Family pays tribute to fallen digger

The parents of an Australian special forces soldier killed in a clash with
insurgents in Afghanistan say he was living his dream career and died doing what he
loved.
Trooper Jason Thomas Brown, 29, a member of the Perth-based Special Air Service
Regiment (SASR), died from multiple gunshot wounds when insurgents opened fire on
his patrol.
The tragedy occurred early Saturday morning in northern Kandahar province, a hotspot
for fighting and the focus of recent operations by the Australian Special Operations
Task Group.
Trooper Brown's parents Graham and Ann, and his sister Stephanie, issued a statement
on Saturday saying he was an exceptional soldier who "died what he loved doing".
They said he had "dreamed from a young age of being nothing else".
"Everyone who knew him knew his dream," the statement said.
"He strived to be the best he could be at his job ... and believed in what he was
doing."
The family said they were very proud of their son and brother, and would miss him
dearly, as would his army mates who he considered his second family.
Born and raised in Sydney, Trooper Brown, unmarried with no children, was an
experienced soldier with more than 10 years service in the Australian Defence Force
(ADF).
This was his first deployment to Afghanistan but he had served three times in East
Timor.
Acting defence force chief Lieutenant General David Hurley said Trooper Brown was
involved in an ongoing Australian and Afghan mission to disrupt insurgent
activities.
He died despite receiving immediate first aid and helicopter evacuation to the
coalition hospital at Kandahar. No other Australian or Afghan soldiers were wounded.