Found Deceased NY - Paul McKay, 31, Saranac Lake, 31 Dec 2013

[ktgirl]

SouthAussie, I'd have to agree with what you said here in a previous post (bolded by me):

I’d say Paul could be the 4th Aussie digger to die as a result of the Sorkh Bed Forward Operating Base incident in Oct 2011.

Quote:
… he was a battle captain on shift at Sorkh Bed Forward Operating Base in October 2011 when an Afghan soldier opened fire on a group of 10 Australian soldiers, killing three and an interpreter, and seriously injuring seven other Australian troops.
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-...#ixzz2qYy6DmZQ

Quote:
At 8.20am on October 29, that peace was shattered in the most brutal and inexplicable of ways. The Afghan soldiers had been dismissed by their commanding officer, and the Australians turned to walk back to their compound, a barricaded corner of the larger Afghan camp.
''That's when the rounds started cracking out,'' Corporal Searle tells The Age.
http://www.smh.com.au/national/i-was...#ixzz2qYzCRnSK

Rest in peace, Paul. I am sorry this happened to you. May you be free in death from what haunted you in life. Condolences and love to his family.

 

[ktgirl]

Paul McKay reportedly died of suicide by hypothermia
Read more: http://adirondackdailyenterprise.co...-died-of-suicide-by-hypothermia.html?nav=5008

I've never heard of suicide by hypothermia. Makes sense to me that this is what he did.

 

[marlywings]

Heartbreaking news

In the arms of the angels, rest in peace Paul.

And thankyou for all you did for our country with the armed services.

"At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them."

 

[Ephtee]

This has been shared amongst a few of my FB friends - a lovely post written by a friend of Paul - post is from today, January 17:

https://www.facebook.com/graham.rorie

 

[IHAVENOCLUE]

I've never heard of suicide by hypothermia. Makes sense to me that this is what he did.

I have heard... There are practices in very cold countries... Where the elderly go to find a place to succumb to the cold...

a friend of mine told me of this practice... And said that it is a relatively painless way to die...

I would have to research this to see if it is true...

JMO

 

[Hap]

This has been shared amongst a few of my FB friends - a lovely post written by a friend of Paul - post is from today, January 17:

https://www.facebook.com/graham.rorie

That's a beautiful post by his friend. RIP Paul. A thoughtful guy to the end, agree with others that he did not want any of his own family to find him. Probably decided to go to this beautiful place for the end of his pain. The image of him lying under a blanket is one that will stay with me ~ I hope his end was quick.

 

[LarkBunting]

So sad. May he have found the peace he was looking for.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[MagnoliaMountain]

RIP Paul. Fly high, no more pain. Just love.

 

[enzeder]

THE lonely death of Australian soldier Paul McKay on a mountain top near the US border with Canada is a grim reminder of the impact the Afghanistan War has had on the lives of those who served there.

War's lingering pain
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/wars-lingering-pain/story-fni0ffsx-1226804535346

 

[enzeder]

AN Adelaide family is grieving the loss of a Afghanistan war veteran whose body was found on Thursday after a two-week search in the United States.

Captain Paul McKay, 31, lived in Canberra, where he served with the army, but is survived by his parents and sister who live in Adelaide.

Fellow soldiers described him as a "friendly face" who was highly "respected for his service".

Adelaide family of Afghanistan veteran Captain Paul McKay grieving after his body was found in US
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/new...-was-found-in-us/story-e6frg6n6-1226804607942

 

[Sad person]

tribute from Mayor of Saranac on facebook

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...53081769.40528.170580809748840&type=1&theater

 

[enzeder]

tribute from Mayor of Saranac on facebook

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...53081769.40528.170580809748840&type=1&theater

Thank you 'Sad person' for posting the link to the Mayor of Saranac's tribute to Paul. Much appreciated.

 

[BunnyHop]

tribute from Mayor of Saranac on facebook

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...53081769.40528.170580809748840&type=1&theater

Beautiful. Thanks for posting, made me cry.

 

[poppygirl]

So very sad. My thoughts and prayers are with his grief stricken family.

 

[SouthAussie]

tribute from Mayor of Saranac on facebook

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...53081769.40528.170580809748840&type=1&theater

The outpouring of love and respect for Paul and his family from both Australia and the US in the comments under this tribute is heartwarming. That warmth can only add to the restful peace that Paul now feels.

I notice that both of Paul's parents are touched by the tribute too, and his mum acknowledges the struggle that Paul bravely fought over the last two years.

 

[enzeder]

 

[SouthAussie]

There is a brief video here by an ABC news correspondent showing footage of press conference, search, railroad tracks that Paul walked.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-...-missing-australian-soldier-paul-mcka/5205190

 

[marlywings]

Absolutely love that pic enzeder!! Thankyou for posting it!!

 

[enzeder]

'I AM GRIEVING'

Saranac Lake Mayor Clyde Rabideau expressed sorrow for the man's death in a statement posted on social media on Friday, beginning with, "I am grieving today ..."

And his words released a torrent of response, both here and from afar.

Between Friday and Monday morning, there had been more than 200,000 views of the mayor’s Facebook post and nearly 650 replies, he told the Press-Republican.

“Moreover, it’s the huge outpouring of emotion from literally halfway around the globe,” Rabideau said of McKay’s hometown of Canberra, Australia.

A tragedy shared: Saranac Lake reaches across the world.
Read more: http://www.pressrepublican.com/0100...-shared-Saranac-Lake-reaches-across-the-world

 

[MsAnais]

A tragedy shared: Saranac Lake reaches across the world.
Read more: http://www.pressrepublican.com/0100...-shared-Saranac-Lake-reaches-across-the-world

Thank you for that moving article, enzeder. Reading it does indeed give me hope that Paul's death wasn't all in vain as it appears his plight has really highlighted PTSD and the traumas of war for a lot of people. He has evidently touched many hearts.