Jacinda Baker

New Zealand Soldier Lance Corporal Jacinda Baker, age 26, of Christchurch, died on August 19, 2012, in Bamiyan Province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when her vehicle struck a roadside bomb. 

She was with the Royal Infantry of New Zealand - 2nd/1st Battalion Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (2/1 RNZIR) based in Burnham. 

She joined the Army as a medic and was posted to Burnham Regional Support Company in April of 2007. She was posted to 2/1 RNZIR in December of 2007, and deployed to Solomon Islands in 2010.  She deployed to Afghanistan in April of 2012.  

Saint Elizabeth Fyodorovna,
pray for Jacinda

Her family emigrated from the Netherlands when she was a child. 

Jacinda received a Chief of Army Commendation in 2011 for her professionalism and courage during Exercise Southern Warrior in June of 2008. She was promoted to Lance Corporal in July of 2008. 

Jacinda is the first female New Zealand soldier to have been killed in action since the Vietnam War. 

Friends stated that Jacinda was always up for an adventure including kayaking, rock climbing and hiking.  It was also stated that she loved the military. 

Jacinda is survived by many loving friends and relatives, including her partner, Geoff. 

Let us pray that Jacinda Baker is in heaven. Let us pray that she is at peace and is with God. Amen.