Mark Minton credits Skelmersdale community backing for Afghanistan service success

Mar 11 2010 by Tom Duffy, Skelmersdale Advertiser

HELMAND veteran Mark Minton wants to thank the Skelmersdale community for boosting his morale with letters and presents during his tour of duty.

The 26-year-old returned home to Bearn Croft only last week after spending five months in Afghanistan with the Duke of Lancaster Regiment, where the British Army is fighting alongside the International Security Assistance Force to drive the Taliban and Al Qaeda from the war-ravaged country.

Mark, who attended Lathom High and ‘always wanted to join the army,’ was deployed to Shin Kalay in November last year days after five British soldiers were shot dead by a ‘rogue’ Afghan policeman.

His fighting section was charged with the immediate task of training a fresh batch of Afghan police officers to use automatic weapons and defend their community. The young father to two-year-old Dylan recalls the ‘sleepless nights and mistrust’ that clouded the first few weeks at the base when he worked, ate and slept with the new recruits.

Mark was also required to venture outside the relative safety of the base and seek out ‘contact’ with the Taliban in the hills and villages that surrounded the British Army compound in Helmand Province.

Armed with a general purpose machine gun capable of firing 1,000 rpm, he was responsible for ‘laying down the rounds’ once contact was made with the lethal and often elusive enemy.

And when not fighting fire with fire, the Digmoor lad was using mine detection equipment to alert his colleagues to the presence of improvised explosive devices.

Mark, who has seen bombs turn main roads to dust and stormed compounds teeming with armed Taliban fighters, is now relishing life at home and wants to thank the community for their support.

He said: “The fear hits you as soon as you arrive in Afghanistan and stays with you until you leave.

“The Taliban have no fear and they will come out and engage in face-to-face fighting.

When we ‘go in red’ it is with bayonets fixed, so we can defend ourselves at close quarters. I know lads that have fought hand to hand with the enemy.

“I must admit there were times when I didn’t think I would make it home and see my son Dylan again. When you’re in a gun fight with the Taliban inside a compound you start to think you are not going to see your family again.

“In terms of the future I cannot see the Brits coming home any time soon. The Taliban just always seem to be coming back. Our hope is that if enough ordinary Afghan men and women reject them, they will fade away. We need to win the battle for hearts and minds.

“You can imagine what it is like when you have spent the day fighting in the heat and the dust, and then return to the base to find a letter or sweets. Thanks so much.”

Paul Minton, Mark’s dad, said: “I just want everyone to know how proud I am of my son.”

Mark Minton will return to Helmand later this year.