Irish Bootneck killed in Afghanistan

elvis jaffacake

Marine Robert Joseph Mckibben
Marine Robert McKibben, known to most on his unit as 'Frank', was serving on Operation HERRICK 9 with the Brigade Reconnaissance Force (BRF), United Kingdom Landing Force Command Support Group, as a Reconnaissance Operator
Marine McKibben, aged 32, was born in June 1976, and before joining the Corps he lived in Co Mayo, in the Republic of Ireland. He joined the Royal Marines at the relatively advanced age of 27 and, after completing Commando Training, joined J Company 42 Commando based in Plymouth.
He proved to be an excellent all round field soldier and went on to pass Recce Troop selection, joining 42 Commando's Recce Troop. With this unit he learned the 'pleasures' of soldiering in the winter Arctic conditions of Norway, and passed the arduous Recce Operators' course with flying colours. He served in Afghanistan on Op HERRICK 5 where he performed with great enthusiasm, compassion and gallantry.
Following this operational tour he volunteered to move to Brigade Patrol Troop, where he travelled to America, Norway and Switzerland, amongst other places overseas. A very experienced operator, he hoped to fulfil his long-term ambition of becoming a member of UK Special Forces. In addition to his impressive military exploits, he held an honours degree in Environmental Science.
Marine McKibben leaves behind a loving family in Co Mayo and a girlfriend he cherished.

Robert's family paid this tribute:

"As a family, we are all extremely proud of our Robbie. He had very definite plans of how he wanted to live his life; he was always thoughtful, considerate and had an amazing sense of humour that touched so many lives. He was so full of life and was loved so much by his family and by all his friends. Robbie has left a huge void in our hearts and he will never be forgotten."

Lt Col Andrew J McInerney Royal Marines, Commanding Officer, United Kingdom Landing Force Command Support Group, said:

"Marine Robert Joseph McKibben was a larger than life character, with an easy smile and quick wit. He was an immensely capable man, yet his humility made him an example and inspiration to all he served with. A true Commando; tough, unassuming and hugely convivial, he viewed life as a glass half-full. Marine McKibben had an indomitable sense of humour in the face of any adversity. Regardless of the task or conditions his can do attitude helped him and others overcome every test they encountered. His recent performance on the Special Forces aptitude course was clear testament to his motivation, ability and potential. An operationally experienced soldier, he died serving his Unit and comrades in a role he relished. Marine McKibben was a key personality within our tight-knit unit of professional specialists; he was held dear by his colleagues and leaves a great void with his passing. The Unit will honour his passing, remember him and ensure we continue the valuable work he died conducting. His family have lost a marvellous son; the thoughts and prayers of the Unit, and the wider Royal Marines family, are with them and his loved ones at this tragic time."

Maj Chris Haw MC Royal Marines, Officer Commanding Brigade Reconnaissance Force, said:

"The Brigade Reconnaissance Force has suffered a tragic loss. Marine 'Frank' McKibben was a large, friendly and robust Irishman who always had a smile on his face. He proved time and time again that he was a strong field soldier under the most demanding of conditions and was passionate about his job. He relished the prospect of serving on Op HERRICK 9 with the BRF and had done his utmost to ensure that he would perform to the highest of standards. Throughout the many hardships presented to him during his career in the Royal Marines he maintained an enviable relaxed attitude to life and conducted himself with great humility. His enthusiasm to achieve the best that he could was infectious and he could always be relied upon to get a job done. Frank was one of life's characters who touched many of us in a genuine and understated way. My thoughts and those of all of the members of the BRF are with Frank's family and his girlfriend who he was so proud of. He will never be forgotten."


"I first met Frank when he was on his parachute course at Brize Norton in the summer of 07. During the many hours waiting to jump we chatted about his home in County Mayo. He was thrilled that someone else knew his home turf, it was clear that he had a real passion for the West coast of Ireland. I could see the sparkle in his eyes when he talked of home. He was always interesting to chat to and rarely seen without a smile on his face. We will miss him but not forget him." Captain Rob Hoey RE, Officer Commanding 2 Troop Brigade Reconnaissance Force


WO 2 Ginge Booth Royal Marines, Sergeant Major Brigade Reconnaissance Force, said:

"For the relatively short time that I have known Robert 'Frank' McKibben I have been impressed by his professional attitude to get the job done, passing Special Forces Aptitude is testament to this. It is always a pleasure to have guys within your organisation that you only have to ask once and Frank certainly was one of these guys. Frank was huge in stature and in personality who will be sorely missed by all who knew him. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family and friends."

