Fed: Body of soldier returns to Australia today

AAP General News (Australia)
12-03-2008
Fed: Body of soldier returns to Australia today

The body of an Australian soldier killed in Afghanistan returns to Australia this afternoon.

An RAAF C-130 transport plane carrying Lieutenant MICHAEL FUSSELL will land at RAAF
base Richmond for the traditional ramp ceremony.

Family members will be there .. alongside Defence Minister JOEL FITZGIBBON .. opposition
defence spokesman DAVID JOHNSTON .. Army chief KEN GILLESPIE and special operations commander
TIM MCOWAN.

A commemorative service will be held tomorrow.

25-year-old Lieutenant FUSSELL .. of the army's 4RAR commando battalion .. was killed
last Thursday by an insurgent improvised explosive device during a patrol in Oruzgan province.

He was the seventh Australian soldier to die in Afghanistan since 2002 .. and the first officer.

AAP RTV mb/rl/jmt

KEYWORD: IRAQ AUST FUSSELL (CANBERRA)

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