Soldier killed by US friendly fire was a New Zealander in British army

[unhappycamper]

Private John 'Jack' Howard was serving with 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment in Nad 'Ali


Soldier killed by US friendly fire was a New Zealander in British army
By Robert Winnett, Deputy Political Editor at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan and Paul Chapman in Wellington 7:00AM GMT 07 Dec 2010

He has been named as Private John "Jack" Howard, from Wellington.

It is understood Private Howard was hit by cannon fire from the American F18 jet during a firefight with the Taliban in poor weather conditions.

The troops from the specialist Brigade Reconnaissance Force called in close air support after they came under small arms fire from an insurgent ambush five miles west of the provincial capital of Lashkar Gah.

Speaking during a visit to Afghanistan last night, David Cameron described the death as a "tragic" mistake which had occurred in the "fog of war."

"It is a very tragic case and it is particularly tragic when you have one of these incidents of so-called friendly fire," the Prime Minister said.



unhappycamper comment: 'Friendly fire' is not exactly what I would call getting killed by your own side.

[dipsydoodle]

1. Classic oxymoron

:(