Aust army soldiers (l-r) Major Carl Miller and handler Sapper Darren Smith with dog Herbie at Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan.
BRISBANE father Darren Smith was one of two soldiers on their first tour of Afghanistan killed in a roadside bomb blast yesterday.
The 25-year-old combat engineer and his comrade, whose name is yet to be made public were killed when an explosive device was detonated during a foot patrol of Mirabad Valley in Oruzgan province.
Sapper Smith, 25, was an explosives detection dog handler, who worked with Herbie, a collie cross, to find hidden improvised explosive devices.
Defence Materiel Minister Greg Combet confirmed one soldier was killed instantly and the other died as a result of their injuries in the explosion at 16:45 AEST yesterday.
An explosive detection dog was also killed in the dismounted patrol of the Mirabad Valley in Oruzgan province.
``I would like to express my sincere condolences to the families of these soldiers,’’ Mr Combet said.
``Their death is a great loss to our nation.’’
Acting defence force chief David Hurley said the families of the soldiers requested privacy and further details about their identities would be released at a later date.
The bodies of the two soldiers are expected to return to Australia this weekend.
Thirteen Australian soldiers have been killed in action in Afghanistan and acting defence force chief David Hurley said this was the first multiple casualty since the war in Vietnam.
It was the soldiers’ first tour of duty in Afghanistan.
A weapons intelligence team has been sent to investigate the roadside explosion.
Leave your words of support here for our troops and their families during this difficult time.
Source: whereilive
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