Hungarian Soldier Killed in Action in Afghanistan
Szöveg: hm.gov.hu | 2010. augusztus 25. 6:42A Hungarian servicewoman was killed while another three Hungarian troops were wounded in an attack that took place on Monday, August 23 at 01:30 GMT in Northern Afghanistan. One of the surviving casualties is very seriously injured (VSI) while the other two have sustained serious injuries.
A military convoy of the Baghlan-based HDF Provincial Reconstruction Team (HUN PRT) was carrying the HUN PRT-8 contingent to be rotated out of Afghanistan to the ISAF RC-North HQ which is stationed in the town of Mazar-e Sharif. The Hungarian convoy comprised 15 motor vehicles including four up-armored scout HMMWVs travelling as lead vehicles, being tasked with reconnoitering the route to ensure free movement of the column. Some 20 kilometers northwest of Pol-e-Khumri the convoy was ambushed. First an IED exploded beside a vehicle which subsequently came under fire from three directions repeatedly. The vehicle – a Toyota Land Cruiser armored car – was hit by an RPG during the ambush. The insurgents used their small arms to immediately engage the Hungarian troops travelling in the convoy, firing at them from three different positions. The convoy commander radioed a situation report (SITREP) to the HUN PRT commander who immediately dispatched a quick reaction force (QRF) to the scene of the incident, so German and Afghan troops and policemen deployed to the site to provide reinforcements for the Hungarian PRT personnel.
After the attack the convoy returned to its Start Point (SP), i.e. the HUN PRT base in Pol-e Khumri where the soldiers wounded in action received medical treatment. The movement involved 29 servicemembers who were to rotate out of ISAF and a 63-man Force Protection (FP) escort including scouts, turret gunners, drivers and a Close Protection Team (CPT). These figures show that the Force Protection element considerably outnumbered the personnel who were travelling in the convoy in order to return home.
The Afghan National Army (ANA) and the Afghan National Police (ANP) have been called out to the scene where they joined the German QRF to drive back the insurgents along an approx. one-kilometer forward edge of the battle area (FEBA). It is still uncertain when this COIN operation will be completed. There was a huge sandstorm in the province on Monday morning that thwarted all attempts to transport the VSI soldier any further, so he was treated together with the other wounded troops by a US Army Forward Surgical Team (FST) stationed in Camp Pannonia, Pol-e Khumri. The VSI Hungarian soldier is currently in a coma but his condition has been stabilized. Arrangements are being made for an airlift to CASEVAC him to a more advanced ROLE-3 German field hospital in Mazar-e Sharif. Although the two other casualties hit by shrapnel have suffered long-term injuries, their condition is satisfactory.
Killed in action on August 23, 2010
Unit: HDF 25th Klapka György Infantry Brigade
She joined the army by signing on in 2002.
Assignment in Hungary: J1 NCO
Assignment in the HUN PRT: J1 NCO
Missions:
HDF Guard and Security (FP) Platoon, Macedonia 2003;
HDF Guard and Security (FP) Battalion, Kosovo, 2007;
HUN PRT-8, Afghanistan, 2010
Ranks/Promotions:
Private – Jul 01, 2002;
Private First Class – Jan 01, 2003
Corporal – Jul 01, 2003
Lance Sergeant – Jul 01, 2004
Sergeant – Jul 08, 2006
Staff Sergeant – Jul 08, 2010
Awards:
‘For Peacekeeping’ Service Medal – Jul 12, 2007
Press Release
One of the convoys of the Hungarian Defence Forces Provincial Reconstruction Team (HUN PRT) stationed in Baghlan Province, Afghanistan came under attack at 01:30 GMT on Monday morning. A Hungarian servicewoman was killed in the ambush on the scene. Another Hungarian soldier was very seriously injured while another two sustained serious injuries. The HUN PRT-8 contingent to be rotated out of ISAF was travelling to the ISAF RC-North HQ, Mazar-e Sharif when following an IED blast 20 kilometers northwest of Pol-e Khumri it came under heavy fire from several sides. After the incident the convoy returned to HUN PRT Camp Pannonia where the service personnel wounded in action received medical treatment.
Defence Minister Dr. Csaba Hende advised of the incident the President of the Hungarian Republic, the Prime Minister, the Chairman of the National Assembly Defence and Law Enforcement Committee and the leaders of the parliamentary groups representing the parties. The Hungarian Defence Forces notified the deceased servicewoman’s relatives, while the Minister of Defence, the Chief of the MoD Defence Staff and Maj-Gen. József Kovács, Commanding General, HDF Joint Force Command expressed their condolences to the family.
