A good bloke hurt in Afghanistan

[dazzler]

Hi all

You may have heard that an aussie (Dave Savage) was seriously injured in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan. 

Here is a link;

http://www.smh.com.au/world/canberra-man-hurt-in-suicide-bombing-20120327-1vwx3.html

Dave is a great bloke and I had the pleasure, and fun, of working with him both in policing and with the UN.
He has served in the majority of peacekeeping missions over the past 20 yrs including Mozambique, Cambodia, Bouganville, Solomons and East Timor.  Majority of these were unarmed like most Aus UN Police have been up until recently.

Dave was responsible for helping a number of East Timorese when it went pear shaped at some risk to his life and many thousands were killed.  He nearly died of disease when in Mozambique.

He was also a special operations cop when in uniform.  The thing about Dave is that you wouldnt know his history if you met him.  He may sound like an action man but is very down to earth and the type of bloke we celebrate on Anzac Day.  No BS, no bignoting, just gets on with the job.

I wish him all the best. 

For those of us who are of faith a prayer for him would be appreciated.
For those who are not, maybe raise a beer. 

cheers all

[outback jack]

its got me stuffed why we send good blokes like that overseas  let them look after their own problems 

[Campfire]

its got me stuffed why we send good blokes like that overseas  let them look after their own problems 

It's because some people want to be a part of something bigger than themselves.

In order to  make a difference in the lives of others, the cost can sometimes require putting oneself in harms way.

Look at those who follow in the footsteps of our ANZAC tradition.

Enough said

Campfire

[MDSimpson]

Hi all

You may have heard that an aussie (Dave Savage) was seriously injured in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan. 

Here is a link;

http://www.smh.com.au/world/canberra-man-hurt-in-suicide-bombing-20120327-1vwx3.html

Dave is a great bloke and I had the pleasure, and fun, of working with him both in policing and with the UN.
He has served in the majority of peacekeeping missions over the past 20 yrs including Mozambique, Cambodia, Bouganville, Solomons and East Timor.  Majority of these were unarmed like most Aus UN Police have been up until recently.

Dave was responsible for helping a number of East Timorese when it went pear shaped at some risk to his life and many thousands were killed.  He nearly died of disease when in Mozambique.

He was also a special operations cop when in uniform.  The thing about Dave is that you wouldnt know his history if you met him.  He may sound like an action man but is very down to earth and the type of bloke we celebrate on Anzac Day.  No BS, no bignoting, just gets on with the job.

I wish him all the best. 

For those of us who are of faith a prayer for him would be appreciated.
For those who are not, maybe raise a beer. 

cheers all

If it is ok by you Daz, I'll do both...



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[gunna]

Well Said dazzler
We need more people like Dave
  sheeds

[Stan Bryant]

As an ex service man myself, [nam], can relate to all the comments here,
I salute all serving personal for the job they do,, so little thanks given.
Cheers Stan

[outback jack]

It's because some people want to be a part of something bigger than themselves.

In order to  make a difference in the lives of others, the cost can sometimes require putting oneself in harms way.

Look at those who follow in the footsteps of our ANZAC tradition.

Enough said

Campfire

my old man copped in a bullet in the guts fighting for australia and he was never the same again

we are not at war with any other country so let them sort out their own crap (don't bring the anzac tradition into it)

how do you reckon you'd feel if one of your kids was blown up by a towel head 

[Campfire]

I would like to see all our Diggers come home and this conflict end like anybody else, But being over there is a political decision, our military ( who doesnt get a choice) is over there with a job to do because our elected leaders have made it happen.

 I don't care much for politics or Afghanistan itself but I do care for the welfare of our troops, and even 1 service person hurt is 1 too many.

I have some mates still serving who believe in a reason/ purpose for being there ( taskforce reconstruction group building schools , health centres, infastructure etc) .

I'm not debating the politics of the conflict, I'm only saying there are people who are willing be a part of the ADF and volunteer to go in harms way to try and make some good ( peacekeeping) in a world
that isn't perfect. The sooner it's over the better.

Campfire

[dazzler]

HI Jack

With due respect to your father I WILL bring the Anzac Tradition into this.

I KNOW what Dave has done to create stable democracies in the world that help to protect Australia.  What he has seen is as tough as any Anzac that I know of including my father who was a Navy man whose ship was sunk and he only just survived and was traumatised after.

In Timor Dave and his mate protected locals that were to be killed by the militia by barracading the doors of the station.  The building was raked constantly with automatic weapon fire.  All he had to do was hand them over and they were right to go.  They didnt.  They broke out with the locals and by taking backroads managed to get back to Dili. The roads in ET are bush tracks.  If they want to get you they will.

By the way, the Australian Govt had told them the only way out was to make it into Dili by their own means.  No Australian Army personel carriers.  No SAS, no infantry, no helicopters.  Your on own boys.  Keep in mind they had NO weapons. This is what happened to ALL the unarmed UN that were there.  Radio chatter from the TNI supplied radios picked up that they were going to stop and kill a group of aussies who were trying to get across the island to Dili.  Luckily threats at a high level to the TNI reversed the decision.

Their interpreter was grabbed by the militia and was about to be hacked to death when his mate dove on top of him and told them to kill him if they wanted the interpreter. They backed off and went after others.They actually took time to ring by satphone to say goodbye to their families, that was how bad they thought it was.

I think hes a credit to our nation and the spirit of our great traditions.  Sorry to go on but I dont actually think many australians realise the risks that Dave and his mates put themselves in to do this work.  Just because there is no declaration of war does not change a thing.

I suppose the question is does it take balls to sleep at night without a weapon in a militarized zone where if the enemy want you they can take you whenever they want?  And then when called on you perform like Dave and his mate did?  I don't know how I would have reacted.

Good luck mate! 

[GeeTee]

my best mate is a cop doing some serious poos (here in Aus) and I worry about him often
get well soon Dave Savage

[KieranR]

Here's hoping Dave gets better sooner rather than later....get well Dave

[achjimmy]

Let's forget the crap, he sounds like a typical great selfless Aussie and here's hoping he can recover fully and quickley.

[Mace]

Another  link for this story:

http://www.theage.com.au/national/soldier-on-boy-bomber-i-would-have-had-candy-for-him-20120328-1vyrh.html

Hope you recover quickly Dave.