News
CHACON BRINGS BODY BACK TO SPAIN
Kevin Reardon / 2010-02-02 15:06:46
Defense Minister, Carme Chacon, arrived this morning at the Forward Support Base in Herat (FSB) to obtain first hand details of the attack yesterday which killed Spanish soldier John Philip Romero Meneses and wounded six others.
Shortly after her arrival the Minister for Defence visited the military hospital, where the wounded were being treated, following the explosion close to Atesh Sang in the Afghan province of Badghis.
Three of the injured will travel to Spain with Chacon today. They is Lieutenant Francesc Jordi Rubio Carceller and two soldiers Silvera Josue and Daniel Ospina Alcalá Quintana. Three other soldiers who were also travelling in the armored vehicle at the time of the attack have asked to remain in Afghanistan along with their colleagues.
The minister, accompanied by Chief of Staff of Defense (CHODs), Jose Julio Rodriguez, and the Chief of Army Staff (JEME), Jose Fulgencio Coll, attended a requiem mass for the deceased soldier, officiated by the unit’s military Chaplain. The soldier Romero Meneses, has been posthumously awarded the Military Cross with distinction for operations outside Spain.
After the service the defence minister travelled to the Spanish military base in Herat to thank the military contingent, on behalf of Spanish society, for their efforts to achieve "a safer world for our children." Chacon said they "were an excellent example of the courage and commitment of more than 3,000 soldiers that Spain has deployed on four continents”.
In addressing soldiers at the base she said "Despite the deep sorrow we all feel today, it is important to remember that our presence here is necessary, as is that of the 80,000 soldiers from 43 countries who have joined us. We must continue our mission for the people of Afghanistan”.
FUNERAL IN BARCELONA
The aircraft bringing the remains of the soldier Romero Meneses is scheduled to land at El Prat airport at around 22.00 hours tonight. The military funeral for the deceased will take place tomorrow morning in the barracks 'El Bruch' in Barcelona.
Tags: Afghanistan,
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