A soldier's story: The short life and violent death of Sgt Chris Hickey

[IndianaGreen]

A soldier's story: The short life and violent death of Sgt Chris Hickey, 1st Battalion, the Coldstream Guards

His death on Tuesday got only fleeting mentions. So Severin Carrell went in search of the man who was the 97th Briton to fall in Iraq, and found friends asking: how many more of our lads are going to die like this?

Published: 23 October 2005

Life was looking up for Christopher Hickey. He had a job he loved, and family and friends who loved him. He was due to come home to Britain tomorrow after his second tour of duty with the Coldstream Guards in Iraq.

He would see Gemma, his wife of two years. He would be nipping out for a pint with his mates at his old local. After closing time, he might even get to the nearby Chinese restaurant for his favourite meal of crispy duck, soy sauce and pancakes.

But all the things young men might have been and might have done were frozen in time last Tuesday night when Chris Hickey walked into trouble on a dusty street in Basra, southern Iraq.

Recently promoted to sergeant, he was on a routine patrol, leading his 30-strong platoon through the streets of the city. Hickey pressed on ahead of his men, reconnoitring a quiet street to ensure there was no ambush. A bomb exploded. His men rushed to give Sgt Hickey first aid.

Medical workers battled to save him in a military ambulance. A helicopter was scrambled to airlift him to the British military hospital in Shaiba. During the flight, Sgt Hickey died from his injuries. He was 30 years old.

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article321649.ece

[Kagemusha]

1. I'm really cynical to say this but... 30 years sounds old to me.

For a soldier, in a war zone? A lot of these people dying are a hell of a lot younger than 30...

[fortyfeetunder]

2. Did you read the article?

His young life was far from perfect, and he enlisted to make a better go at it.

[melody]

3. 30 is far, far, far too young to die

Thirty is a baby, really... although you don't know it at the time. He had his whole, full life before him. He died for nothing. This is beyond obscene.

[NJCher]

4. yes, it's obscene

I get so angry when I read these stories.

Damn you to hell bush, Damn you and your entire administration of sociopaths to hell.




Cher

[WhiteTara]

5. May they all rot in hell

after rotting in prison and dying by firing squad for treason and having their heads adorn the iron pikes of the fence around the white house as a message to any other would be traitors