

[Supa]

I agree it is soooo disgusting heads should roll over this one big time!

[Naomi]

Regardless of what happened at the mortuary in Kuwait, SURELY the overall operation should have been overseen by military personnel. How can they try to pass the buck for this?

I didn't hear that they are saying he wasn't cleaning his gun now ... what are they suggesting happened?

[Patricia]

My thoughts are with this man's poor wife and family. As if she didn't have enough to cope with without this incompetence!

[Telori]

Regardless of what happened at the mortuary in Kuwait, SURELY the overall operation should have been overseen by military personnel. How can they try to pass the buck for this?

I didn't hear that they are saying he wasn't cleaning his gun now ... what are they suggesting happened?

The last I heard they were saying they dont know exactly but the gun wasn't in his hands.

The mix up with the bodies is disgraceful. That poor woman and family.

[LizzyT]

Accidents do happen, what about the Australian soldier who fell down the hole in the Solomons Islands (or near there) doing his job and next thing he is dead.

It's pretty appauling sending home the wrong body

[Beverley]

This is just going from bad to worse isn't it.
If they were trying to hide something, I guess it won't be hidden for much longer.
I really feel for his wife, children and parents. I saw them interviewed on the news. The mother said what she thought straight to the military's face.
Poor people.

[Marilyn]

Now they are saying there was trouble in the marriage to take the heat off them [ P M & army] pay back I suppose for all the flack they got over the cover up. And 6ths to have enquiry .What a joke you can't beat the hierarchy.