MoD names soldier killed in Afghanistan

A British Army soldier killed in Afghanistan has been named as Ranger Justin Cupples, the Ministry of Defence said.

Ranger Cupples, 29, a member of the 1st Battalion of The Royal Irish Regiment (RIR), was killed while on routine foot patrol in Sangin, Helmand Province, yesterday.

He was fatally injured in a roadside bomb attack and, despite receiving first aid, died at the scene.

His death takes the number of British Army soldiers killed in Afghanistan to 117.

An MoD spokesman described him as "tough, committed and dedicated."

The Ranger, known as Cups to his comrades, was from Miami in the US but had moved back to his family home in Co Cavan in the Irish Republic, where he met and married his Lithuanian wife Vilma.

Before his recent deployment to Afghanistan, he spoke publicly about his desire to take on the Taliban following the 11 September terrorist attacks on his homeland.

He was then in the US Navy and was on board the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt during the initial invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.

After leaving the navy and moving to Ireland to the family home in Virginia, Co Cavan, he decided to join the British Army, spurred by the belief he had some unfinished business with the Taliban.

"It was one of the things I regretted after September 11, not being able to go in there (to Afghanistan) and do the job that needed to be done, and obviously still needs doing," he said when interviewed before the Royal Irish's recent deployment to Helmand.

"I would be lying if I said I wasn't apprehensive at some level but I'm anxious to go at the same time.

"I think it's now about trying to restore order to Afghanistan and trying to make it into some sort of a country."

During his time with the RIR, Ranger Cupples showed a skill for languages and in Helmand was able to communicate to the locals in Pashto often without the need for an interpreter.

Before deploying, he underwent intensive training with the RIR in Kenya last October.

It was there he spoke to the Northern Ireland newspaper the News Letter.

Ahead of his mission to Helmand, Ranger Cupples talked of the deep impact 11 September left on him.

"9/11, it sort of took me a while to get over it because my ship left nine days after that happened and we sort of didn't get the chance to deal with it," he said.

"We were into a different mode of thinking, we had a job to do at the time. I suppose I am still driven a bit by it.

"It was sort of an unprovoked attack, though people argue otherwise but something on that scale had never been seen before.

"I suppose we're still fighting that fight to an extent. Though I think the fight has actually moved on from that. We are mainly concerned about the Taliban and not so much dissolving al-Qa'ida."

The Ranger was in the rare position of having served in both the British and American military.

"My parents are originally from Ireland and they had moved back there some years ago," he explained.

"So when I got out of the Navy five years ago, I didn't really have any family in the States, so I moved back to Co Cavan.

"I lived there since 2003 and kind of missed the military, but at the same time I wanted to stay in Europe. So the Royal Irish seemed the best option to me at the time."

Ranger Cupples's family are now based in New York but maintain the family home in Virginia, Co Cavan.

In his time in the Royal Irish he said he had noticed distinct differences between military practice on both sides of the Atlantic.

"It's a lot more informal in the British Army," he said.

"In the American it's always 'yes sergeant' this or that.

"It's a lot more relaxed (in the Royal Irish) and I think that leads to a bit more comradeship.

"There's also a sort of a different doctrine. As far as I can tell, there's more emphasis put on actual tactics and soldiering in the British Army as opposed to the American, which is starting to rely more and more on the information technology side of it, as opposed to actual field skills and field craft."

Ranger Cupples's commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Ed Freely paid his own tribute.

"Justin Cupples was a character," he said. "He stood out as such.

"He was drawn to the battalion by the Irish fighting spirit and camaraderie.

"He was an intelligent, bright soldier. I recall engaging with him on a number of occasions - as I say, he stood out - whether on arduous training in Kenya last year or on pre-deployment training for Afghanistan.

"He was never shy to offer an opinion. He was loyal, strong and determined; a very good soldier.

"I had last seen him in Sangin several weeks ago, where I recall his professional, relaxed and confident assessment of the situation.

"For almost six months he and his fellow Rangers have fought hard to rid Sangin of the evil scourge of the Taliban and bring security to the town and its troubled people.

"Ranger Cupples was a true Irish Ranger - tough, committed and dedicated to his comrades. His colleagues, mindful of the ultimate sacrifice made by Justin, and with him to the last, continue with his and their mission - with steadfast courage and reinforced purpose.

"Ranger Cupples's death is a great loss to all of us in 1 Royal Irish and to his wife and family.

"We pray for his soul and for his wife and his family. May his soul rest in peace."