RR Phantom
Location : Wasted Space Job/hobbies : Cayman Islands Actuary
| Subject: YaY! OZschwitz soldier four days a father, then wacked Wed Mar 18, 2009 4:39 pm | |
| THE Australian soldier killed in Afghanistan this week was Mathew Hopkins, a 21-year-old who spent just four days with his newborn son before returning to the war. Family members said yesterday that Corporal Hopkins had returned to Australia for leave four weeks ago to marry and for the birth of his son, Alex.
"He was excited about becoming a daddy," said his wife, Victoria Hopkins. "He only got to spend four days with our son when he was born before he had to go back overseas. I'm so glad that Mat got to meet [Alex] and experience fatherhood."
Corporal Hopkins - the ninth Australian to die in the war - was in the 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, based in Darwin. Australian soldiers usually serve eight-month rotations before a two-week holiday, which includes a free return trip to their home city.
"All Mathew ever wanted to do was be in the army and serve his country - he joined up as soon as he could after finishing his studies at Kenmore High School in Brisbane," said his mother, Bronwyn Hopkins.
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