Colour Sergeant Andy Ives Royal Marines, Brigade Patrol Troop 2IC, said:

"Robert 'Frank' McKibben was the big Irish fellow in the troop who could be tasked with the things that needed the mindful touch and sometimes just a little bit of an oafish twist to complete! A man that was working towards his goal and achieving the level as proved with the successful completion of the Special Forces aptitude. A likeable man whose size was never used with harmful intent and a genuine caring man. Rest in peace Frank our thoughts will always be with you - and stay away from the doughnuts!"

Sgt Lees Royal Marines, BPT, said:

"Rob 'Frank Mc Kibben joined my team prior to Royal Chamois 07. A big and robust Dubliner, he was always keen to perform well. His recent success at Special Forces aptitude hints at his potential, and he will be missed by the men of BPT."

Captain Rob Hoey RE, Officer Commanding 2 Troop BRF / 24 Engineer Recce Troop, said:

"I first met Frank when he was on his parachute course at Brize Norton in the summer of 07. During the many hours waiting to jump we chatted about his home in County Mayo. He was thrilled that someone else knew his home turf, it was clear that he had a real passion for the West coast of Ireland. I could see the sparkle in his eyes when he talked of home. He was always interesting to chat to and rarely seen without a smile on his face. We will miss him but not forget him."

Marines Dan Claricoats, 'Ross' Rosser and Lance Corporal Matt Silcock, said:

"We first all met together whilst in 867Tp, where we were introduced to Rob's many loveable and unique characteristics. He was intelligent, dependable, extremely strong minded and determined, always seeing the job through to its end. We all enjoyed many what we would describe as 'lover's tiffs' with Rob as a result of his sometimes unique perspective on things. We've all shared highs, lows and many laughs with him and without ever thinking about it before…been bonded as a family through our shared times. There is a large gap that we now feel and know will be an unfillable void. We look back already with fond and happy memories of Rob 'Frank' McKibben. He will be sadly missed, and our thoughts are with his family and friends."

Mne Kev O'Gorman said:

"I only knew him for a short time, but he became one of my best friends in BRF and a really good mate outside of work. One of the nicest guys I've ever known."

Secretary of State for Defence, John Hutton MP, said:

"I was extremely saddened to hear of the deaths of Marine Neil Dunstan and Marine Robert McKibben. I understand from their commanders that both were capable, committed and brave Royal Marines who served with dedication and distinction. The work they were doing was important for the national security of the UK as well as for Afghanistan, but today we remember the individual cost of that work. My thoughts are with the families of these two brave young men."

A very very good man and a hell of a Commando, he would have made a fine shaky...

If this thread doesn't belong here/MOD's feel it's out of place, I'll understand and delete it.

Latchy

Daily express also has him down as being from co Mayo were in the text he also is refered to as a Dubliner .Either way nice tribute .RIP

Hagar

elvis jaffacake wrote: »

A very very good man and a hell of a Commando, he would have made a fine shaky...

If this thread doesn't belong here/MOD's feel it's out of place, I'll understand and delete it.

It's fine here.

RIP.

iceage

Joined up at 27. Thats real commitment, a man who deffo knew what he wanted to do for sure...A fine tribute from his mates, colleagues and CO's, It sounds like he will be truly missed. My condolences to his Family, may he rest in peace.

concussion

Another Irish soldier killed in a foreign land. Former FCA NCO aswell.

Rest In Peace.

Hagar

Let's not get confused or start romanticising about Irish soldiers spilling their blood on foreign fields. That is not what happened. Yes he was an Irishman, an ex-FCA man but he died a British soldier.

eroo

RIP

KINGPIN

Rip

cherrypicker555

Hagar wrote: »

Let's not get confused or start romanticising about Irish soldiers spilling their blood on foreign fields. That is not what happened. Yes he was an Irishman, an ex-FCA man but he died a British soldier.

Lets leave political bias at the door.


RIP Marine McKibben.

arybvtcw0eolkf

cherrypicker555 wrote: »

Lets leave political bias at the door.


RIP Marine McKibben.

I don't think H was being political, but people have different definitions as to what an "Irish soldier" means.

To me, an Irish person in the British army is still an Irish soldier. He/She is an Irish soldier serving under a different flag, just as we now serve under both the UN flag and now the EuFor flag - in the case of our fallen it doesn't make us any lesser for serving the UN or EuFor.

noel farrell

r . i .p its always sad when someone loses their life his family loved him whoever he fought for you will always get the bigots and brit haters if there were jobs over there in the down turn the would be the first over there live and let live is my motto a lot of irish have died on forign soil he wont be the last

Hagar

cherrypicker555 wrote: »

Lets leave political bias at the door.

There wasn't any political bias in what I said. I just put the record straight.
I try to mod as neutrally as possible and leave all personal feelings aside when doing so.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

Hagar wrote: »

Let's not get confused or start romanticising about Irish soldiers spilling their blood on foreign fields. That is not what happened. Yes he was an Irishman, an ex-FCA man but he died a British soldier.

