Richard Edward Atkinson

Australian Corporal Richard Edward Atkinson, age 22, of the Darwin-based 1st Combat Engineer Regiment, was killed on February 2, 2011, in Afghanistan, by an explosive device.

He was serving with Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force 2, on a foot patrol with the Afghan National Army in the Tangi Valley in southern Afghanistan's Uruzgan province, when the explosion occurred. 

Richard Atkinson was born in Tasmania and was on his first deployment to Afghanistan.  He leaves behind a fiance, parents in Tasmania and a brother in Western Australia.

Corporal Atkinson's family has released a statement saying he was a dedicated soldier who was looking forward to visiting his family in Tasmania at the end of the year.  They say he will be remembered as a funny man who always put smiles on other people's faces.

Let us pray to God the Father, Jesus, all of the saints and all of the angels that Richard Edward Atkinson is in heaven. Let us pray that he is at peace and is with God. Amen