Mate mourned

By Casey Neill
PRIVATE Benjamin Ranaudo’s commanding officer paid tribute to a ‘larger than life’ soldier with a big heart as family and friends last week farewelled the fallen Ferntree Gully digger.
Pte Ranaudo died in Afghanistan on 18 July following an explosion while he manned a security position in an important cordon and search mission.
Lieutenant Peter Connolly said his group would sorely miss the mate they called Benny.
“It hit them hard,” he said.
“They were a very tight team.”
Lt Connolly said the 22-year-old was selfless and calm under pressure with a big heart – ‘important traits in a soldier’.
“He was larger than life, an extremely loyal mate and had a great sense of humour,” he said.
“We’ll take a lot of inspiration from Benny.”
Lt Connolly spent time with Pte Ranaudo on ground patrols during the weeks before his death.
“I can remember Benny just smiling the whole time,” he said.
“He just had that sort of personality.”
The operation was Pte Ranaudo’s first chance to perform his infantry job on the ground instead of in his usual role as a driver.
“He died doing something that he really believed in and he loved doing,” Lt Connolly said.
Pte Ranaudo served in the battalion for almost three years and was in Afghanistan just six weeks.
He was working with the population to disrupt insurgents and build Afghan security forces to prevent the country from again becoming a safe haven for terrorists.
He was targeting a group believed responsible for recent attacks on coalition forces on his final operation.
Lt Connolly and the battle group farewelled their mate in an ‘extremely moving’ memorial service before he left Afghanistan.
Army colleagues then returned Pte Ranaudo to his family at Avalon Airport on 26 July.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was among distinguished guests at the military funeral service at Springvale Botanical Cemetery last Friday (31 July).
“We regard him as an Australian hero,” Mr Rudd said.
A bearer party and honour guard escorted a gun carriage bearing Pte Ranaudo’s coffin to the burial site, where a firing party saluted the departed soldier with three volleys and a bugler sounded the Last Post and Rouse.
Pte Ranaudo’s family said he had died doing what he loved.
Lt Connolly wrote a letter to the family and sent ‘Benny’s best mate’ home to support them.
“All of our thoughts are with them,” he said.
“We appreciate the level of understanding they have for us as Benny’s military family.”
Knox councillors passed a condolence motion at their meeting last Tuesday (28 July).
Dobson Ward councillor Sue McMillan broke down as she read the tribute to the former St Joseph’s College student and local footballer.
Pte Ranaudo was the 11th Australian soldier killed in Afghanistan.
Another Australian soldier, Pte Paul Warren, was wounded in the same blast. He is now recovering in Brisbane.
“He’s quite an amazing soldier,” Lt Connolly said.
Three Afghan civilians were also injured.