On the occasion of the Memorial Ceremony which, every Friday, takes place at the Mission Headquarters Resolute Support in Afghanistan, the representatives of the Italian contingent in Afghanistan wanted to remember the 9th anniversary of the attack that led to the death of six paratroopers of the brigade thunderbolt following the explosion of a vehicle loaded with explosives.
On September 17, 2009, an Italian patrol in two vehicles Lynx it passed through one of the main roads of the Afghan capital in the direction of the headquarters of the then ISAF mission. A car, carrying about 150 kilos of explosives, flanked the convoy and exploded. Lieutenant Antonio Fortunato died in the attack; the first corporal major Matteo Mureddu; the first corporal major Davide Ricchiuto; the sergeant major Roberto Valente; the first corporal Gian Domenico Pistonami and the first corporal Massimiliano Randino.
The explosion also caused the death of 20 Afghan civilians and the wounding of another 60 passersby as well as extensive damage to surrounding buildings.
In the course of the short ceremony, presided over by the commander of the mission Resolute Support, General Scott Miller, the Italian military dedicated the Paratrooper's Prayer to fellow soldiers who fell in the performance of their duty.
General Miller, during his speech, underlined the respect due to those who fall in the fulfillment of their duty in order to guarantee a better future for the Afghan population.