That SH!TE doesn't belong here, have some respect. What does it matter who he fought for? Pointless post in my eyes.

Regardless of who he fought for, he made his country proud and I hope he rests in peace.

sligobhoy67

cherrypicker555 wrote: »

Lets leave political bias at the door.


RIP Marine McKibben.

another dead mercenary! no sympathy for me to be honest!

Hagar

There's no call for that. A little respect please. Regardless of what uniform he died in he was a human being with family and friends who will mourn his loss.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

Christ almighty!!!

The poor chap is dead. Probably didn't die peacefully either.

Oh and get your facts right too, he was no merc. He was a marine. Not sure if you know this or not, but there is a huge differance between the two.

KINGPIN

nm

cherrypicker555

Hagar wrote: »

There wasn't any political bias in what I said. I just put the record straight.
I try to mod as neutrally as possible and leave all personal feelings aside when doing so.

Removing posts/threads with links to you tube vids of the British army which show training clips etc from tv programmes and not allowing debate on joining the BA, but allowing posts insulting dead British/Irish soldiers is not biased ?

Did you support the PIRA/SF Hager ?....Please be man enough to answer.

Hagar

Where do people get their ideas?

Off Topic question, feel free to PM. Thanks.

iceage

You know guys, I thought that there was some common ground here in this Forum, Seems that there will always be the odd poster who for what ever reason, has decided it would be a laugh or a scream to throw in an inflammatory comment or post. This time it is without doubt in very poor taste, have you no shame. Please don't respond, just head off and find something else to occupy yourself.

Cherrypicker thats a hefty accusation, which will also drag this thread down, do you not agree?

elvis jaffacake

The old saying "if you have nothing good to say, say nothing" applies, this internet gob****e atitude of "mercenary" this or that (BTW he'd have been pretty underpaid for his work as a merc in the RM in that case, and both men who died were university educated and could have done anything they wished) you wouldn't have said it to his face, so don't say it on the internet after he is dead.:rolleyes:

arybvtcw0eolkf

sligobhoy67 wrote: »

no sympathy for me to be honest!

Your right, we've no sympathy for you what so ever - "to be honest''.

arybvtcw0eolkf

iceage wrote: »

Cherrypicker thats a hefty accusation, which will also drag this thread down, do you not agree?

He's just talking through his hole.

I wouldn't pay him any fvcking heed.

Latchy

sligobhoy67 wrote: »

another dead mercenary! no sympathy for me to be honest!

Mercenarys are people who go and fight in illigal armies .This man wasnt a mercenary !

Poccington

sligobhoy67 wrote: »

another dead mercenary! no sympathy for me to be honest!

That man has spent more time in both an Irish uniform as well as a British uniform then you've spent in the uniform of any countries military. Your comment is disrespectful and 1 i'd only expect from an ignorant little civvie "to be honest". Come back and spout such bollox if you ever decide to step upto the plate and sign on the dotted line, until then leave the ignorance out of these kind of threads.


Rest easy Marine.

Steyr

RIP Robbie,

We all miss you.

He served in my old FCA Unit and left before the Re-Org but always kept in touch with us, good man, always highly spoken of and never ever had a bad word to say about anybody, a real gent, we all enjoyed his company in our Unit, very honest and always eager to help.

iceage

Its a sad fact people, this won't be the last Irish lad.

segaBOY

concussion wrote: »

Another Irish soldier killed in a foreign land. Former FCA NCO aswell.

Rest In Peace.

Hagar was just setting the record straight-he was an Irishman serving as a British Soldier! BIG difference to an "Irish Soldier killed in a foreign land" as that would indicate he was currently a member of the Irish DF which he was not.

cherrypicker555 wrote: »

Removing posts/threads with links to you tube vids of the British army which show training clips etc from tv programmes and not allowing debate on joining the BA, but allowing posts insulting dead British/Irish soldiers is not biased ?

Did you support the PIRA/SF Hager ?....Please be man enough to answer.

That is a very serious accusation Cherrypicker. As a member of the RDF I wouldn't be so pleased having such an accusation levied at me. That is not a remark you can make lightly, quite serious towards a member of the DF tbh.

With regard the BA vids etc the forum was essentially being used as a BA recruiting tool which has no place on this forum imo.

You completely brought the topic off the thread there in what was essentially a very childish post.

RIP and my condolonces to all his family and friends.

cherrypicker555

segaBOY wrote: »

Hagar was just setting the record straight-he was an Irishman serving as a British Soldier! BIG difference to an "Irish Soldier killed in a foreign land" as that would indicate he was currently a member of the Irish DF which he was not.


That is a very serious accusation Cherrypicker. As a member of the RDF I wouldn't be so pleased having such an accusation levied at me. That is not a remark you can make lightly, quite serious towards a member of the DF tbh.

