Lance Corporal Jared Mackinney Welcomed Home

Lance Corporal Jared Mackinney Welcomed Home

Lance Corporal Jared MacKinney today returned home to his family and colleagues at a ceremony at RAAF Base Amberley

Lance Corporal Jared MacKinney, 28, of the Brisbane-based 6th Battalion the Royal Australian Regiment, was killed in action during an engagement with insurgents in the Deh Rawud region last Tuesday (24 August 2010).

He was deployed to Afghanistan on Operation Slipper as part of the 1st Mentoring Task Force.

7th Brigade Commander, Brigadier Paul McLachlan ADC, paid tribute to Lance Corporal ‘Crash’ MacKinney

“Today we bring Crash home and restore him to the loving arms of his family.” Brigadier McLachlan said at the ceremony.

“Crash MacKinney will be remembered as a great mate, a loving husband and father. He had found his true calling and died in the arms of his mates. He passes in to the glorious history of the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.”

The ceremony was attended by family, friends and members of their soldier’s regiment; and various dignitaries including Defence Minister John Faulkner, Mr Andrew Laming MP representing the Shadow Minister for Defence, and Member for Blair Mr Shayne Neumann.

Also in attendance were the Chief of the Defence Force Air Chief Marshal, Angus Houston, Chief of the Army Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie, and Commander of the 1st Division, Major General Mick Slater.

ENDS

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