Darren Smith, 26, a K-9 handler was killed along with his K9 Herbie, a 3 1/2 year old Collie Cross, by a road side bomb in Afghanistan while on patrol for his country of Australia on June 7, 2010. His friend, Jacob Moerland, 21, found the explosive device and sounded a warning. He then called up his friend Darren Smith along with his K9 partner Herbie. As they approached the device, it detonated. A Taliban insurgent had detonated the device by remote control. Both Darren Smith and Jacob Moerland were from the 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment. This was their first deployment for both soldiers. They were on a routine foot patrol in the remote Mirabad Valley. It was just before lunchtime when an improvised explosive device, or IED, detonated. Darren Smith was killed at the time of the explosion and Jacob Moerland received emergency first aid from his patrol mates and was subsequently, aero-medical evacuated to a nearby International Security Assistance Force hospital. It took just 38 minutes for a US medivac chopper to get the Moerland to the Dutch-run and Australian-staffed field hospital at Camp Holland in Tarin Kowt where he died from his wounds. Smith’s military career commenced as part of the Army Reserve enlisting November 29, 2001 and completing Recruit training in January 2002, serving as part of 3rd Field Squadron, South Australia. Smith went on to complete his Combat Engineer suite of courses in 2004 and become part of the Australian Regular Army where he was posted to 1st Combat Engineer Regiment in Oct 2004. He completed a number of driver courses up to heavy vehicle and Armored Personnel Carrier. He successfully completed his Explosive Detection Dog Handler course in December 2006. He completed his Junior Leader Course in November 2008. Smith was posted to 2 CER in January 2009. He deployed in March 2010. As part of his tour he has been awarded the Australian Active Service Medal with Clasp International Campaign against Terrorism, NATO Service Medal and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal. He also has received his Return from Active Service Badge. Smith has also been awarded the Australian Defense Medal.
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