Fallen hero is brought home by Kiwi self defence force...



The body of a fallen Kiwi hero has been brought home from Afghanistan. Lieutenant Tim O'Donnell, the commander of a small convoy that came under attack from the Taliban, was a decorated hero from East Timor some years ago. He lost his life and two of his men were seriously injured in last week's attack.



Lieutenant O'Donnell was the first member of the NZ self defence force to lose their life in Afghanistan, although three other Kiwi born soldiers have died in Afghanistan - two with the Australian Army and one in the US forces - the latter was actually a nephew of the NZ opposition leader, Phil Goff.



Some say it was inevitable that a NZ soldier would be killed there. The majority of Kiwi soldiers in Afghanistan are with the elite special forces SAS, but Lt O'Donnell was serving with the Reconstruction Force - building roads, schools, hospitals etc. His two injured men have been sent back to New Zealand with his body, and were received at the Linton Army Camp, just outside Palmerston North in the lower North Island today.



Lieutenant Tim O'Donnell will be buried with full military honours this week. His two injured men should be fit enough to attend his funeral.



R.I.P Lieutenant Tim O'Donnell and the many other troops of the ISAF to lose their lives in Afghanistan. Will the price be too costly to continue to fight America's unwinnable war in Afghanistan?