Sergeant Todd Langley, the Commando who was killed in Afghanistan last week, has arrived at RAAF Richmond on his final journey home.
2nd Commando Regiment soldiers formed an honour guard and bearer party to escort Sergeant Langley’s casket from the aircraft to his grieving family.
Chief of Defence Force General David Hurley; Chief of Army Lieutenant General David Morrison; and Special Operations Commander Australia Major General Gus Gilmore attended the Ramp Ceremony.
Chief of Army Lieutenant General David Morrison spoke of honouring the fallen warrior who died in the service of his country.
“His family, the broader Army family, 2nd Commando regiment and all those who have served with him feel intensely this loss,” said Lieutenant General Morrison.
“It is very appropriate that Australia and its Defence Force recognises this great Australian; he was a great family man, a great husband and father and, as a soldier, a great example to all those who knew him and had the chance to serve with him.”
Among the awards posthumously bestowed on Sergeant Langley during the ceremony was the United States Meritorious Service Medal, awarded for heroic or meritorious service in connection with military operations against an armed enemy.
The 35-year-old Commando serving with the Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) was killed by insurgent small-arms fire during a combined Afghan National Police and Special Operations Task Group clearing patrol in southern Afghanistan.