DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by Coordination and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6265 3343, Fax: 02 62656946
CPA 113/08
Friday, 2 May 2008
RAMP CEREMONY FOR FALLEN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER
Australian soldier Lance Corporal Jason Marks has been farewelled by his comrades
during a solemn ceremony at Tarin Kowt.
Lance Corporal Marks from the 4th Battalion (Commando), The Royal Australian
Regiment (4RAR), was serving with the Special Operations Task Group (SOTG)
when he was killed in action during a battle with Taliban extremists in Oruzgan
Province, southern Afghanistan.
Following a memorial service at Camp Russell, an SOTG patrol vehicle bearing
Lance Corporal Marks’ casket passed solemnly along a route lined by members of the
Australian Reconstruction Task Force and representatives from coalition forces in
Oruzgan Province.
On the dusty airstrip at Tarin Kowt his casket was carried by eight of his mates, who
slow-marched past his friends and colleagues. He was then moved into a C-130
Hercules aircraft, which would commence his long journey back home to Australia.
Dutch AH-64 Apache helicopters hovered in the background in tribute to the fallen,
and to the SOTG members they have fought alongside.
Speaking to SOTG members at a service prior to the Ramp Ceremony, Chaplain
Maumau Monu conveyed the thoughts and feelings of the 300-strong Task Group.
“This is a great loss to everyone who has been a part of Jason’s life. Today we stand
together in support of his wife Cassandra, their two young children and the wider
Special Operations family. We mourn the death of a son, a husband, a father and a
mate,” Chaplain Monu said.
In his address at the service, the Commanding Officer of the SOTG* said Lance
Corporal Marks’ death was not in vain.
“Our thoughts of support and sympathy, as well as our prayers, are extended to
Jason’s family to strengthen and comfort them at this most difficult time.
“Jason fought and died for the enduring values of freedom and justice and above all
the ANZAC ethos of service to the nation and loyalty to your mates.
DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by Coordination and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6265 3343, Fax: 02 62656946
“Our tribute and testament to his passing and how we honour his death, is to
demonstrate our unwavering determination and resolve to our operational focus and
mission.
“We must continue to strive to bring peace, freedom from oppression and hope for the
future to the people of Afghanistan.”
Today’s service and Ramp Ceremony in Tarin Kowt was also a chance for Lance
Corporal Marks’ fellow commandos to pay tribute to his professionalism and bravery.
A number of his mates from 4RAR spoke at the Memorial Service of their friend’s
humour, loyalty, his dedication to service, and how he will be sorely missed by all
those who serving alongside him.
“Jason loved his family; he loved his job and the challenge of being a commando.
Jason, you’ll be sadly missed and never forgotten.” – Jim*
Further details relating to the arrival in Australia of the body of Lance Corporal
Marks, the arrival Ramp Ceremony and the funeral arrangements will be announced
separately.
Imagery of the ramp ceremony will be made available shortly at
Media contact: Defence Media Liaison: 02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664
* Names cannot be given for reasons of operational security.
NEWS 
