Fed: Dead Australian soldier heads home

AAP General News (Australia)
04-24-2006
Fed: Dead Australian soldier heads home

British and American troops have joined Australian soldiers in a guard of honour at
a Baghdad airstrip to farewell the body of Private JAKE KOVCO .. Australia's first service
fatality in the Iraq conflict.

The 25-year-old father of two .. who accidentally shot himself in the head while cleaning
a 9mm Browning automatic pistol on Friday .. will be given a full military funeral.

His body should arrive home early tomorrow.

Private Kovco was serving in Baghdad as part of the elite 3rd Battalion of the Royal
Australian Regiment .. Australia's only parachute infantry battalion.

US Black Hawk helicopters flew overhead as the 3RAR squadron leader's padre gave Private
KOVCO a final blessing before his coffin .. draped in an Australian flag .. was loaded
onto a Hercules transport plane.

AAP RTV ms/sw/bart

KEYWORD: KOVCO BODY (CANBERRA)

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