With regard the BA vids etc the forum was essentially being used as a BA recruiting tool which has no place on this forum imo.

You completely brought the topic off the thread there in what was essentially a very childish post.

RIP and my condolonces to all his family and friends.

Dont you know the difference between a question and accusation ?

I suggest you read some of the moderators posts in the politics section.

I did not drag the thread of topic, the post attacking the dead Marine did.

I have no wish to post on a forum with an anti British army moderator, this is my last post.

Hagar

cherrypicker555 wrote: »

this is my last post.

Promises, promises.

bunny shooter

To his family and friends - sorry for your loss

arybvtcw0eolkf

cherrypicker555 wrote: »

this is my last post.

I couldn't think of anything funny, or witty to add...

So here's a donkeys head...



Instead.

segaBOY

cherrypicker555 wrote: »

Dont you know the difference between a question and accusation ?

I suggest you read some of the moderators posts in the politics section.

I did not drag the thread of topic, the post attacking the dead Marine did.

I have no wish to post on a forum with an anti British army moderator, this is my last post.

Ok, I am sorry to bring this off topic this time but I simply cannot let this slide.

cherrypicker555 wrote:

Did you support the PIRA/SF Hager ?....Please be man enough to answer.

Yes, I do know what the difference between a question and an accusation is but that would be a bit like me saying "Are you a rapist?....Please be man enough to answer."

In your question you are already implanting some degree of doubt in people's minds whether the answer to the question is yes or no. The fact you added "Please be man enough to answer" further compounds this suggesting the person has something to hide.

The fact that Hagar performed his duties in an efficient manner by keeping this forum related to the Irish DF within reason (and recruiting for the BA is not what this forum is for) may seem biased to the outsider who does not have sufficient experience with this forum. By asking a question like you did would put enough doubt in some people's minds to blacken Hagar's name and quite frankly Cherrypicker, that is something which would p*ss me off.

So in summing up, I am glad it is your last post, now go play with your swing set like a good little boy.

segaBOY

Now lets get on with it, RIP to a fellow Irishman.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam

triskell

Poccington wrote: »

That man has spent more time in both an Irish uniform as well as a British uniform then you've spent in the uniform of any countries military. Your comment is disrespectful and 1 i'd only expect from an ignorant little civvie "to be honest". Come back and spout such bollox if you ever decide to step upto the plate and sign on the dotted line, until then leave the ignorance out of these kind of threads.


Rest easy Marine.

+1 I couldn't agree more.
He 'ill be remembered on Dewerstone Rock.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

latchyco wrote: »

Mercenarys are people who go and fight in illigal armies .This man wasnt a mercenary !

Sorry for going off topic, but it was brought to my attention after I posted kinda the same thing. I think our idea of a "merc" is somewhat differant to what a merc really is.


"mercenary(a): serving for wages in a foreign army"

Another definition is:

"a person hired to fight for another country than their own "

I think most would think of the "blackwater corp" in iraq and other types of illegal mercs

minidazzler

Ronald Acidic Skinhead wrote: »

Sorry for going off topic, but it was brought to my attention after I posted kinda the same thing. I think our idea of a "merc" is somewhat differant to what a merc really is.


"mercenary(a): serving for wages in a foreign army"

Another definition is:

"a person hired to fight for another country than their own "

I think most would think of the "blackwater corp" in iraq and other types of illegal mercs

In this day and Age that is what a Mercenary is. The Meaning is similar but has changed over time to reflect someone who is being paid more than their standard military counterparts.

But, on Topic. RIP to this fallen Marine.

sligobhoy67

latchyco wrote: »

Mercenarys are people who go and fight in illigal armies .This man wasnt a mercenary !

wrong - A mercenary is a person who takes part in an armed conflict, who is not a national or a party to the conflict.

He joined an army not for an ideal or a cause but to either have some adventures or money or both.

Whichever way you dress it he was a mercenary.

I am sorry for his family but not at all for him. He checked in any morals at reception when he joined the BA.

sligobhoy67

Poccington wrote: »

That man has spent more time in both an Irish uniform as well as a British uniform then you've spent in the uniform of any countries military. Your comment is disrespectful and 1 i'd only expect from an ignorant little civvie "to be honest". Come back and spout such bollox if you ever decide to step upto the plate and sign on the dotted line, until then leave the ignorance out of these kind of threads.


Rest easy Marine.

I would expect such personal abuse to recieve an infraction or does this forum only allow a singluar POV and once a poster shares that POV they are immune.

Hagar

This is getting tedious.

I hope some people around here can think clearer in a "fire, no fire" situation than they can in front of a keyboard.

Anyone want to be a Mod?

Drop me a PM.